KVM Question

[sucko]

I’ve got two machines, A and B hooked up each  to it’s own parir of monitors set up in a two by two quad. A and B must be displaying at all times. I want to swap the top row of displays with the bottom and use a single keyboard/mouse

 

is ir possible? What do you recommend ?

 

[IPD]

So let me get this straight.  When A pc is active, the K/M works with it, and A's monitors are the bottom 2.  When B pc is active, the K/M works with it and B's monitors are the bottom 2.  Is that correct?

[sucko]

Yes. A displays to the bottom, B to the top. Both A and B are displayed at the same time, but only the bottom row is under keyboard control.  This is the active machine. I want to swap the active machine.

[IPD]

Well the K/M would be a simple switch.  Getting 2 monitors to activate with it shouldn't be difficult.

 

The issue is that KVM "dead-ends" feeds that aren't in use.  Meaning that the B computer would not be feeding anything to the bottom, and because it's wired to the bottom, its signal goes nowhere while A computer is active.

 

Offhand, about the only thing I can think of is using a 1-in, 2-out HDMI splitter for each PC feed (one for each monitor, 4 total).  Then you'd need to daisy-chain those into an HDMI switch box, and you'd really need 4 of those--given that you have 4 monitors.  Meaning that you'd have AT LEAST 4 switches to flick each time you wanted to swap from A to B or vice versa.

 

Let's call them A and B computers, and 1 and 2 respectively for the display feeds for each; A1, A2, B1, B2.  And let's call the monitors Alpha, Bravo, Charlie and Delta.  A1 splits into Alpha and Charlie monitor inputs, with a switch controlling which is active; while B1 is also split into Alpha and Charlie, with a second switch controlling which is active.  Then you have A2 split into Bravo and Delta with a switch; and B2 also split into Bravo and Delta with a switch.

 

Again, still 4 switches minimum (not including K/M).  But that's about the only way I can think to do this with COTS stuff.  All bets are off if you are handy and can program your own switches/logic boards.

[sucko]

Thanks!