Re: USB sharing switch

From: J.F. Sebastian (rintin_at_tin.it)
Date: 03/30/05 

Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2005 09:26:32 +0200

"Fredje" <fredje110@hotmail.com> wrote :
>
>I am searching for a USB sharing switch which should enable me to
> share my USB trackball and USB keyboard with two Sun workstations
> (Ultra 80) and two Intel computers (RH Linux & MS Windows 2000). The
> computers should not be aware of any switching activities. How does
> Sun deal with the removal and return of USB devices? Which USB switch
> might provide a robust solution?
>

Assuming Sun usb interfaces are fully usb compliant that would not
much change much if peripheralrs are connected to a Sun, an IBM,
a Mac or a cellphone ;)

Anyway there are sort of "new" intelligent switches that switch
peripherals beetween two endpoints (as far as I know they
cannot be seen togheter by the 2 computers) and you decide
wich computer are peripherals connected to by pushing
a button. Most kinky accessories brands produce some
of these, search Maxxtro to name one. But I did not like
this solution so I did built one myself wich you may consider :

I did put a 7 port usb hub and a vga+usb switch on top,
wich switch all the hub connected peripherals among
4 hosts, as well as a vga line for the monitor. So there is
a usb cable and a vga cable from every host to the switch
and another usb/vga cable from the switch to the hub and
a monitor. This does not give you the capability to be connected
at the same time to both end lines, but I don't think it's possible
for the usb protocol. Anyway I did choose this.

Many people did like the idea, you avoid a lot
of cables (I did remove 3 keyboards/mice so I just have
a single desktop). you can find both of those switch and
hub in almost any electronic devices shop.

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