Belkin KVM switch causes keyboard/mouse unfunction

Did you ever find a solution?

I have an optiplex connected to a 16port omniview (Belkin) KVM.

After I switch to another system (non-dell) and switch back the keyboard is dead or in some cases just the space key. Usually I have to replace the keyboard. I'm using Microsoft keyboard. It happens with the dell keyboard as well.

I have a belkin KVM omniview extender that does not work with a dell optiplex gx260. I have upgraded BIOS and setted OS settings to standard keyboard/mouse. This is third party equipment and dell doesn't have to support it, but this device works on every IBM compatible system. Except for this unit. I am searching extensivley for a solution and I am finding that dell is ignoring this issue. I have emailed them and tried to contact them by phone (They were gonna charge me!)

my issue is similar to this, but in more detail as follows:

  with only the local belkin extender hooked up (no remote, no rj-45 connection) i get a keyboard failure message during boot up (post)

  then when the os (win2000) boots, i have a resposive mouse. I can do anything with this mouse pointer.

   Now the minute a button is depressed on the keyboard, all input devices are frozen. the computer does work, and i'm forced to use the power down button on the dell unit.

  troubleshooting: I have tried 2 different keyboards (both standard), i have tried 2 different mices (both standards). Not ever have I used an adapter of anykind (usb-ps/2, etc...)

  I have also tried a different dell unit of the exact type (GX260) and the problem was still there.

  And i have also tried using a different PC. I tried two different PC's. An old pentium pro, and I cannot remember the other (pentium 2 or 3). The belkin device works great.

If anyone knows any kind of solution, or knows of an extender that works with this dell, please could you contact me at valumart@telus.net
this is being used in an industrial application and is used to monitor plant machinery, i cannot fool around with it too much, if dell can't help me, maybe you can.

thank you

I have similar problems with my OmniView SE 4-port KVM.  I have two Dell servers (PE-2400, PE-350) connected to this device both running Windows Server 2000.  The only time a server will boot successfully is when that server happens to be connected to the "active" port selected on the KVM.  When booting and the server is not on an active port it simply locks up at the Dell startup logo screen (as seen when I later select the KVM port that connects to that specific server). 

In attempt to correct his problem I have selected the BIOS setup option that bypasses certain POST tests to speed up the boot process (I was guessing that it skipped sensing if a keyboard was attached), but it does not seem to help.  I also have current BIOS firmware updates installed on both servers.

Finally, I contacted Belkin tech support to discuss this problem.  The tech said the only similar reported problems were all with Dell equipment.  They have not seen these problems with other manufacturers' equipment.

There is a possible solution!

I haven't the time to actually check this out. It seems for some strange reason that dell uses laptop technology on it's PS/2 ports (3V instead of 5V) and the belkin switch doesn't quite like that. It's not to say that the belkin doesn't like laptops, just simply doesn't like dell's design. It "MAY" be possible to use USB converters instead. This is a possiblilty, and I think belkin is now working out a solution. I know there are USB converters for PS/2 mice, but i'm not exactly sure if there are ones for keyboards. The reason I say to try USB is because they use 5V. I will post again when a solution comes. As for now, my end user ispissed off from waiting too long for a solution, and I'm very busy with other things. I'm still wondering why dell has to use these strange technologies, why not just use standards, then no one will complain.

Add another disgruntled user with a Dell Optiplex GX-270 and the Belkin OmniView E Series 4 port switch.   Every single desktop PC we have here works with these switches, except for the Dell GX-270's.   Same boot-up issue and stand-by issues (if you have a GX-270 go into standby while not being the active device, when you switch over, the mouse and keyboard no longer works).

It's easy for Dell to claim that it's a 3rd party product, and therefore don't have to care or support it.   But since most of my end users have multiple computers and typically use these Belkin switches, it's a major problem for us.

So, unless Dell can come up with a viable solution for this problem, which, by the way, isn't the only problem on the GX-270's (PXE support does not work on GX-270's with the A03 BIOS version.   The BIOS has to be downgraded to A02 for PXE support !), I'll have to recommend to upper management to drop Dell, and perhaps take our business to HP or another vendor until Dell can get it's act together or try to come up with solutions to problems that corporations like mine are having with their equipment.

If these problems were happening on all of our different PC's, then I'd be able to blame Belkin.   But since it's only the Dell GX-270's that are having problems, Dell should either start following standards that are established in the field or at least try to make their equipment compatible with the same standards.

Mario

Message Edited by MarioH on 03-24-2004 04:22 PM

Add another.  I stage & prep machines for my company.  We have 3 (used to be 4 until one went up in smoke) Belkin-4 port KVM switches.  I've found this problem to occur more frequently when all ports are utilized simultaneously.  Systems connected can be a random assortment of:  Optiplex 270, PowerEdge 600SC, 2600 and / or 4600.

Mice / keyboard combos are not all the same - range from Microsoft - LabTech - HP.

I finally did get a workaround with the GX260. Dell thinks it's belkin's fault (go figure)

Belkin discovered that the Dell GX260 uses a different type of PS/2 connection (3V) with some kinda Laptop technology, so yes it was belkin's fault for sticking to standards (!!) but they made a fix and about 3 months later it was finally released. I finally got it and had no problems whatsoever. this is for the KVM extender by the way, any switches would probably have to be fixed for the BS dell technology they use on their PS/2 ports.

I'm having the same problem with Poweredge 1600 SC servers.  I have three of them connected to Belkin KVM and experienced the same problem with keyboard failures.  I changed to a KVM from a different manufacturer with the same result.  Somebody from Dell, PLEASE HELP......