Build your own KVM?

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KarmaPoliceSTL

Limp Gawd
Joined
Nov 10, 2002
Messages
258
Has anyone ever tried this? An idea of the parts involved...

I have some specialized need for a KVM and nothing on the market will do it... I really want to make my own so i can set it just the way i want it... but have no idea where to begin...

would buying a crappy one and taking it apart to find out more be a good idea?
 
How many computers? You could do a manual one with just two computers. It'd be some work but nothing ridiculously hard. What kind of functions are you looking for?
 
I know it would have to be a manual one because i just don't know enough about the digital stuff to do it that way...

basically i have 2 computers, 2 monitors, and a projector... I'd like to be able to run in any of the following configurations at the flip of a switch

Computer 1, Both monitors
Computer 2, both monitors
Computer 1, one monitor .... computer 2, one monitor
Computer 2, both monitors + projector
Computer 1, both monitors + projector
Computer 1, one monitor .... computer 2, one monitor + projector
Computer 2, one monitor .... computer 1, one monitor + projector
Computer 1, both monitors.... computer 2 projector
Computer 2, both monitors.... computer 1 projector

I've got a keyboard/mouse for each computer, so switching that isn't as much an issue as just the video...

Thoughts?
 
KarmaPoliceSTL said:
would buying a crappy [KVM] and taking it apart to find out more be a good idea?
Click to expand...
Do this, and post pics :D

EDIT: So you have 3 VGA outputs per PC? If so, couldn't you just get 3 KVMs with external switches and use those to switch between monitors?
 
KarmaPoliceSTL said:
I know it would have to be a manual one because i just don't know enough about the digital stuff to do it that way...

basically i have 2 computers, 2 monitors, and a projector... I'd like to be able to run in any of the following configurations at the flip of a switch

Computer 1, Both monitors
Computer 2, both monitors
Computer 1, one monitor .... computer 2, one monitor
Computer 2, both monitors + projector
Computer 1, both monitors + projector
Computer 1, one monitor .... computer 2, one monitor + projector
Computer 2, one monitor .... computer 1, one monitor + projector
Computer 1, both monitors.... computer 2 projector
Computer 2, both monitors.... computer 1 projector

I've got a keyboard/mouse for each computer, so switching that isn't as much an issue as just the video...

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

...

You could maybe use a video duplicator (you'd have to look for this) on one channel and use a two system KVM? That is to say that you can have two monitor/keyboard/mice hooked up to it and they usually have 8-24 channels, so you'd have something like

output:
Station1: Monitor1 / keyboard / mouse
Station2: Monitor2 + video duplicator? to projector / keyboard / mouse

input:
CH1: Sys1 monitor1 / keyboard / mouse
CH2: Sys2 monitor1 / keyboard / mouse
CH3: Sys1 monitor2
CH4: Sys2 monitor2

Note, something like this can get really pricey. You wouldn't be able to do the projector off the other system with this, but its probably the closest thing without doing something a bit crazier.
 
Niloc said:
Do this, and post pics :D
Click to expand...


I just may do this

Niloc said:
EDIT: So you have 3 VGA outputs per PC? If so, couldn't you just get 3 KVMs with external switches and use those to switch between monitors?
Click to expand...

Dual DVI + S-Video... pretty standard vid cards...
 
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