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Show HN: Multi-monitor KVM using just a USB switch
Simple KVM lets you control multiple PCs from one mouse, keyboard and monitor(s).
It is similar to Haimgel's display-switch (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29608967 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29608967), but it provides a GUI which hopefully makes it a bit easier to set up. It also supports hotkeys which effectively lets you alt+tab between computers.
I was surprised by the star-to-download ratio (55:400) on GitHub, so I thought I'd post it here as it might be useful to someone.
Feedback welcome!
Thanks,
Fidel
- tim-- 3y agoWith my COVID obsession of live streaming while writing code, I ended up building something a little more elaborate. https://github.com/timgws/kvm-switch https://github.com/timgws/kvm-switch It doesn't use DDC commands direct to the monitor(s), instead swapping it for a HDMI matrix combined with a traditional KVM for swapping around inputs smoothly when you roll your mouse over the edge of different operating systems. The switching client runs on Windows, MacOS and Linux (if you use X).
- k8svet 3y agoI'm reading and I'm wondering where the lede is... it seems the matrix device in question is 1000+USD
- mattfrommars 3y agoFor this to work, does my primary computer need to be on all the time? The way I understand this, the 'host' computer will be running this piece of software and fires the event for the monitor to switch inputs.
- fiddyschmitt 3y agoCorrect
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- consumer451 3y agoI realize it’s not the use case in OP, but if each of your machines has a display, Barrier is like a super power. Also allows copy-paste across OSes. https://github.com/debauchee/barrier https://github.com/debauchee/barrier
- hk1337 3y agoIt’s not really a switch but I just simplified my connection to just a single thunderbolt cable on the computer. With that, they all get the same two monitors, keyboard, mouse, and anything plugged into the dock.
- soldeace 3y agoOnly after I've got my ham radio license that I learned how these USB switches are annoying sources of RFI, even the more expensive ones. KVM switches are fine though.
- iLoveOncall 3y agoAny advantage over Synergy?
- skykooler 3y agoAll computers use the same monitor. This may be an advantage or disadvantage depending on your setup.
- fiddyschmitt 3y agoSynergy is awesome, but unfortunately I can't install it on my work computer due to policy & VPN. The benefit of SimpleKVM is that I just have to run it on my home PC, and I can switch between work and home.
- rafamvc 3y agoI use barrier and it is a lot better than synergy.
- pebblesun 3y agoI am using this https://a.co/d/4Bl8opp https://a.co/d/4Bl8opp to set up my 2 MacBook Pros with 8k Monitor. The good thing about this is, it also has power delivery so that I don't have to use another cable to manage power and replaced my 2 docking stations with this. However, this still sometimes loses signal and I had to switch to other monitor and back with remote to get the signal back which is not ideal but have to live with because of limited options out there. Another limitation is, it supports 8k with 30Hz refresh rate only. I am open to suggestions if anyone has solved this problem.
- beachy 3y agoTo clarify (the first thing I wondered) each computer needs its own HDMI cable plugged into its own input on the monitor. So not true KVM as many people would think of it, but this saves you from having to use the monitor's input selector. At least one of the computers must be on and running Windows, but maybe only one?
- mkl 3y agoddcutil can do input switching on Linux, so it would be easy to do something similar there. I already do a similar thing with xrandr for monitor rotation, running a script when I press a hotkey.
- fiddyschmitt 3y agoYes only one computer needs to have Windows and run the program. If it detects the USB device being inserted, it changes monitor inputs to the Windows computer. If it detects the USB device being removed, it changes monitor inputs to the Linux computer.
- daveidol 3y agoWould you consider making a macOS port?
- fiddyschmitt 3y agoFor sure :)
- layer8 3y agoThis doesn’t seem to work on all setups, see https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39333869 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39333869.
- cactusplant7374 3y agoThis is nice. I know some digital nomads are using KVM to evade detection by their employers.
- Kluggy 3y agodetection of what exactly?
- cactusplant7374 3y agoBeing abroad.
- joking 3y agoOveremployment probably
- pmontra 3y agoOr also doing their own personal activities.
- ndsipa_pomu 3y agoHow do they do that? Is it the case that their boss walks by them and can see what's on their screen so they're switching away from minesweeper?
- karolist 3y agodigital nomad sorta implies remote, non-office work, I fail to understand how KVM is helping simulate work as you imply? It just makes switching computers easier, nothing more. You can switch manually or you can just use separate work and personal machines as well.
- cactusplant7374 3y agoBecause they leave their laptop in their home country. Not all companies approve of remote work.
- karolist 3y agoBefore settling back to one computer, I've done the cable replug thing manually, then used the urgreen USB switch as in the README then settled to using a monitor with built-in KVM switch, and it was the best. The problem is when you want one monitor for work and gaming - 4K (and/or high-refresh) KVM switches are incredibly expensive and tend to be unreliable, so what you usually do is use USB switches and switch input source on the monitor manually, the software here saves you clicking the "change input source" button, but seems to be Windows only, so unless both machines run Windows it'll be a one way switch and you'll have to resort to manual switch back. The monitor that is suitable for gaming and has high DPI high refresh and built-in KVM switch is Gigabyte M28U, clicking one button switches input source and USB peripherials, works quite nicely, there's also M32U but with less DPI.
- Kluggy 3y agoDo the other computers detect the lack of a display when they're switched on the monitor?
- karolist 3y agoThe monitor remains connected to the machine, the machine is unaware monitor is no longer using it as input source, but I assume this part, maybe there's some CEC notification firing.
- vladvasiliu 3y agoIn my experience, this seems to depend on the monitor. On my LG, the computers think the monitor is still connected.
- fiddyschmitt 3y agoNice one. Yes built-in KVMs are great. Btw - if you only have two computers, you can get away with running SimpleKVM on just one of them. Because it can detect a USB device being removed (ie. gone to the other computer) and inserted (arrived at this computer).
- klohto 3y agothe gigabyte m27u is even better panel and looks great with macOS due to high DPI
- tjoff 3y agoOne thing to note here with these kind of tools, on displayport they typically only allow commands on the active input. Once you switch to another you can't switch back (unless you do it from the other computer). Which is kind of a hassle. HDMI on the other hand typically allows the ddc-commands even on ports that are not the active input. Not sure if the above must be the case but it has been the case for all displays I've used.
- MichaelMug 3y agoAfter researching KVMs I also came to the same conclusion that ddc is the solution. My use case is a bit different. I have two Windows machines and a dual monitor setup. I use NirSoft ControlMyMonitor which has a CLI and a Elgato Stream Deck. In a normal KVM approach both monitors are showing only one computer. My use case is a bit odd- I want one computer on monitor A and the other on monitor B. I may also want to flip that. I use a portrait and landscape setup. Then I want to be able to switch mouse/keyboard independently of monitor configuration. Each computer runs the Stream Deck software and the Stream Deck is connected to the USB switch.
- fiddyschmitt 3y agoCool setup. Is it all working nicely with the Stream Deck & associated bindings?
- MichaelMug 3y agoYes it works well. The only issue I found was random disconnects when using a backlit LED keyboard and the stream deck on the same non-powered USB switch. I switched to a powered USB switch and that issue is gone. The switch I'm using is IOgear 2x4 with a USB 5v 2a power brick. https://www.iogear.com/product/GUS402/ https://www.iogear.com/product/GUS402/
- webdevver 3y agowhat does ddc stand for?
- MichaelMug 3y agoApologies. I hate when people do that as well. In addition to the other links posted, ddcutil.org has some more good info: https://www.ddcutil.com/#introduction https://www.ddcutil.com/#introduction
- argsnd 3y agoDisplay data channel
- kthxb 3y agoI found even these simple USB Switchers to be quite expensive, and sometimes they require drivers that don't work on Linux. I quickly sketched a simple circuit board with USB hubs and a switch and ordered them assembled (!) from one of those DIY-fabs (JLCPCB or PCBWay). They cost 25€ for 5 pcs, each with one 2-to-1 switch. I don't have any experience in circuit design and didn't have to solder anything, and they work perfectly. These would go pretty well with this software, maybe I'll give it a try.
- jonathanlydall 3y agoI bought this one [1] for USD 13 in 2019 and still use it with display-switch (which the OP mentions) to this day. It's as "dumb" as is possible, according to one of the reviews the ports can be a little iffy if you've plugged things into it too many times, but it's still working perfectly for me for my 2x Dell P2419H monitors. I chose this one due to all the wires being on the back, but I'd also be happy with the one with the remote in the OP's GitHub page. [1]: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HV1N674 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HV1N674
- azalemeth 3y agoThat sounds awesome -- Please post the designs somewhere accessible! My experience of kvms is that they're either cheap and don't work in weird ways or expensive and do work, but with quirks. I think no small part of it is earthing and the avoidance of ground loops at different potentials.
- SOLAR_FIELDS 3y agoAfter doing a bunch of research I eventually bought a monitor with a KVM built in and I’ve had almost no issues with it. It does imply if you go this route that you are stuck with a single monitor setup, but if that is how you work anyway it’s totally fine and great. Otherwise some KVM that is decent is as you imply not going to be cheap. The one that I have seen recommended on here before is https://www.store.level1techs.com/products/p/14-kvm-switch-dual-monitor-2computer-z5erd-n6mbj https://www.store.level1techs.com/products/p/14-kvm-switch-d... The manufacturer themselves even outright says it’s not perfect, but from what I can tell it’s probably the best one on the market right now
- wslh 3y agoJust in time project! Do you know if it is possible to just switch a Thunderbolt dock? I mean: you have, fir example, four computers all supporting Thunderbolt and you just switch a USB-C between those comouters? I have not tried because I am concern with affecting the hardware. Based on your inspiration I just found Thunderbolt KVMs such as [1] and [2]. [1] https://sabrent.com/products/sb-tb4k https://sabrent.com/products/sb-tb4k [2] https://www.reddit.com/r/Thunderbolt/comments/11gos6n/kvm_switching_between_two_laptops/ https://www.reddit.com/r/Thunderbolt/comments/11gos6n/kvm_sw...
- MezzoDelCammin 3y agoWouldn't count on that. Thunderbolt is USB-C just visually. It's probably better to think of it as PCIe that coincidentally has the shape of a USB connector.
- fiddyschmitt 3y agooooh, not sure. I suspect Thunderbolt has very specific requirements, and switches would be consequently expensive.
- serf 3y agoI would suspect problems, all of my thunderbolt docks seem to have a 'boot-up' period when powered-on and switched to. It would probably work if you were okay with the delays.
- PikachuEXE 3y agoFor software KVM you can use https://github.com/debauchee/barrier https://github.com/debauchee/barrier I use it between a Windows PC & a Macbookpro (Linux version available but I don't have Linux)
- fiddyschmitt 3y agoLove it. Unfortunately I can't install it on my work computer due to policy & VPN. The benefit of SimpleKVM is that I just have to run it on my home PC, and I can switch between work and home.
- DeathArrow 3y agoHow would this work if your monitor uses HDMI?
- fiddyschmitt 3y agoYep HDMI works well. It also works on DisplayPort, DisplayPort Mini, VGA and DVI.
- maCDzP 3y agoI have a Mac and Windows hooked up the same monitor and keyboard/mouse. I used a USB-switch and connected the monitors separately with USB-C and VGA. Then I don’t have to route the video though the USB-switch.
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- poisonborz 3y agoHaha, just writing a "me too here", I just came to the same conclusion, but I think my setup is better and cheaper, if a tiny bit more complex. For example, the above would need to install to all computers which is a no go for me. Also this is dependent on the USB switching, cannot be triggered fully remotely. - DDC commands for monitor input switching - USB KVM that has only one button to switch - mine was 25$, there are plenty of models out there - Stream deck or prebuilt macropads are super expensive (80$+) for what they are - a few buttons. Get a cheap AliExpress macropad, they go for 5-10-15$ and have all kinds of layouts. They are also much smaller, you can get just one, or 2-3-4 buttons. Don't use the crappy software they ship with, there are github projects to program them. https://github.com/rOzzy1987/MacroPad https://github.com/rOzzy1987/MacroPad - FingerBot 16$ (if you already have HomeAssistant, Zigbee+BT it's faster) or Switchbot 28$ (bluetooth, has a bit more delay) to press the USB KVM button. - Then an AHK switch to watch for keyboard shortcuts, and trigger both the DDC commands and the USB switch button. It has a few seconds delay, but it's controlled from one source only, and can be also fully triggered remotely.
- fiddyschmitt 3y agoNice one!
- sesm 3y agoI'm sure your setup has extra advantages over regular KVM switch and was an enjoyable hacking project for you. But from a price perspective, it's possible to buy a 4-way 4K HDMI KVM switch with a control pad on AliExpress for 29.25$. I don't know how much shipping to US will cost though, shipping to Europe was 15$.
- poisonborz 3y agoI researched a lot for KVMs before. The problem is the video output is hard to get right. What about 120hz+, multi-monitor, how stable the thing is long term. I also thought this is a long solved problem but it isn't. Looking at Ali there isn't a model with too many reviews that can do the above. At the end of the day this is what I would recommend, it is pricey but everyone swears to it: https://www.store.level1techs.com/products/p/14-kvm-switch-dual-monitor-2computer-z5erd-n6mbj https://www.store.level1techs.com/products/p/14-kvm-switch-d...
- m463 3y agoI have always found that KVM switches have side effects on USB devices. So I use mechanical USB switches. for keyboard and mouse, I use two of these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01I0Y3GEE/ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01I0Y3GEE/ They have no extra keyboard/mouse latency, and no weird side effects like boot keys that don't work or modifier keys that are in the wrong state. Issues I've had before with mouse/keyboard: - hotkey conflicts - mac boot keys break (hold down <key> for <some boot function>) - modifiers stick in wrong state - weird delays - combinations with mouse+keyboard break
- k8svet 3y agoDon't use the HID port on the KVM. Aka don't plug mouse and keyboard into the mouse and keyboard port on the KVM. Pro: you shouldn't have the issues you listed. Con: you'll lose the hot key commands for the KVM.
- m463 3y agoMany KVMs do not have a "raw" port like you mention. But manufacturers are becoming more enlightened. The other thing is, many KVMs will add a hub between your keyboard/mouse and the system you're connected to. This is convenient because you have just one cable to each system. But sometimes this is a source of incompatibility. I think the hub requires the system to be able to enumerate devices one-level removed, and the enumeration might be the source of delay. It also might be beyond bios-level firmware, which is less capable than many OS usb stacks. I believe this might have been the problem with mac boot keys. I know a mechanical usb switch is not very elegant, but I find the reliability it adds is worth it to me.
- fiddyschmitt 3y agoYes I know exactly what you mean - I've experienced the same. I haven't tried a mechanical one before. I'll have to try it out
- avodonosov 3y agoWhy is it callled a "KVM"? What does it stand for?
- notso411 3y ago[dead]
- cloogshicer 3y agoKeyboard-Video-Mouse Switch: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KVM_switch https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KVM_switch
- avodonosov 3y agoThanks. I was confused because the only KVM I heard of is https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kernel-based_Virtual_Machine https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kernel-based_Virtual_Machine
- sokoloff 3y agoIt’s amusing to see the mirror comment of this one on a “that other kvm” thread a few days ago: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39300551 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39300551
- em3rgent0rdr 3y agoSame here. This is why it is important to define an abbreviation when it is first used in a document.
- Secretmapper 3y agoKeyboard Video and Mouse
- franky47 3y agoKeyboard, Video and Mouse. Usually you would switch both the input devices (keyboard and mouse) and the output (display), allowing to use a single set of peripherals to control and monitor multiple computers. TIL KVMs existed before the mouse, which explains the odd order.
- notso411 3y ago[dead]
- moystard 3y agoAfter trying many hardware and software solutions for easily switching between my rigs, I settled on something much simpler: a monitor with a KVM built-in. It does not have to cost you an absolute fortune. I personally chose the Gigabyte 34" M34WQ; it's probably one of the very best purchases I made in the past two years, and it simplified moving between my work and personal rigs an absolute breeze.
- dizhn 3y agoThere's a blog post about a similar thing but without any extra hardware. It uses barrier and a few simple scripts. (monitor does have to support switching via dcc). It's not perfect especially since the input switching for the display is quite slow but there's leg in hardware kvms too. https://xpufx.com/posts/hundred-percent-software-kvm-switch/ https://xpufx.com/posts/hundred-percent-software-kvm-switch/
- liftm 3y agoMy monitor doesn't have dcc. I've worked around that part by activating automatic input selection and xset dpms force off'ing on the device I want to switch away from.
- fiddyschmitt 3y agoYes Barrier is very nice. I would use it except for the fact that my work laptop is VPN'd and therefore on a different network to my home LAN.
- fud101 3y agoI'm using this solution atm. Works quite well except the barrier server on Linux is buggy and I need to frequently restart it.
- dizhn 3y agoSome ex barrier people cloned (as opposed to forking) the barrier repo and are continuing development on it. It's called input-leap.
- bitcoinmoney 3y agoI use dell display manager with dell monitors and one of the switches in the article.
- mandeepj 3y agoThis is great, but currently very limited; partial support for Windows. Seems inclined more towards Apple. https://github.com/feschber/lan-mouse https://github.com/feschber/lan-mouse
- fiddyschmitt 3y agoIf you only have two PCs, you only need to run the program on one of them. When it detects a USB device being plugged in, it changes the monitor input to this computer. When a USB device is removed, it changes the monitor input to the other computer.
- layer8 3y agoDoesn’t necessarily work, see https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39333869 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39333869.
- joantune 3y agoWould a USB bluetooth adapter to connect to wireless keyboards and mouses work with this??
- fiddyschmitt 3y agoI think it should. When you do the setup it asks you to unplug and replug the device, and choose it out of the list. So it should trigger the change.
- gizmo 3y agoGood KVMs, specifically the ones from Level1Tech[1], are smart enough to keep all monitors connected virtually so all your windows stay in place when you switch back and forth between machines. There is no delay of plugging devices in because from the perspective of the client PCs the USB/display port devices were never gone. Of course you can connect a bunch of peripherals to a dock and switch the upstream thunderbolt connection, but that doesn't work correctly. Crappy KVM solutions are easy. Good ones are hard. [1] https://www.store.level1techs.com/products/hardware https://www.store.level1techs.com/products/hardware (no affiliation)
- rjzzleep 3y agoDoes that impact the time how long the monitor takes from switching between display off and showing something on the screen?
- gizmo 3y agoYou still have to do a handshake (determine resolution, refresh rate, etc) before you get a picture, and that takes maybe 3 seconds. Some monitors can handshake a bit faster, but not by much.
- Tyr42 3y agoStill faster than my monitor. It can take long enough to turn on that my laptop goes to sleep (from the password entry screen). And since I'm using the monitor as the KVM, I can't even mash the keyboard to keep it awake, I got to reach over and keep touching the laptop.
- kirubakaran 3y agoCouldn't you increase the time your laptop waits before going to sleep? - https://askubuntu.com/questions/1042641/how-to-set-custom-lock-screen-time-in-ubuntu-18-04 https://askubuntu.com/questions/1042641/how-to-set-custom-lo... - https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/set-sleep-and-wake-settings-mchle41a6ccd/mac https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/set-sleep-and-wake-... etc
- oldgradstudent 3y agoThere are pretty reasonable 4-port KVM switches on Aliexpress that support 60Hz 4K and USB-3 for $55 or even less. I got this https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002941646654.html https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002941646654.html a year ago. It has some minor compatibility problems with my Macbook Pro (or Apples' multiport adapter) which require me to remove and reinsert the USB-C cable from the Macbook once in a while, but it otherwise works very well. A year later, there are multiple such devices starting from $30, or even less.
- anotheryou 3y agowow, great! (in theory, sadly my monitors suck. Dell one refuses to see dp and the cheap one does not react to hdmi when set through the tool... I got one specific setup with normal kvm that mostly works, all others don't...)
- zadwang 3y agoI use DDC and synergy. So no hardware. It is mostly working OK.
- freewizard 3y agoNice project. I wrote sth similar for myself, without requirement of USB switch or other hardware. it sends DDC command to HDMI/USB-C monitor and HID++ byte code to Logi MX keyboard and mouse. Code is too messy to share but here's snippet if anyone want to write their own: hid_devices = [ { 'name': 'Logi Bolt Receiver', 'receivers': hid.enumerate(0x046D, 0xC548), 'command': [ # MX Keys Mini as first device on the receiver bytes([0x11, 0x01, 0x09, 0x1A, 0x00] + [0] * 15), # change host to 1 bytes([0x11, 0x01, 0x09, 0x1F, 0x01] + [0] * 15), # change host to 2 bytes([0x11, 0x01, 0x09, 0x1D, 0x02] + [0] * 15)] # change host to 3 }, { 'name': 'Logitech Unified Receiver', 'receivers': hid.enumerate(0x046D, 0xC52B), 'command': [ # MX Anywhere 3 as first device on the receiver bytes([0x11, 0x01, 0x0A, 0x1A, 0x00] + [0] * 15), # change host to 1 bytes([0x11, 0x01, 0x0A, 0x1E, 0x01] + [0] * 15), # change host to 2 bytes([0x11, 0x01, 0x0A, 0x19, 0x02] + [0] * 15)] # change host to 3 }, { 'name': 'MX Keys Mini Bluetooth', 'receivers': hid.enumerate(0x046D, 0xB36E), 'command': [ bytes([0x11, 0xFF, 0x09, 0x1E, 0x00] + [0] * 15), # change host to 1 bytes([0x11, 0x01, 0x09, 0x1F, 0x01] + [0] * 15), # change host to 2 bytes([0x11, 0xFF, 0x09, 0x1D, 0x02] + [0] * 15)] # change host to 3 }, { 'name': 'MX Anywhere 3 Bluetooth', 'receivers': hid.enumerate(0x046D, 0xB025), 'command': [ bytes([0x11, 0xFF, 0x0A, 0x1A, 0x00] + [0] * 15), # change host to 1 bytes([0x11, 0x01, 0x0A, 0x1E, 0x01] + [0] * 15), # change host to 2 bytes([0x11, 0xFF, 0x0A, 0x19, 0x02] + [0] * 15)] # change host to 3 } ]
- fiddyschmitt 3y agoNice!!
- HankB99 3y agoWhere could I explore this further? Are these sequences specific to the device? My current setup includes two Dell monitors (U2415 with 2x HDMI "MHL" inputs and built in USB-3 hubs.) I'm using these with a Linux X86_64 desktop. I also use Logi vertical mouse and ATK (A.JAZZ) keyboard, both on Bluetooth and both also have dongles. I would dearly love to use the keyboard/monitor/mouse on a Raspberry Pi 5 (BT and two micro-HDMI ports) with a pure S/W based solution rather than spending $$$ for a H/W KVM switch. Thanks! Edit: WRT messy code - no judgement, no shaming here. BTDT.
- atomize 3y agoMy mid-range LG monitor has a built in KVM as well as PBP (picture by picture??) --- Whatever it stands for, I am able to split my 34 inch wide screen between my work Macbook and my personal computer (Linux) - I use an app that I've had forever called Synergy to share my mouse and keyboard between them seamlessly. You can even copy/paste across machines. I personally am hooked on my PBP widescreen+Synergy combo.
- bonton89 3y agoI believe there are HDMI splitters on amazon that let you do this with any TV, although I'm not sure how great the quality of output is. I was looking at them once to see about doing split screen gaming with two different consoles.
- starkparker 3y agoYeah, PBP was a gamechanger. I got a Samsung with it without realizing and now use it almost exclusively.
- jwells89 3y agoWhat I ended up doing is making sure all my computers support Thunderbolt 3/4 (or USB 4 at minimum), getting a single good Thunderbolt dock (CalDigit TS4+) and just swap out which computer’s TB cable is plugged into the dock. To ease this I have a little magnetic pad stuck to my desk next to the dock which holds each computer’s cable when not in use. It works great for my needs. Perfectly for switching between Macs or PCs with Intel iGPUs. It almost works perfectly with my gaming PC (which sometimes does double duty as a Windows/Linux workstation) but its Nvidia GPU can get cranky when used with Thunderbolt GPU passthrough for some reason under both operating systems. I think the issue is actually in drivers, but good luck getting Nvidia to care about this use case. I’m considering putting an old AMD GPU in the second slot on the PC and using that for passthrough duty.
- synergy20 3y agoI have a posix script does the same thing but after a few months the screen was dead, somehow I feel manual switch screen input is safer.
- g1sm 3y agoI’ve been using display-switch[0] for this for a while now. No problems whatsoever. Works on windows/mac/linux. [0] https://github.com/haimgel/display-switch https://github.com/haimgel/display-switch
- jglamine 3y agoSame! The fact that it's cross platform helps a lot to ensure commands aren't missed. If I'm switching while one computer is off, the other can still send the command.
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- segasuperstar 3y agoThis is genius
- dukoid 3y agoI have been doing this for years without any additional software: just make sure your monitor goes to blank when locking the screen: 1. lock screen 2. Switch USB switch to the other source 3. Press space to activate the other PC 4. Monitor should automatically sitch to the "new" active source.
- alanbernstein 3y agoWhat monitors have worked for this for you? My Samsung monitor seems to have a hard time finding the source I want.
- starkparker 3y agoBenQs have it (look for "Input Auto Switch").
- dukoid 3y agoPhilips Briliance BDM4350UC
- thefz 3y agoCool project!
- nemetroid 3y agoI use udev for this purpose (send a DDC command when the USB switch appears): ACTION=="add", SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ENV{ID_VENDOR_ID}=="1a40", ENV{ID_MODEL_ID}=="0101", RUN+="/usr/bin/ddcutil --sn ABCDEFGHI setvcp 60 0x0f"
- chrsig 3y agoI've been pretty happy with a monitor acting as a kvm, where the usb output (usb-c or usb-3) can be mapped to a display output. It's nice for a wfh setup where I have a personal desktop and a work laptop, and I can quickly switch between them just by changing the display output.
- peter_d_sherman 3y agoI haven't reviewed the code for this -- but I like this idea a lot! I would love to see a future piece of software, one that could use any number of USB KVM's like this software does -- but could also serve as the main GUI for any number of local VM's and/or remote VM's -- connected over USB or Ethernet or software-controllable "smart" hardware KVM switch or some other intermediary layer. In other words, abstract: a) VM GUI; b) Connection medium to that VM (USB, Ethernet, Smart Hardware KVM Switch, Firewire, ?, ???) c) How/where the a given VM GUI is displayed on the local monitoring computer, i.e., be able to shrink screen, display on a multi-row, multi-column display (like a Zoom meeting!), group various related VM GUI's, have a local directory and search for VM (for example, if I've got a software development environment of various x86 Windows VM's and various ARM Android VM's -- then I might want to group by CPU or Operating System or software stack version, etc., etc.) Now, probably all of this software infrastructure exists in one form or another. For example, in QEMU, local or remote VM's can be created and then they can be connected to via TCP/IP... But, to centrally manage all of those QEMU VM's and non-QEMU ones as well, as well as regular PC's running any OS on "bare metal" over any connection medium (a heterogenous network of computing machines) -- that would be the goal of this software! VNC, or something like it, could be used on the client-side of bare-metal PC's, but wouldn't be necessary for VM's... Anyway, KVM over USB (the original article), is a great idea!
- nottorp 3y agoLooks pretty useful if you don't want to spend more on your KVM switch than you spent on your monitors combined! Well not for me because my boxes run multiple operating systems, but for someone with just multiple windows computers it would be great.
- fiddyschmitt 3y agoThanks! Even just one instance running on Windows can be used for a Windows+Linux setup
- craigkilgo 3y agoDoes this work? This would be amazing.