[Tfug] Use laptop as external kbd/monitor?

[Angus Scott-Fleming]

On 25 Jan 2008 at 12:24, Harry McGregor  wrote:

> I can think of two options.
> 
> Option 1, console over serial, use an null modem cable, and a terminal 
> program (minicom or hyperterm), and bring up a console.  On most PC 
> hardware, this won't help with bios issues, etc, but you can configure 
> grub to use a serial console, and the kernel can use a serial console, etc.

Yeah, but as you say that won't do BIOS issues.  What I want is console access 
pre-boot, not post-boot, and I want it to be OS-independent for when Windows 
Server 2008 ships, which will have a core mode which just boots to a command-
prompt -- no GUI, no RDP.

> Option 2, buy an IP KVM (single head) unit.
> 
> such as this: 
> http://cgi.ebay.com/KVM-over-IP-Server-remote-control-Startech-SV1110IPEXT_W0QQitemZ150209341566QQihZ005QQcategoryZ11175QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
> 
> unfortunately, most of the IP KVM units require an active X control to 
> view the KVM....

The way I read the manufacturer's page for that unit, it needed Java.  List on 
it, with warranty and manuals, is almost $500, and that didn't look like a 
small box.

I found this USB-KVM unit after a bit of determined googling.   

Epiphan Systems | Products | Frame grabbers | KVM2USB  
    Epiphan Systems' KVM2USB product is a compact device that conveys the VGA 
    stream from any host computer to a laptop, while emulating the laptop's 
    keyboard and mouse outputs.  
http://www.epiphan.com/products/product.php?pid=27  

It's almost $400, though :-( -- about the same price as another single-port 
KVM-over-IP unit from Lantronix which is much smaller and might actually be 
worth lugging around:

PROVANTAGE: Lantronix SLS200USB0-01 SecureLinx Spider KVM over IP 1-Port USB 
http://www.provantage.com/lantronix-sls200usb0-01~7LANB01T.htm  

At least it's doable.  Now to decide which one gets my money [sigh] ...  
probably safest to do KVM/IP as that will work using a standard browser instead 
of using some sort of USB-capture, which might be Win32 only.

A

--
Angus Scott-Fleming
GeoApps, Tucson, Arizona
1-520-290-5038
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