Hi Dom
I'll dig the link out but, fwiw, I finally sorted this out - and it's not a KVM
issue. It's actually to do with USB and particularly the way in which USB is
"serviced" by Windows. As I said in the OP, I'd not come across these errors
on Linux or Mac.
Suffice to say, if you're having the same problems I was (occasional mouse and
or keyboard freeze, then keyboard repeating for no reason), the answer is
delightfully low tech: change the USB port until you find one that works. My
new work laptop (HP Elitebook) exhibited the same problems as my own Windows
machines. My KVM was connected to the work laptop via a spare USB A port and
was showing the errors above. I moved the KVM to a USB C port on the laptop
(via a tiny A to C adaptor) and it's been solid every since - over 3 weeks now.
I did some reading into this - though I've lost the link now. It turns out
Windows does not treat all USB ports equally (and it's not to do with USB 2 or
3 etc). A lot (apparently) depends on the order in which the ports are
serviced by Windows. It _seems_ (YMMV) that USB C (being far more popular
nowadays) is handled before USB A ports. This, of course, didn't explain the
issue on my home PC (which doesn't have USB C) but changing the USB port on
that has fixed that too.
As I say, YMMV, but changing the port does seem to be the workaround.
Thanks
Rob
-Original Message-
From: Hampshire On Behalf Of Dom
Rodriguez/shymega via Hampshire
Sent: 22 May 2022 16:52
To: 'Peter Alefounder'
Cc: Dom Rodriguez/shymega
Subject: Re: [Hampshire] [OT] More IT than Linux: Bizarre KVM issue.
Hi,
I have a cheap DP KVM switch, which is a bit unreliable. I don't have any DVI
devices anymore! 😃
I do work on Input Leap, a fork of Barrier KVM switch software (itself a fork
of Synergy 1.x), but I've moved my focus to my own hybrid h/w / s/w KVM switch,
called Continuity. The only problem so far is that the idea was for video
streaming, and for work laptops, it needs a driver. I haven't written the USB
or video streaming drivers yet. No experience with Windows or macOS kernels...
Can you link to the 8-port KVM switch? I'm running out of ports on my 4-port
KVM switch, and with the work laptop now, I need an extra port!
Onto your issue, the only thing I tend to experience is USB bus malfunctions.
Generally, it recovers after I turn off the USB hub and on again after
switching...
Thanks.
On Thu, May 5, 2022, at 11:40 AM, rmluglist2--- via Hampshire wrote:
> Hi all
>
> Has anyone had an issue with a KVM where there’s a distinct lag and
> then key repeat problem on some of the boxes and not others?
>
> I have a 4 port (Belkin USB / DVI) KVM switch. Two machines are
> Windows 10 (on which this problem is intermittent) and the other 2
> machines are a Mac and a Linux (Fedora) box. On the non-Windows
> machines, the issue doesn’t exist.
>
> I’ve tried connecting the kbd straight into the windows machines and
> that fixes the problem. Then when I revert to connecting via the kvm,
> the problem is intermittent i.e. happens about 5%-10% of the time. As
> such, while this would point toward a faulty KVM, why is this only
> occurring on Windows machines? I’ve checked Device manager and the
> same device is detected whether via the kvm or directly connected.
>
> As I say, I’m loathe to change the kvm because a) they’re expensive
> and I’d actually have to replace the 4 port with an 8-port which is £180:
> very pricy for me. And b) Linux and Mac have no problems. I could
> replace the 4 port with another 4 port but I have been looking to
> expand connections for ages.
>
> And c) I realise I could drop Windows altogether but one’s provided by
> my employer – so that has to be Windows
>
> Any thoughts anyone?
>
> Cheers
> rob
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Kind regards,
--
Dom Rodriguez (also known as shymega)
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