[m463]

kvm usb switching is always broken, sometimes subtly, sometimes obvious

I use mechanical USB switches to individually switch USB lines like this:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01I0Y3GEE

one for keyboard, one for mouse

Problems it avoids

- cable speed usb

- no extra latency

- using boot-up hold-key-down sequences on macos works fine

- keyboard doesn't get hung in weird states

- no hotkey conflicts

- no mouse gets in weird state on one system that persists to another

etc etc etc

[gblargg]

There are electronic versions of 2-1 switches that also just connect the data lines through, no hub, but use electronic switches rather than multi-pole mechanical switches (they naturally work bidirectionally, so you can switch a computer between two devices as well as one device between two computers).

[vogelke]

I have a Dell 2208 monitor with 4 USB-2 ports. If I bought three of these switches, would I be able to share keyboard/mouse/monitor between two machines? My monitor does not have HDMI, just VGA.

[m463]

I bought two 4x1 switches and stacked them on top of each other.

One was connected to my keyboard and (up to) 4 machines.

The other was connected to my mouse and (up to) 4 machines.

for each machine, I need 2 cables from 2 usb ports on the machine to the switches (one for keyboard, one for mouse)

there no multiplexing, there is no hub, there is just a dedicated cable for each device. It works well though it is a little clunky to throw the mechanical switches.

I don't use the usb ports on the monitor.