Saving Space: 4 Port KVM Switches

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Features Table

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Manufacturer	Gembird	Keysonic	Lindy
Model	CAS-431	IC-714-IK	CPU Switch Lite 4 Port
Dimensions	182 x 102 x 57 mm	200 x 90 x 45 mm	190 x 90 x 35 mm
Weight	890 g	610 g	265 g
Case material	Metal	Aluminium	Plastic
Console Connections
Mouse	1x PS/2 socket	1x PS/2 socket	1x PS/2 socket
Keyboard	1x PS/2 socket	1x PS/2 socket	1x PS/2 socket
Sound	no	no	2x 3.5 mm socket
USB Ports Mouse / Keyboard	no	no	no
USB Peripherals	no	no	no
VGA	1x 15-pin socket	1x 15-pin socket	1x 15-pin socket
Maximum VGA resolution	1600 x 1200	1920 x 1440	2048 x 1536
Video Standards	SVGA, VGA	DDC, DDC2, DDC2B	VGA, DDC1, DDC2
Video Range	200 MHz	400 MHz	400 MHz
DVI Connections	no	no	no
LAN	no	no	no
RESET button	yes	no	no
Client Connections
Mouse	4x PS/2	4x PS/2	4x PS/2
Keyboard	4x PS/2	4x PS/2	4x PS/2
USB Ports	no	no	no
Sound	no	no	4x 2-3.5 mm socket
VGA	4x 15-pin socket	4x 15-pin plug	4x 15-pin socket
DVI	no	no	no
Power input	no	9V	no
Other	no	no	no
Accessories / Supplies
VGA Cable	no	no	no
Mouse / Keyboard Cable	no	no	no
Combination Cable VGA / Mouse / Keyboard	yes, 4x 1.8 m	yes, 4x 1.8 m	no
Combination Cable KVM+Sound	no	no	yes, 4x 2 Meter
Combination Cable KVM+Sound+USB	no	no	no
Combination Cable KVM+USB	no	no	no
Sound Cable	no	no	no
LAN Cable	no	no	no
Power pack	yes	optional	no
Manual	Yes, English	Pamphlet, multiple languages	Pamphlet, multiple languages
Client Switch
Tracer	yes	no	yes
Autoscan	yes	yes	yes
Scan Interval	5 seconds	5 to 30 seconds	8 seconds
Regulator	no	yes	no
Hotkey	yes	yes	yes
Acoustic signal	yes	yes	yes
Security Function	no	no	no
Display on KVM Switch
Enterprise LED	no	yes	no
Client LED	yes	yes	yes
On-Screen Display	no	no	no
Warning Signal	no	no	no

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Setup of the platforms testedSystem 1Barebone Shuttle Zen Xpc
CPU	Pentium 4 3.2 GHz
System Memory	512 MByte DDR
Graphics Card	Onboard Graphics ATI 9500
OS	3Ware NAS Soho, Linux-based
Resolution	800x600, 60Hz, DOS mode
System 2Barebone Jetway MiniQ
CPU	Pentium 4C 2.6 GHz
System Memory	512 MByte DDR
Graphics Card	Nvidia Geforce FX 5700
OS	Windows XP, SP1
Resolution	1280x 1024, 70 Hz, 32 bit
System 3Notebook
CPU	Pentium M 1.7 GHz
System Memory	480 MByte RAM
Graphics Card	Onboard Intel Graphics 82852/82855
OS	Windows XP, SP1
Resolution	1024 x 786, 60 Hz, 32 bit
Console
TFT	17"
Keyboard	Keysonic ACK-720WK USB*
Keyboard	Logitech Internet Navigator USB*
Keyboard	Revoltec Lightboard USB*
Mouse	Kensington Optical Elite USB
Mouse	Microsoft IntelliMouse PS/2
* with PS/2 connection to KVM box with PS/2 adapter

Systems 1 and 2 were connected with the first two connections on the KVM box. The notebook served as the fourth PC on the 4-port KVM switch. The third client connection remained free so that the operation during manual switchover and in autoscan mode could be gauged. Because most KVM switches work without a separate power unit, various keyboards were used, some of which are illuminated and require various amounts of power.

The functionality of the KVM box serves as the basis for evaluation, as well as the accessories included in the package (cables and user manual). Particular consideration is given to how easy it was to switch between the individual clients.
Concerning the selection of individual test platforms, there should be an appropriate button on the device that can control the individual systems directly. The KVM box should emit an acoustic confirmation signal.
Switchover must also be possible with a key combination on the connected keyboard. Furthermore, autoscan mode should support various time intervals. The more setting options, the better. Extra points are given for other functions, such as on-screen display and the ability to choose between various key combinations to switch over.
If the tested KVM switch supports USB input devices, then no new recognition of the mouse and keyboard should take place in Windows XP when switching over. Strong fluctuations in the CPU load in the Task Manager should not occur, and NASCAR Thunder TM 2004 should run completely smoothly.
When connecting the client computer cable, all cables should lead out from the KVM box in one direction and should not waste unnecessarily large amounts of space. Likewise, the cables should be bundled and not exist as individual video, PS/2, sound and USB cables. They should not be less than 1.8 meters long. It must be possible to screw the video signal connection cable to the KVM switch.