Mouse problems with KVM switch

[hoe-waa at hawaii.rr.com]

From: thrawn <mattias.bjork at sydnet.net>
Date: Thursday, August 19, 2004 6:18 am

> Hi,
> 
> I have just brought this KVM switch:
> http://www.level1.com/products3.php?sklop=20&id=590430
> 
> But Im having major problems with getting the mouse to work under 
> FreeBSD. Even the keyboard does not work sometimes. This KVM switch 
> has 
> support for hotkey and also supports emulation on both mouse and 
> keyboard.
> When I boot up my system and see the BIOS on the computer the 
> keyboard 
> works just fine. Then when it continues to boot and comes to the 
> loader, 
> it still works. And the it starts to load the kernel. But then when 
> i 
> get to the login prompt the keyboard does not work.
> 
> And sometimes even thought I stay with the computer the hole boot 
> process I can't even use the keyboard. So I have to use ssh to 
> login to 
> the computer and make it reboot to regain the keyboard. I have also 
> tried to change the cables but I get the same results. And It works 
> with 
> no problems under Windows XP Pro.
> 
> The system that im using is FreeBSD 5.2.1-p9, at least on this system.
> 
> I  have also two other computers that Im running FreeBSD-stable on. 
> On 
> one of my FreeBSD-stable machines I have hade a working mouse under 
> X 
> Windows System (Xorg latest from ports).
> 
> But then I rebooted the system and when I started xdm, it found the 
> mouse but when I move it around It didn't move like it should. It 
> took 
> some seconds before it moved and it did not move like it should, 
> jumps 
> several ramdom cm/inches on the screen (Perhaps in the direction 
> that I 
> move the mouse im not sure). Its on usable in other words.
> 
> I have also tryied to use moused under FreeBSD but I get the same 
> fault/problem. I also have a problem if I do not have this machine 
> selected when I boot. Then when I switch to it when the boot of the 
> FreeBSD system has complete, The screen on the monitor just blinks.
> 
> Still the keyboard works because I can press two times Left Ctrl 
> and 
> then 1 to 4 to change the computer Im controlling. This I can not 
> do 
> with the FreeBSD 5.2.1-p9 system I can only see the screen but have 
> to 
> change the computer im controlling by pressing the button on the 
> switch box.
> 
> I have tried to remove the cables and put them back again. But that 
> does 
> not help, the only solution I can see is to reboot the system and 
> let it 
> boot with it selected. I have also booted up with the mouse 
> directly 
> connected to the computer. Then when the system boot was completed 
> I 
> moved the mouse around to see that it did work. After that I 
> plugged 
> back the cable from the switch in to the computers mouse port. And 
> the 
> plugged the mouse back in the switch box, that did not work either.
> 
> I have also added flags to both psm0 and atkbd in my kernel config:
> 
> # atkbdc0 controls both the keyboard and the PS/2 mouse
> device          atkbdc0 at isa? port IO_KBD
> device          atkbd0  at atkbdc? irq 1 flags 0x0
> device          psm0    at atkbdc? irq 12 flags 0x0
> 
> I have also tried with the flags set to 0x100 on both atkbd0 and 
> psm0, 
> but that doesn't seem to make any diffrance. I have done this on my 
> FreeBSD 5.2.1-p9 box as well. I have also changed it in:
> 
> /boot/device.hints
> 
> But I don't get it working correctly either by that.
> 
> Does anybody have a clue or have hade any similar problems and/or 
> who 
> could shine some light on this problem?
> 
> Mvh Mattias Björk


Aloha Mattias

This all sounds familiar. I too had a lot of trouble
with a KVM switch. Actually, I tried two with the same
problem you are alluding to.

I came to the conclusion that the mouse will not work
through the KVM switch using FBSD, or at least I never
got it to.

I have two computers that are both running 5.2.1

I have connected a mouse directly to each computer.
I still had to shutdown both computers and connect 
the cables for the monitor and keyboard from each to
the KVM. I also connected and old mouse to the output
of the KVM.

With all this connected, I then powered up both computers. All seems to work fine with the inconvenience
of having to use 2 meese. I seldom have to go into one
fo the computers, so I can live with it.

This is probably not the answer you were looking for
but you were also looking for others who had problems.

Best of Luck
Robert