Very Computer

i have decided that i need to put up a dedicated Dos/Windoze
workstation (so i will not have to take down my linux box).

it would be nice to switch to this box, using one of the newer
switch boxes i see that have ports for VGA, keyboard and mouse.

is this practical?  Safe for the equipment?

i know that i would have to boot with everything connected, not a problem.
but when i switch back, hours or days later, will the monitor have
problems by the momentary glitch?  again, i am assuming that i will have
to run identical frequencies on both systems (or have a modeline set up
in a batch file that can be blindly invoked).

is anyone doing this?  is this just a bad idea, for technical reasons?
i will be using a 17" multi-sync NEC to start,  followed by a 20" fixed
freq. Intergraph.  i am willing to take a _small_ risk, wrt the
hardware, i just don't want to be attempting something really stupid,
that will eventually bite me.

all advice, and what the hey, blind speculation, is welcome.

thanks,

loren

Our servers here at work (3) all run from the same keyboard, mouse, monitor
using a 4 port switcher, and it has worked fine for years.. Of course the
port switcher runs
about $300 .. Supports both PS/2 and Serial .. Any mix can be used...

- John

that is not economical for me at home, with just two stations.  still,
can you give me the name/source, or more description?

thanks,

loren

i use a Linksys 2 system switch for monitor,keyboard and mouse.
it worked right out of the box (you need to buy 2 cable sets) and
i have never had a single problem with it. i run linux, win95, nt
and dos. 1 dual 133 hp scsi everything, and one 266 pii rocket
with 96 megs, 20+ gigs between the two of them plus jaz, scanners
laserjets cdroms sound cards etc etc.

<lcoe said>
i have decided that i need to put up a dedicated Dos/Windoze
workstation (so i will not have to take down my linux box).

it would be nice to switch to this box, using one of the newer
switch boxes i see that have ports for VGA, keyboard and mouse.

is this practical?  Safe for the equipment?

i know that i would have to boot with everything connected, not a
problem.
but when i switch back, hours or days later, will the monitor
have
problems by the momentary glitch?  again, i am assuming that i
will have
to run identical frequencies on both systems (or have a modeline
set up
in a batch file that can be blindly invoked).

If you use a streight mechanical switch box, you must shut down all
equipment when switching.  The logic connection changes most likely
will blow components!

--

 =====================================

               If It Works, Don't Fix It !
              If It Don't Move,  Slap It !
            If It Don't Make Noise, Shake It !
              If It's Broke, Then Fix It ... !
   If You Don't Know How To Fix It, Give It Out !

         WebSite   http://www.total.net/~jerryg

May The Big Blue Screen Of Death Bestow All Spammers!

============= Message Seperator ================

|i have decided that i need to put up a dedicated Dos/Windoze
|workstation (so i will not have to take down my linux box).
|
|it would be nice to switch to this box, using one of the newer
|switch boxes i see that have ports for VGA, keyboard and mouse.
|
|is this practical?  Safe for the equipment?
|
|i know that i would have to boot with everything connected, not a
problem.
|but when i switch back, hours or days later, will the monitor have
|problems by the momentary glitch?  again, i am assuming that i will
have
|to run identical frequencies on both systems (or have a modeline set
up
|in a batch file that can be blindly invoked).
|
|is anyone doing this?  is this just a bad idea, for technical
reasons?
|i will be using a 17" multi-sync NEC to start,  followed by a 20"
fixed
|freq. Intergraph.  i am willing to take a _small_ risk, wrt the
|hardware, i just don't want to be attempting something really stupid,
|that will eventually bite me.
|
|all advice, and what the hey, blind speculation, is welcome.
|
|thanks,
|
|
|loren
|

Why don't you try networking the two stations...?

--

 =====================================

               If It Works, Don't Fix It !
              If It Don't Move,  Slap It !
            If It Don't Make Noise, Shake It !
              If It's Broke, Then Fix It ... !
   If You Don't Know How To Fix It, Give It Out !

         WebSite   http://www.total.net/~jerryg

May The Big Blue Screen Of Death Bestow All Spammers!

============= Message Seperator ================

|i have decided that i need to put up a dedicated Dos/Windoze
|workstation (so i will not have to take down my linux box).
|
|it would be nice to switch to this box, using one of the newer
|switch boxes i see that have ports for VGA, keyboard and mouse.
|
|is this practical?  Safe for the equipment?
|
|i know that i would have to boot with everything connected, not a
problem.
|but when i switch back, hours or days later, will the monitor have
|problems by the momentary glitch?  again, i am assuming that i will
have
|to run identical frequencies on both systems (or have a modeline set
up
|in a batch file that can be blindly invoked).
|
|is anyone doing this?  is this just a bad idea, for technical
reasons?
|i will be using a 17" multi-sync NEC to start,  followed by a 20"
fixed
|freq. Intergraph.  i am willing to take a _small_ risk, wrt the
|hardware, i just don't want to be attempting something really stupid,
|that will eventually bite me.
|
|all advice, and what the hey, blind speculation, is welcome.
|
|thanks,
|
|
|loren
|

<snip>
: it would be nice to switch to this box, using one of the newer
: switch boxes i see that have ports for VGA, keyboard and mouse.
: is this practical?  Safe for the equipment?
<snip>
: thanks,
: loren

I'm using a cheap VGA/keyboard/mouse switchbox, but am keeping
_individual_ keyboards/mice on each machine, and only switching
the monitor.  Works fine.
   To avoid the "momentary [monitor] glitches" you mentioned
(which I <snipped>), I turn off the monitor before switching
and turn it back on afterwards.  Otherwise, I did run in to
sporadic problems.  As long are you're only switching back and
forth occasionally, this seems like the best procedure to me.
   The above seems like the right solution for _cheap_ switch
boxes (mine cost only about $15), which is all that's needed
for occasional switching.

the linux host s/b setup to do all the primary network stuff (a multiple
host, home installation), with masquerading and all, but that is in the
future (this takes _time_, and experience to accomplish).  for now, for
me, the simple solution is two phone lines/ two hosts.  i just want to
relieve some of the "real estate" burdon.

also, the linux "Dos" solutions are still not something i am fluent
with.  when i get an Excel 6.0 (now 7.0???) spreadsheet, and my boss
says "i put this in "/common", take a look at it", i have to go to my
office, sometimes this is a major bummer....  this happens rarely
enough that i do not feel justified in requisitioning an nt workstation
(now i would have a real estate problem in the _office_ ;-).

thanks to the folks that have responded.  i now have the courage to at
least try this.

loren

orig post:

Quote:> I'm using a cheap VGA/keyboard/mouse switchbox, but am keeping
> _individual_ keyboards/mice on each machine, and only switching
> the monitor.  Works fine.

Quote:> and turn it back on afterwards.  Otherwise, I did run in to
> sporadic problems.  As long are you're only switching back and
> forth occasionally, this seems like the best procedure to me.

One thing to note though, when buying cables, don't buy the
cheapest ones (as I did first.. =( ), get good, high quality
ones at once, and you won't end up buying multiple sets of
cabling. The cables I bought first made the picture "shaded",
and that was very annoying. Like the picture on a television
set gets sometimes, when you see multiple copies of the
persons on screen.. =)

        --Arthur Corliss
          "Live Free or Die--the Only Way to Live" (NH State Motto)

Ken