[dba-Tech] Dual Display and a KVM switch

John,

» Is anyone using a dual monitor AND using the monitor on a KVM switch
to handle other machines? «

Yes.  An IoGear 4-way KVM that's hooked to the left-hand monitor of my
dual monitor setup.  When I switch to another PC, the right-hand
monitor is undisturbed and still shows the right half of the normal
dual display.

I don't use a laptop, though, as one of the four PCs.  The switch
keeps the PCs happy, making them all think that they have monitors,
keyboards, and mice.

Steve Erbach
Neenah, WI
USA

On Fri, May 30, 2008 at 3:58 PM, jwcolby <jwcolby at colbyconsulting.com> wrote:
> Is anyone using a dual monitor AND using the monitor on a
> KVM switch to handle other machines?
>
> I have a four port KVM.  At least two of the ports are used
> regularly for my two SQL Server machines.  I decided to try
> hooking the new flat panel up to the KVM and let it be the
> monitor for not only my laptop but the servers as well.
>
> The software on the laptop doesn't like the monitor going
> away when I switch the KVM to the server.  It appears that
> it senses a lower resolution monitor (or a missing monitor?)
> on the second port when the switch goes off to the other
> ports.  Or something.
>
> In any event the software switches the applications that
> were out on the external monitor back to the built-in
> display.  Which makes sense however it would be nice if I
> could tell it not to do so.  I often just need to switch
> away for a minute to check a process or something.
>
> I may end up trying something like Hamachi teamed with
> Remote Desktop and just remote desktop in to the servers for
> routine usage, leaving the KVM hooked up but never switching
> it away from my laptop unless I need to do a physical
> maintenance (new OS install etc).
>
> --
> John W. Colby