Date: 17 Jul 2002 23:23:03 -0700 From: Steve Wingate <steve@velosystems.net> To: pjklist@ekahuna.com Cc: Questions@FreeBSD.ORG, Michael Wells <mwvw@adelphia.net> Subject: Re: When is FreeBSD going to work properly with KVM switches? Message-ID: <1026973383.295.17.camel@daemon.velosystems.net> In-Reply-To: <20020718060333533.AAA1067@empty1.ekahuna.com@pc02.ekahuna.com> References: <20020718060333533.AAA1067@empty1.ekahuna.com@pc02.ekahuna.com>
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On Wed, 2002-07-17 at 23:03, Philip J. Koenig wrote: > On 17 Jul 2002, at 16:37, Michael Wells boldly uttered: > > > > > > I also have the problem that the KVM must be set to the machine being > > booted > > > > > in order for the mouse and keyboard to work properly. This is a know > > problem > > > > > and there was discussion on it. The problem seems to have appeared > > with 4.2. > > > > > I saw a fix in the freebsd-stable archives: > > > > > > > > > > FROM: John Baldwin, > > > > > DATE: 11/20/2000 16:43:35 > > > > > > > > > > Basically the proposed solution was to remove the `flags 0x1' from the > > > > > atkbd0 device line in the i386/conf/file > > > > > > > > > > This fixed the problem I was having with the Omni Cube 4-Port. I have > > > > > not checked if this problem still occurs with 4.6. > > > > > > > > > > > > > Actually, if one searches through the archives you'll find the mouse/kvm > > > > issue dates back to the 3.x days. Apparently it isn't a high priority so > > > > I wouldn't hold my breath for an always working fix. > > > > > > > > > I really really really wouldn't be so quick to assume the problem is > > > FreeBSD. In my experience, Belkin's are not very good KVMs, I won't > > > use them any more, personally. I've had problems with them not > > > correctly initializing keyboard or mouse ports with Windows as well. > > > Never had a problem with FreeBSD and KVM switches, personally. > > > > > > If you want a good KVM, stick with either Avocent (my personal > > > preference - used to be Cybex and Apex), Raritan, Rose, or one of the > > > companies that OEMs the Avocent switches. (ie Compaq, HP, Dell) The > > > cheapo KVMs are cheap for a reason. > > > > > > (Then you've got "RichardH" saying Belkin's are overpriced, LOL.. > > > well I never tried D-link KVMs, maybe they're OK for a cheapo > > > model :-) > > > > > > > > I have a Belkin 4 port OmniView that works just fine with FreeBSD and > > w2k. I had to add a flag to my kernel to keep things study when > > switching back and forth, but other than that it's been just fine. > > > If I'm interpreting the "fix" right, what it does is force the OS to > think there's a keyboard present even if there may not be. (the flag, > which is not on by default, makes FreeBSD check for a keyboard) > > There are 2 primary functions of a KVM from the standpoint of a > computer's keyboard interface: looking like a keyboard when the PC > boots and checks the keyboard interface, and maintaining state on the > keyboard signals so they are restored when that particular PC is un- > selected and re-selected. > > In summary, the whole point of a KVM is to make the connected > computer see what looks like a regular, connected keyboard. If you > have to do anything to the OS to get it to act as it normally does > without a KVM, the KVM isn't doing its job right. > There are actually more than one issue in this thread, I think. One relates to low-end KVM's that don't have dedicated keyboard/mouse microprocessors for EACH port on the unit. If the KVM doesn't have dedicated processors then the KVM has to be pointed to a server as it boots up, otherwise the server will boot but the keyboard won't be active. I have a 4-port Belkin OmniView SE where this is the case. The second issue relates to some ps/2 mice freaking out when you switch KVM ports. This shows up as countless psmintr errors on the console when you switch ports. I had this issue constantly with a Microsoft Intellimouse w/Intellieye. I tried every trick in the archives to get rid of it and failed. If I switched to an old IBM mouse with the lil eraser head wheel the errors went away but I HATED the eraser head. Several months ago I switches to a Logitech wheel mouse, with the intellieye doohickey, and I haven't seen the errors since. To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-questions" in the body of the message
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