KVM with two USB A inputs?

[normandy2011]

I must be missing something basic: need to control two computers with a USB keyboard and mouse (display or audio not an issue). Both my keyboard and mouse have USB A cables.

So naturally I look for a KVM switch - strangely enough, I can only find them with one USB A and one USB B input (and two each of the same on the output side). I can't, for the life of me, find one with 2 USB A inputs and 4 USB A outputs! Do these not exist? Do I need to go back to PS2 ports in order to do that?

Really confused here.

 

[Saberus]

You don't need two outputs per machine. The KVM will act as a hub to connect both KB and Mouse to the host machines through a single port. If it only has one input, it's meant to take a hub itself, which can be a good thing as you can then connect a thumb drive to the switch and it will be available to the host system you're currently switched to.

Also, most KVMs only have the VGA/HDMI outputs going to the host machines, and make use of signalling or alternate pinouts to get the USB connection through to the host end, which has the video connection and the USB connector.

 

[normandy2011]

First, thanks Saberus!

... most KVMs only have the VGA/HDMI outputs going to the host machines, and make use of signalling or alternate pinouts to get the USB connection through to the host end, which has the video connection and the USB connector.

I haven't seen KVMs with only VGA/HDMI outputs and also wasn't aware that a computer can interpret signals incoming through its VGA port as keyboard/mouse (and, of course, video) signals; live and learn!. More importantly, though:

You don't need two outputs per machine. The KVM will act as a hub to connect both KB and Mouse to the host machines through a single port. If it only has one input, it's meant to take a hub itself, which can be a good thing as you can then connect a thumb drive to the switch and it will be available to the host system you're currently switched to.

That's another thing I didn't know - that you can output both keyboard and mouse signals to a computer using only one USB connection. But on the input side - are you saying that I have to take a USB hub, connect the keyboard and mouse to to two USB A slots in the hub and then connect the hub to the input USB A on the KVM switch?

So the final setup is: keyboard and mouse (and thumb drive?) into hub, hub into KVM, and KVM into each of the two computers? Or am I missing something again?

 

[Saberus]

You misinterpreted some things. I realize I wasn't too clear.

The outputs on the KVM will have normally only the video connector, and the cables that come with the KVM or are molded directly into it will have a short lead at the end with a USB connector to plug into the machine you plan to use the KVM on. The KVM switch itself sends the USB signal down the cable using pins that aren't used for the VGA connection, or won't be bothered by digital data, and pulls them out to the connector. (Possibly the ground pins for each analog color signal on VGA, or the Ethernet signal lines on HDMI, but don't quote me on that, every vendor is different, and the cables for one vendor might be useless on another.) However the signal is sent, the KB and mouse signals are diverted to the USB connector at the other end, not into the VGA port.

Secondly, Can you post links to the KVMs you're finding with only one USB A input and a USB B input? I can't even find these oddballs, I do a google search for 2 port USB KVM and I get IOGear and Belkin models which have the separate KB/Mouse inputs you're after.

 

[normandy2011]

You misinterpreted some things. I realize I wasn't too clear.

No, that's definitely my fault, not yours!

The outputs on the KVM will have normally only the video connector, and the cables that come with the KVM or are molded directly into it will have a short lead at the end with a USB connector to plug into the machine you plan to use the KVM on. .

The switches I was looking at (see below) are all modular - just the switch itself, and the user supplies the necessary cables; I was interested in those because, as I said in a previous message, in this case I don't need video or audio output functions (just keyboard and mouse) so I wanted to minimize the cable clutter.

...Can you post links to the KVMs you're finding with only one USB A input and a USB B input? I can't even find these oddballs, I do a google search for 2 port USB KVM and I get IOGear and Belkin models which have the separate KB/Mouse inputs you're after.

Well, just take a look at this:http:// (Newegg Item# 9SIA6742N06578, in case the link doesn't work). It's a typical inexpensive modular switch (many like it on Amazon and literally dozens on Ebay) - those are the source of my confusion!

At the end of the day, I was looking at (what I thought was) a simple setup: one keyboard and one mouse (I realize I can use a keyboard with a touch pad, but let's assume I don't have one), with their signals going into either Computer A or Computer B (or to make things really exciting later - into a computer or a game console!), all at the touch of a button...

 

[Saberus]

Ok, look at the top view photo. The 3 USB A ports at the bottom are labeled console, those are where the KB/mouse plug in, plus a port for a USB stick. The console display connects at the top. The VGA and USB B connections on either side are to the PC's being controlled. Connect using a VGA cable, and a USB A to USB B cable (a USB printer cable will work like a charm).

 

[normandy2011]

Connect using... a USB A to USB B cable (a USB printer cable will work like a charm).

Got it! So that was the secret ingredient - USB A to USB B cable; I don't know why I hadn't thought of that. I probably have a couple of these laying around somewhere...

Thanks.