A Solid KVM Switch

Tripp-Lite 4-port KVM Switch

What do you do when you have more than one PC to work on, but don't want to have multiple monitors, keyboards, and mice? And being in tech support, I sometimes need to service multiple computers on my desk. There's no space for multiple monitors! That's where a KVM (Keyboard/Video/Mouse) switch comes to the rescue!

I've used many of them, and found some of the manual switches freak out some computers. Sometimes the mouse or keyboard won't work. Some need external power to remedy this. Some can do away with power bricks by using the power coming from either the USB or the PS/2 port. However, when I started my new job, they purchased a Tripp-Lite 4-port KVM switch for me so I can work with multiple PCs.

In the Box
Tripp-Lite takes a minimalistic method for packaging. The colorful retail box comes only with the KVM switch and a single console port cable. The console port cable is the part that connects your keyboard, mouse, and monitor to the KVM switch itself. There's also a 30-page manual that is half English and half Spanish. Shaking the box, a small pad of silicon feet slid out. They are for the switch so it doesn't slide around on your desk.

Design
I really like the metal construction of the Tripp-Lite KVM switch. It feels hefty and solid, unlike most other plastic KVM switches I've used. There are 4 green LEDs on the front, which indicates which PC you are currently controlling and watching on the display. There is a round button next to each LED so you can switch to them quickly with a touch of a button.

In the rear, it is surprisingly simple. Unlike most KVM switches, there are no separate ports for each keyboard, mouse, and video inputs. Instead, there are only 5 15-pin DB ports, which look like a VGA connector. However, the 15-pins carry all of the signals for all three components. A special cable is required to use this KVM switch, and unfortunately, they are not included in the box. You have to purchase them separately. One of the ports is used by the Console Adapter cable that was included. This connects your PS/2 mouse, keyboard, and monitor to the proprietary single-15pin DB port on the KVM switch. Unfortunately, it does not work with USB keyboards or mice.

This doesn't mean that if you have a PC without PS/2 ports, you're out of luck. Read on a little further for more on this.

It have a power DC port for an external 9v power supply, but did not come with one. According tot he manual, it is optional, but doesn't explain what condition or situations would require external power.

Installing
As stated, you have to purchase your own KVM cables, and they are proprietary. The KVM switch only supports PS/2 keyboards and mice, but allows for PCs with only USB ports to work with it as well. To do this, it have 2 kinds of KVM cables you can buy. You still need to purchase them separately as they are not included in the box. Here's the part numbers for the available cables:

(Prices from CDW)
PS/2 KVM Cables
P774-006 - 6-feet - $25.99
P774-010 - 10-feet - $29.99
P774-015 - 15-feet - $34.99
P774-025 - 25-feet - $49.99

USB KVM Cables
P776-006 - 6-feet - $28.99
P776-010 - 10-feet - $31.99
P776-015 - 15-feet - (not listed)
P776-025 - 25-feet - (not listed)

My manager bought 2 of each type of cables, all of them 10 feet. Inserting them to the KVM switch is easy enough, since it's only a single connector for each KVM combo.

On the other end of the cable, you have 2 color-coded PS/2 connectors, and a blue VGA connector. The USB cables allow PCs without PS/2 connectors to work with the switch, and the end of THAT cable is a single blue VGA connector and a single black USB connector.

Installation is a snap, and didn't even require you to read the manual. You do have to install the silicon feet yourself, though, so the KVM switch won't slide around your desk. Thankfully, they are included in the box.

In Use
I found that despite not using a power supply, the Tripp-Lite KVM switch was able to emulate keyboard and mouse presence without any issues. No computers I've tried it on loose the ability to be controlled when I switch away from it and then come back to it. This is a huge issue with most cheap KVM switches.

Switching between computers is as easy as hitting the button corresponding to the computer on the KVM switch itself. You can also switch between different computers just with your keyboard so you can put the KVM switch under the desk or out of view (and out of reach). To do so, you must hold the Num Lock key and then hit the "*" or "-" key on the number pad. Once you do this, the Caps Lock and Scroll Lock LEDs on the keyboard will flash in succession. You can now it the 1, 2, 3, or 4 key to switch to the corresponding PC.

The Tripp-Lite KVM switch also have an Auto-Scan function. This allows you to see every active PC on the monitor by switching to each PC every 5 seconds. In this mode, any key strokes or mouse activity are ignored so you don't accidentally do something bad on the wrong PC. To use this mode, you must hold down the Num Lock key and then hit the "*" or "-" key on the number pad (like you did before for switching PCs), then hit the "A" key. You can end the Auto-Scan function by hitting the Esc or Spacebar.

There is also a "skip" mode. This allows you to switch PCs by going from one PC to another. This allows you to scan quickly which PC is the one you want to control. To use this mode, you must hold down the Num Lock key and then hit the "*" or "-" key on the number pad (yes, like before). Then press the left or right arrow keys to flip to the next or previous PC. Unlike Auto Mode, Skip Mode allows you to view each PC without the 5-second automatic switching. To exit this mode, you have to hit the Esc or Spacebar.

Conclusion
I actually like this KVM-switch, but it is pretty expensive compared to other switches I've bought. The KVM switch itself is pretty inexpensive ($52.99 at CDW), but it does not come with any of the KVM cables. Purchasing them separately raises the price dramatically.

But then again, at this price, keyboard and mouse emulation seem to be very good. None of the computers I've used this one lost communication with the keyboard or the mouse, which seem to happen a lot on cheaper KVM switches. Also, you can't put a price on not requiring a separate power supply.

While the KVM cables are proprietary and require you to purchase them only from Tripp-Lite (and are very expensive), they reduce the clutter on the KVM switch rear area. I find that with most KVM switches, when you have this many heavy cables connected to it, it can be hard to manage the switch, as the cables may pull the switch to the floor or bind, making it hard to place the switch where you want it.

The metal construction is also a nice touch.