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111132

September 19th, 2005 19:00

KVM switches!

I have a Dell Latitude D600 docked in a PR01X Port Replicator with PS/2 and USB ports, a brand spankin' new Dell Optiplex GX280 with no PS/2 ports, a brand spankin' new Dell USB multimedia keyboard, and a generic USB mouse.  I need a KVM switch that will work.
 
I have an IOGEAR 2-port USB KVM Switch (Model #GCS632U) hooked up to the entire mess and voila', everything works...unless of course, I would like the keyboard when using my laptop.  I've found that if I hook the KVM directly to the laptop, it works fine.  If I try to route it through the port replicator, all but the keyboard will work.
 
Any suggestions?  I'm open for purchasing a different KVM if you know of one that will work...  Apparently, I need a KVM that has USB connections for the console and one PS/2 equipped computer (the port replicator) and one USB equipped computer (the Optiplex GX2809).
 
I've tried getting USB to PS/2 and PS/2 to USB adapters for the whole mess but, alas, that didn't do the trick.
 
Thanks!

1 Message

September 23rd, 2005 14:00

I am also having a problem with a KVM switch. Using a Belkin SOHO 4 port with a Latitude D610. I can get the monitor to work for a bit, but when I switch off the D610 and then back, the KVM does not recognize a PC, and the Dell doesn't recognize a monitor! Is there a way to turn the external monitor output at all times, even if the monitor is not there?

The mouse pointer moves very slowly as well.

Any suggestions????

2 Posts

September 28th, 2005 16:00

Not just me then!

Got aDell D600 and a PR01X Docker and a ATEN CS-1734a 4port USB KVM switch. Got a Dell GX240 and a clone PC attched to it. All works fine. If I connect the D600 direct to the switch all works fine but if I connect through the docker I get graphics and no Keyboard and mouse.

Previously had an OLD PS2 KVM switch and a USB hub and switch. Through the docker it would all boot up and be fine but intermittently the keyboard and mouse wold stop working when switching from another machine. I bought the Aten to solve that problem asuming that the whole lot was getting confused but it just seems to have got worse. I've contacted Aten support but haven't got a reply yet but it seems a generic problem that the dockers don't like KVM switches.

Suggestionn gratefully received!

7 Posts

September 29th, 2005 00:00

I have found a solution to make my DELL keyboard work with the Belkin USB / KVM, hope my solution will work for others too!

First a little detail about my setup, problem, solution.

I have a Belkin 2 port USB / Sound / Microphone KVM connected to a Toshiba M200 and a DELL GX620 system, using the keyboard and mouse provided by DELL, all worked well with my M200 laptop, but only the mouse worked with the GX620, I tried several configurations and found it was detecting the keyboard fine but at some point one of the HID’s (extra control items like volume knob) kills keyboard when connected through the KVM, but I found if I first plug-in a small USB-Hub into the KVM keyboard slot and let it detect the hub FIRST and then connect the DELL keyboard to the hub, the keyboard get detected fine and all extra control functions work also.

Please post a msg back if it works for you or not so we can pass this around if it works.

Best regards.

Phil

4 Posts

October 26th, 2005 18:00

Hi Phil,  (Luv ya, man!)

I have a Dell 610 with the PR01X port replicater and an old lattitude (400 I think) with a C/Port II port replicator.  I have a Dell 1905FP monitor, an IBM Enhanced Performance USB keyboard, and a USB Kensington Expert Mouse Pro hooked into a Belkin F1DL102U USB 2 port KVM with Audio.

There are no problems when connected directly to the D610 BUT when connected thru the PR01X port replicator, the keypad on the keyboard (and the device (as shown in device manager)) keeps getting lost.  Literally, I will be typing and lose the device from one keystroke to another.  Switching between computers seems to find the keyboard again but I have gone anywhere from 4 hours to 1 second before the keyboard is lost again.  It takes approximately 10 seconds for each computer to recognize the mouse and keyboard when the kvm switches over.

NOTE 1:  When the keyboard is lost, the hot buttons on the keyboard still work, just no keystrokes!

NOTE 2:  The Lattitude/C/Port II combo has never lost any component thru the KVM switch.

I have contacted Belkin support and the official answer is "we don't claim that the kvm's work with port replicators."; it was a very useless call.

Phil's Fix of putting a small USB hub between the keyboard and KVM switch works like a charm (but use an old hub so you don't keep getting the high speed usb plugged into low speed usb error message).

After trying several combinations and several Belkin switches (Soho 2 port, etc), the problem seems to be ONLY and ALWAYS with the PR01X Port Replicator connected.

Well, DELL guys???!!

Thanks, Emile

2 Posts

October 27th, 2005 06:00

Emile
 
Interestingly I put a service call out to Dell on 5 October and still haven't had a response despite chasing suggesting they know its a problem.
 
Dell guys: the call ref is Case ID: 239561 Case #: 20051005093314987 and a response would be nice as its now been 19 days since I raised the case
 

1 Message

November 29th, 2005 16:00

Wow!  Seems like dell is dodging the issue here.  I have been on the phone with them and mentioned this forum and they keep claiming my problem (similar to all posted here) is with the switch.  Hmm.  So the switch work fine (IOGEAR GCS632U) in all configurations EXCEPT while using the PR01X replicator and it is the switch that has the issue?  I find that hard to believe especially given the other posts stating the Belkin and other switches aren't working either. 
 
I am open to getting another switch that will work.  Has anyone found one that works? 
 
I am trying to share monitor, keyboard, and mouse between the Dell Lat D600 and a Mac Mini. 
 
 
 

4 Posts

November 29th, 2005 16:00

Hi,

Since Phil's Fix works with the PR01X Port Replicater, and it seems that a lot of people have tried different switches, I'm sticking with the Belkin USB 2 port with audio and builtin cabling (F1DL102U).  I am using an old 3port mini usb hub I got from a computer geek catalog between the keyboard and the KVM input.

Yeah, it does make you wonder if they read the forum.

The kvm switch people blame the port replicators and don't guarentee operation with them.

  

 

59 Posts

December 20th, 2005 12:00

What's the current status on this issue?

I'm having some trouble with the keyboard while connecting a GCS632U KVM switch with a Latitude D600 connected to a D/Port PR01X and an Optiplex GX260. The laptop which is connected to the port replicator doesn't recognize the keyboard. The mouse works fine but the keyboard is listed as Unknown device under "Universal Serial Bus..." in Device Manager. Windows XP also pops up saying that a device is malfunctioning and I could not do more than agree to this. I've thought about trying to manually install a driver for the unknown device but as far as I got, I didn't manage to select a keyboard driver to install.

From reading above It seems some have solved the problem by plugging in a USB hub. Are you saying that a hub in my case could be the solution to make the keyboard work?

Thanks
 
Andreas

59 Posts

December 20th, 2005 15:00

Thanks! I'll try a USB hub then :)

4 Posts

December 20th, 2005 15:00

Hi, it seems same problem as rest of us.  And it seems to be with PR01X Port Replicator.  The errors you describe are simular to mine. 

Keyboard ---> USB Hub ---> USB KVM <---> PR01X Port Replicator

Mouse/Trackball ------------>                   <---> Port Replicator                            

Monitor <-----------------------
 
This is the configuration that worked for me (Phil's Fix) and resolved all the unknown device errors.

1 Message

January 16th, 2006 15:00

I'm using a Lattitude D600 with the docking station and had the same problem with a Belkin USB KVM.  I deleted all the USB controllers in the Device Manager screen (Control Panel > Hardware Tab > Device Manager > Universal Serial Bus controllers), shut down, made sure all my devices were pluged in then restarted the computer and let it reload all the USB devices and it worked.
 
Hope this helps...

59 Posts

January 16th, 2006 15:00

Well, the USB hub worked for me! I think I did try to remove all USB devices from Device manager but I'm not sure. It's working at last so I'm happy :)

1 Message

February 2nd, 2006 16:00

Yep - very same problem here: mouse OK but no keyboard. My KVM is the IOGear GCS1764 - which is working great for everything except for a Dell D610 laptop when attached to the Dell PR01X docking station. As mentioned on this very thread using a USB hub has solved the problem!

My contribution to the discussion is just that if you are looking around for a USB hub you may find that there is one built into your flatscreen display! I've got the Dell 2001FP and it's little integrated hub worked just fine.

Pretty funny: I'm reading this forum and cursing that now I need to go off and find a USB hub. My cubemate remarks, "Dude - you're looking at one right now, you don't even need to get out of your chair!" Lucky for me, as I'm a pretty lazy guy!

Jeff

Message Edited by jeff_l on 02-02-2006 12:04 PM

4 Posts

February 2nd, 2006 21:00

WOW!  Or "DUH" would be better; gotta love technology...  Have you seen any keyboard problems with " current loading".  I stopped using the USB passthrough on my keboard because the unpowered hub couldn't support the power needs of the peripherals (flaky performance). 

Gonna try this!  THANKS!

Emile

7 Posts

February 3rd, 2006 16:00

Hey,
Very happy my work around is helping so many folks.
To date I have had no more problems, it took a little looking into specs but I found the Micro Innovations 4 port model USB204N for about $10 and it is able to handle the required current yet be a USB v1 so as not to produce those 2.0 not supported popup on each KVM mode change. If I remember right I found it at Wal-Mart. As a side note it is the driver’s hardware enumeration that is the problem, code fix is possible if "D" would take the time.
Till latter.
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