Switching between stream computer and personal computer

[Switch_cam]

So I was recently thinking about how inefficient it is to switch between keys boards with my limited space. I was wondering about a product that allows me to click a button/flick a switch. That would reroute the mouse and keyboard to the stream PC. I was also wondering while doing that I could connect a 3 way USB hub to have a portable hard drive. So basically I would hit a switch and then it would switch Mouse, Keyboard and portable hard drive to the other PC. It would incredibly efficient. Also would there be a delay if when we were already connected, like moving a mouse could there be a delay?
#Counter strike

 

[Supermuncher85]

Yes what you are looking for is called a KVM switch, though not sure it is exactly what you need. You can find USB switches for usb2 for about $12 usb3 about $30.

I use a multi monitor setup for many years now and I've moved away from using KVMs and simply use a software. In my case mouse without boarders https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35460 it is simple to setup and allows you to use a single mouse and keyboard across an entire array of computers if needed.

However Mouse without borders CAN sometimes act funny when gaming, try it out and see if that works for you. It's certainly cheaper, considering the software is free.

 

[bigpinkdragon286]

It's recommended not to go cheap on a KVM switch unless you're willing to sacrifice in the video department. The analog units can heavily degrade VGA signals. You can find KVM switches with USB support as well, so your USB peripherals could be shared in that manner. Just make sure to properly disconnect them from the OS before switching, if needed.

KVMs are not practical for multi-monitor setups. +1 to Supermuncher's suggestion there.

 

[Switch_cam]

I don't really need video. My personal computer has 3 monitors while my 2nd computer has 1 screen, so I just need KM and what about the portable hard drive?

 

[bigpinkdragon286]

By video, I meant, all video signals passing through the KVM switch, not watching movies or YouTube.

If the KVM you purchase has USB ports, those should switch to whatever machine is active. You have to be careful that you don't cause data loss if you're going to be plugging a USB storage device into a switched USB port. An NTFS formatted hard drive I wouldn't worry about so much but an exFAT or FAT32 flash device I could see easily getting corrupted as there's only a single copy of the file table being kept. If you needed a robust flash device, I would format it to NTFS.

The KVM switch really isn't going to suit your multi-monitor setup as most are designed for switching only a single display. There really isn't a requirement that you have to connect a screen though, so you could simply use the device for the keyboard, mouse, and USB (if supported) switching.

At the point you're not switching displays also, you've deprecated the need for the KVM switch, as the free program Supermuncher suggested is actually a faster, more seamless, and less troublesome option. All you need then is the USB switch he also suggested.

An alternative to the USB switch would be to share the portable hard drive over the network, rather than switching it back and forth.

 

[Supermuncher85]

Mean a plugable USB switch like http://plugable.com/products/usb3-switch2 is certainly an option. I've never used them though.

As for the USB hard-drive, I assume you use gigabit Ethernet and not some wifi, in which case just do a network share. Then you don't need to move the harddrive.