switch for mouse/keyboard/screen

[AJB88]

Hi All,

Currently have a LG Chromebase running ElementaryOS which is used as a daily browsing machine, unfortunately its getting slower and slower, it has SSD and 8GB ram but it cant be upgraded anymore, the screen also doubles up as an extended screen for days when I'm WFH. At the moment I have a USB switch for keyboard and mouse which is shared between the Chromebase and work supplied Win 10 laptop. The Chromebase has a button on front for switching between Chromebase and input HDMI so I can use it as a screen.

I'm waiting for a Mele Quieter 2 mini PC to be delivered, going to flash that with either Elementary OS or Manjaro and use that for daily duties (Also got a Dell XPS Ubuntu running Manjaro for heavier stuff). At the moment though I dont have a spare monitor to use so just going to use the Chromebase display. But the issue will be the same when I get a screen unless it has duel input.

So I need to find a solution for connecting 2 machines (Mele Quieter 2 + Thinkpad Windows 10) to one screen, I want to run a HDMI from both machines into a switch, leave the Chromebase screen on HDMI input constantly and have 1x mouse and keyboard also connected to the switch. Upon pressing the button on the switch I want the keyboard and mouse to work with whatever machine is on the screen.

Had a quick look on Amazon and the solutions seem to be £200+ anybody running something thats a lot less, I do already have a switch for mouse and keyboard so could just add a second switch for screens but thats 2 buttons I've got to press to switch mouse/keyboard and then screen.

[bangerhoarder]

Looks like you want a 2 port HDMI KVM. Lots on Amazon from £30 or so.

[AJB88]

bangerhoarder said:

Looks like you want a 2 port HDMI KVM. Lots on Amazon from £30 or so.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ABLEWE-Computers-Keyboard...

That the kind of thing, amazing what you can find once you know the terminology.

Edited by AJB88 on Wednesday 5th January 15:35

[bangerhoarder]

Yup, KVM isn’t such an obvious term. Once the preserve of server rooms, they’ve become much more common with home working.

[xeny]

AJB88 said:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ABLEWE-Computers-Keyboard...

That the kind of thing, amazing what you can find once you know the terminology.

Edited by AJB88 on Wednesday 5th January 15:35

Only thing I'd say about that one is it comes with USB A to USB A cables. I'd rather have one that takes USB B so you can use it with conventional USB cables - something like https://www.amazon.co.uk/Switch-Switcher-Computers... (which I have the USB C version of anf am happy with)

[indigochim]

Amazing how cheap these have become I wish I'd seen that USBC one before spending a stupid amount on a switching BT keyboard and mouse.

[AJB88]

Arriving today with the Mele once I've got Windows flashed off it ill set it all up properly.

[AJB88]

Switch installed took 2 minutes and working as I wanted it to, doesn't appear to be a hot key combination I can press but not the end of the world. Mele finally working as well getting Linux to boot was harder than usual.

[Whoozit]

It sounds like it may have been overkill/over budget for you, however I found a solution for an all-in-one for two machines with hotkey swap. Most importantly, so that all the USB accessories swapped over as well.

This combo plus an old USB hub did the trick
Monitor https://www.dell.com/en-uk/shop/dell-ultrasharp-34...
External sound card https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07ZHVWBQX/ref=pe_2706...