PS/2 to USB adapter for keyboard/mouse

[Ira]

I'm about to order a Fit-PC2 to use as my HA server and a few other things. It doesn't have PS/2 sockets, so I guess you are supposed to use a USB keyboard and mouse. I want to share the keyboard/mouse/video being used with another PC in the same room, but the keyboard and mouse have PS/2 plugs. I haven't found any kvm switches that support both USB and PS/2 connections. Has anyone had any success (or lack thereof) with any PS/2 to USB adapters for both keyboard and mouse when using it "down stream" from a kvm switch? Both PC's and my monitor support DVI so I'm okay there.

Thanks,
Ira

 

[ctwilliams]

I'm about to order a Fit-PC2 to use as my HA server and a few other things. It doesn't have PS/2 sockets, so I guess you are supposed to use a USB keyboard and mouse. I want to share the keyboard/mouse/video being used with another PC in the same room, but the keyboard and mouse have PS/2 plugs. I haven't found any kvm switches that support both USB and PS/2 connections. Has anyone had any success (or lack thereof) with any PS/2 to USB adapters for both keyboard and mouse when using it "down stream" from a kvm switch? Both PC's and my monitor support DVI so I'm okay there.

Thanks,
Ira

I had the exact same situation. I was using a KVM with a dell laptop docking station and a dell inspiron. The first I tried (a Trendnet) did not work for whatever reason. I then tried the kingwin from newegg and it worked with no problem. It seems some kvm switches and/or computers are more picky than others. My KVM is an IOgear if that helps any.

I looked up the link:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16812107701
Good luck...

CT

 

[Skibum]

Hi Ira

If you don't mind having 2 monitors, you can use a single keyboard and mouse across multiple machines by running software like Synergy.

http://synergy2.sourceforge.net/

 

[zpollock]

I had the same situation and this one worked fine for me.

 

[TXFlatLander]

There are two types of USB to PS2 adapters -- passive and active. The passive will only work if the keyboard or mouse is designed to work with passive adapter. Passive adapter generally are the small simple looking one adapter devices that come with a PS2 mouse or PS2 keyboard. If your KVM doesnt support passive, then it won't work.

The active adapters are powered and allow a non-passive capable PS2 mouse or keyboard to work with USB. Basically it handles all the PS2 to USB translations where a passive adapter would rely on the actual input device for that translation. The one Zac posted appears to be active adapter since I can see the green power light. The one ctwilliams posted appears to be active as well. Active should work with any USB to PS2 device, whether it be KVM or straight to input device. We use an active on a server hooked up to a KVM here at work.