Re: PS/2 peripherals

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On Thursday 08 March 2007, Les Mikesell wrote:
> Tim wrote:
> >> I have a feeling the SM mobo would probe the PS/2 ports for a
> >> Keyboard/Mouse and if the KVM wasn't selected on that channel when the
> >> probe happened, the KVM wouldn't respond properly and the mobo would
> >> turn-off the PS/2 ports.  Unfortunately I wasn't able to figure-out
> >> whether this was a linux kernel, kudzu or BIOS probe though...  Anyone
> >> here have any thoughts on that one?
> >
> > I was under the impression that decent PS/2 KVMs would emulate their
> > being a mouse and keyboard connected to each device, all the time,
> > albeit one that was doing nothing, to avoid those sorts of problems (PCs
> > ignoring PS/2 ports or devices if booted up without anything apparently
> > connected;
>
> The KVMs are supposed to do that, but apparently it is more complicated
> than it used to be with auto-detection and maybe even initialization of
> different device types. Some older ones don't work with mice with scroll
> wheels and I've always had trouble getting linux and windows to share
> one properly on KVMs that work with a 3-button mouse.
>
No offense, Les, but these comments need to be accompanied by a YMMV.

I work all the time with two linux boxes under this desk, connected to a 
Belkin PS/2 KVM.  It behaves faultlessly.  From what I have read, USB KVMs 
are more problematic, though.

> > Windows being unable to cope with you unplugging a PS/2
> > device, replugging it, then you wanting to carry on using it, etc.).
>
> Normally you can unplug and replug the keyboard/mouse after the boot has
> completed and windows will still see it.  However since the PS/2
> connectors aren't spec'd for this there is some chance of blowing up the
> motherboard when hotplugging.
>
Agreed.  You may get away with it, but I wouldn't let you try it on my 
machines. :-)

> I've also had some trouble getting windows to recognize a USB
> keyboard/mouse if it was plugged in for the first time after booting
> with no keyboard/mouse connected.  I always try to boot with one
> attached or plug it in to get the drivers installed before I expect to
> need it.  After it has been recognized once it will work again, even
> after a reboot.  I don't think linux shares this problem.
>
I've never used a usb keyboard, but I've often forgotten to plug in the usb 
mouse on my laptop.  Both windows and linux handle that without a problem.

Anne


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