KVM with Dual Monitor

Gadgetman496

I currently have two PC's through a KVM switch so both use the same monitor, keyboard & mouse.

I want to put a second monitor on my main machine so as to have a dual monitor setup.

Can this be done through a KVM switch?

I want to have my main machine working in dual monitor mode & when I switch to the other machine via the KVM I would want one or 2 monitor mode.

stereoroid

This sounds fairly similar to what I'm doing with a laptop, a desktop, and a Belkin Flip KVM:
- the monitor is the second monitor for the laptop when it's docked.
- it's the primary monitor for the desktop, which is only used sometimes. (The monitor is also a TV.)

The actual support for 2 monitors is all down to the graphics hardware in the computers, not the KVM e.g. you decide which is the primary monitor. Not sure how you'd get dual monitor mode on both machines from a single switch - a standard KVM is controlling a single monitor only.

ToxicPaddy

Ive come across these before, however only in a coporate environment and the option used was very expensive, however there is one for home use but I'm not sure how good it is but it looks fairly straight forward

KVM


Tox

Capt'n Midnight

If only one PC has dual monitor then leave that monitor directly connected.

If both pc's have dual monitor then two KVM's the main one with keyboard and mouse , the second one just for the second monitor - you only switch it if the selected PC has a second monitor

there might be a way of wiring in a key board splitter into a kvm so that the key strokes that select monitor go to both so they change over at the same time.

Gadgetman496

OK people, thanks for the input.

Here are the two scenarios:

1. Two machines with one monitor:
The monitor plugs directly into the KVM switch & that leaves two available monitor ports (out) on the KVM. You then connect the provided cables from the spare ports on the KVM to the video card on each of the two computers, job done.

2. Two machines with two monitors:
Straight away you have a problem, two monitor cables that need to go to one port on the KVM? (The monitor in port) Can this be done by connecting each monitor to a "Y" cable & then connecting the single end of the "Y" cable to the KVM? Is such a cable available?

That would leave you with two monitor out ports on the KVM.
Connect the single end of a second "Y" cable to one of the out ports on the KVM & both of the "Y" ends to each of the video ports on the graphics card on the main PC. Then connect a single cable from the second out port on the KVM to the video port on the graphics card of the second machine.

Will this work?
Are there such cables available?

Gadgetman496

Following a bit of research I think that I am flogging a dead horse in trying to do this with a standard KVM?

I think I will have to get a dedicated "Dual Monitor" KVM switch to do this properly?



You can see the full Spec here:
Although I'm still unsure if it will work with DVI/VGA & PS2/USB converters?

http://www.linkskey.com/detail.php?Productid=166&ProductName=LKV-DM04SK

Anyone know of a better Dual monitor KVM or where would be the best place to buy?

-