By: Gene W Hogan
If you are buying a USB KVM switch, it is important to make sure you get a
KVM switch that is capable of supporting a USB keyboard and mouse.Having a PS/2
only KVM switch and then using adapters to convert from USB will cause trouble
for you and be a pain down the road. A good USB KVM switch will be properly
designed to function with your USB keyboard and mouse and will give you less
trouble.
If you want to use USB and PS/2 at the same time that is a function of some
switches and can work. Some switches will have settings that will allow you to
specify, while other USB KVM switches will just be plug and play.Usually the USB
KVM switch accomplishes the 2 different interfaces with a seperate cable for
each. On a few USB KVM switches you will have both USB and PS/2 connectors on
the cable and you just use the one that you need.
Some USB KVM Switches will come equipped with 4 port hubs, that will allow
you to attach many different USB devices to the switch and share them amongst
the computers. This would allow you to share an external hard drive, printers,
and other USB devices.
These are just things to keep in mind because nothing is worse than getting
hardware and having it not make things easier like it is supposed to. Proper
planning and knowledge can get you hardware like USB KVM switches that will work
like they should. Proper planning when buying something like a USB KVM switch is
essential, because you don't want to get the hardware and then have it not work
and have to troubleshoot it. That is why you should know what your KVM switch
can handle.
