[geeks] KVM switch recommendations

[N. Miller]

On Sep 25, 2007, at 2:58 PM, Chad McAuley wrote:

> Thanks for the suggestions guys, looks like IOGear is the way to go.
> One more quick question: Are any of you using these with a wireless
> mouse?  That's the whole reason I need a KVM with USB support.
>
> I was having issues charging my old Logitech MX700, so I called up
> their support and they ended up replacing it with the MX Revolution
> since it was still under warranty.  The MX700 has the receiver and the
> charging base in the same unit with USB and power cables coming off of
> it, so I never had problems using a USB<->PS/2 adapter to hook it up
> to my PS/2 KVM.  But the MX Revolution has a little USB dongle for the
> receiver (like you find with wireless laptop mice) and then a
> separating charging base.  So I'm concerned I may run into issues with
> the receiver not getting enough power from the KVM or something like
> that.

Can't give you a specific answer as to if it will work, but you  
should ask tech support how many milliamps (mA) the dongle draws,  
then ask IOGear how many mA the KVM USB ports will provide.  I don't  
recall the exact spec numbers (it's been about 4-6 weeks since I read  
them), but a lot of devices rely on USB ports providing more mA than  
the spec provides for.  Most mobo ports provide more than the spec's  
minimum, so if you know that you could look at the draw your keyboard  
has and factor in some small fudge for drop over cable (e.g. mobo USB  
port->KVM cable->KVM USB port) distance and see if the remaining mA  
will support the dongle.

Worst case, buy it local so you can return the KVM if it doesn't work  
out.

The USB, Firewire 400, and Firewire 800 power specs are horribly  
abused by device manufacturers...

=Nadine=