Re: DEC Keyboard Question

From: FredK (fred.nospam_at_nospam.dec.com)
Date: 01/25/05 

Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2005 19:47:13 GMT

There are two types of KVM switches - dumb pass-thru and "smart" switches.
The dumb ones simply pass the data through with little intellegence. The
only thing that they need to do at least for VMS is to cause a power up
sequence to be generated when the KB is connected. This way we will
reprogram the KB automatically. The smart ones actually have a uProc that
handles the KB and then emulates a KB on the other side. These keyboards
need to either know about the extended codes - or at least be smart enough
to pass them through. In the worst case, these KVMs handle USB as well, and
then they need to know how to turn the extendd PS2 codes into the right USB
codes.

"Ken Fairfield" <my.full.name@intel.com> wrote in message
news:ct657g$9jf$1@news01.intel.com...
> John E. Malmberg wrote:
> > Ken Fairfield wrote:
> >
> >>
> >> I don't know specifically about the Outlook ES, but when I queried
> >> Avocent's technical support that Fall, the answer I got back was,
> >>
> >> "While our switches do support mode 3 keyboard, it is
> >> currently only in the 101/102 keyboard layout. The
> >> additional keys would not pass through."
> >>
> >> I got similar negative responses from Adder, Linksys and Belkin.
> >> I didn't expect anything different from Belkin, but Adder had a
> >> nice little switch I would've liked to buy...too bad...
> >
> >
> > A google search shows that there are several mode 3 keyboards available
> > for x86 PC devices from several vendors.
>
> Due respect, John, you're missing the point. The problem is
> not mode 3, and it is not x86 PCs. It is KVM switches.
>
> It is true that Windows of various generations works fine with
> LK4xx keyboards, and I, too, use one for my daily work connected
> to an IBM T41 Laptop running Windows XP Professional (not proud of
> it, just the facts m'am :-).
>
> The problem is the KVM switch does not pass the key codes
> corresponding to the "extra" keys on the LK4xx. It passes all the
> keys codes found on a "standard" 101/102 key keyboard. It doesn't
> pass F17-F20, for example, or KP-comma, or the DO key, etc. And I'm
> not even talking about the mapping of the 102 keys they do pass.
>
> >> The other piece of information I've gleaned from my research is
> >> that essentially all of the switches put the physical keyboard
> >> into mode 2, then translate to/from mode 3 for the VMS connection.
> >
> >
> > A google search which I do not have handy indicates that x86 PCs not
> > only regularly use mode 3 for keyboards, support for the LK series
> > appears to be present in many versions of Microsoft Windows. The only
> > version known not to support the LK4xx keyboards is the first retail
> > version of Microsoft NT 4.0. The betas had support.
> >
> > Unfortunately I could not find a list of what versions of Microsoft
> > Windows will support a NT 4.0 keyboard.
> >
> > It also appears from google that Linux will support an LKxxx keyboard.
>
> Ditto: problem not with x86PC nor Windows, but with KVM switch.
>
> >> Apparently Raritan does the translation with a per-system-connection
> >> adapter (Alan, correct me if I'm wrong; I don't have any personal
> >> experience with Raritan).
> >
> >
> > Google is indicating that such translation is not needed as the x86 PCs
> > operating systems already know about and use mode 3, but that conflicts
> > with what others who have studied this more than I did.
>
> Ditto: problem not with x86 PC but with KVM switch.
>
> [BIG SNIP]
>
> > So far in my limited tests, Windows 98/2000 are quite happy with an LK
> > keyboard connected through the cheap Belkin KVM.
>
> Ditto: problem not with x86 PC nor Windows. If you use an LK4xx
> through the Belkin to Windows, you won't see a problem. Indeed,
> you may not see the problem through the Belkin to VMS if your
> access to VMS is through the PC (mode 2). I don't know that this
> is true, I'm only allowing that I haven't tried it...
>
> YOU WILL SEE THE PROBLEM if you connect the LK4xx to the KVM switch,
> then the KVM switch to a "real Alpha". Trust me. You will.
> No Reflections. No KEAterm. No eXceed. Native (semi-)direct VMS.
> Won't work.
>
> [MORE SNIPPAGE]
>
> -Ken
>
> --
> I don't speak for Intel, Intel doesn't speak for me...
>
> Ken Fairfield
> D1C Automation VMS System Support
> who: kenneth dot h dot fairfield
> where: intel dot com
>

Relevant Pages

  • Re: DEC Keyboard Question
    ... only thing that they need to do at least for VMS is to cause a power up ... then they need to know how to turn the extendd PS2 codes into the right USB ... >> appears to be present in many versions of Microsoft Windows. ... problem not with x86PC nor Windows, but with KVM switch. ...
    (comp.os.vms)
  • Re: Drag it to the trash...
    ... There might be a piece of software utility out there to help in finding and administering these "roaming profiles" for windows. ... A lot of MSDOS programmers entering into the VMS system schools abhorred vms at first, but later it sank in to just how flexible the system was designed to be. ... the so called installer is basically just a script that has been given priviledges to create files and directories, make changes to the system logical tables, and creating new aliases. ... in hardware to do all that. ...
    (comp.sys.mac.advocacy)
  • Re: In the Shallow End
    ... When a document claims how an API is supposed to be used and then gives the user examples that actually work, ... Vague in your instance means you have no context to VMS or UNIX of that era. ... Windows offers lots of this stuff. ... That's why Apple had to dump a whole paradigm to plunge ahead and take the lead. ...
    (comp.sys.mac.advocacy)
  • Re: "Shanghai Stock Exchange" and OpenVMS
    ... Windows was shipping without any "documentation". ... "right out of the box" VMS has no applications at all. ... Guess it depends on the style of manuals you are used ... that I need to use the MS-DOS command window in the first place!)? ...
    (comp.os.vms)
  • Re: "Shanghai Stock Exchange" and OpenVMS
    ... Windows was shipping without any "documentation". ... What about VMS as a back-end? ... have never found the VMS manuals to be all that readable or easy to ... where's the secret documentation for all the MS-DOS commands, ...
    (comp.os.vms)