-=PCTechTalk=- Re: Home network
- From: "Don" <dsw32952@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 6 Apr 2005 11:49:26 -0400
When using a KVM switch you select which computer you want to be "active".
Only one computer can be "active" at one time. In other words I can not
send keyboard instructions to BOTH computers at the same time. The KVM
simulates the presence (but no activity)of the monitor, keyboard and mouse
to the unselected computer so it can boot up when turned on and the network
can access the harddrives and printers just as if it had a monitor, keyboard
and mouse physically attached.
FOR EXAMPLE:
Let's say the KVM is connected between the 8300 and the L466c. All three
computers are then turned on, and all three will boot up as normal. The
simulated signals from the KVM will allow the unselected computer to boot
without any errors such as "Keyboard not found: Press F1 to continue". If
The 8300 has been selected to be the "active" computer all input to/from the
keyboard, monitor and mouse will be sent to the 8300 ONLY. The network will
function as normal just like all three computers had a keyboard, monitor and
mouse physically attached. If I switch to the L466c all input to/from the
keyboard, monitor and mouse will be to/from the L466c and again the network
will function as normal... all three computers accessible. The KVM switch
will have absolutely no impact on the 2350 since it is not connected to the
switch. Switching the KVM from the 8300 to L466c or vice versa has
absolutely no impact on either computer. Power is not turned off, neither
is rebooted and neither misses the keyboard, monitor and mouse since the KVM
simulates them for the unselected computer. Of course, the unselected
computer can not be told to do anything via the keyboard or mouse, but the
hardware installed on it is still accessible as allowed by the network (such
as printing or accessing files on the hard drive).
As suggested in an earlier message, we can eliminate the KVM from the
equation if it will make it easier to understand the topography.
Additional comments are inserted into the quoted text of your message.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bashful Bob" <Bashfulbob@xxxxxxx>
To: <pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, April 06, 2005 2:01 AM
Subject: -=PCTechTalk=- Re: Home network
> Hi Don
>
> OK here is the topology that I understand you want to end up with. Please
> correct me if I am wrong.
>
> You want all three puters to connect to the router directly.
***
Yes. That is necessary to avoid using ICS.
>
> Puter 8300 and L466c will be connected to the KVM switch. The printer you
> want will be connected to the L466c.
***
Yes.
>
> Now for the what ifs.
> Lets say all 3 puters are on. OK here is a big question I have and the
> assumption I am making. Now both computers (L466c and 8300) that you will
> be using the KVM switch on, will be active and accessible form the net and
> through the router at any time. Is that correct?????
***
Both computers will be on and operational as normal as far as the network is
concerned. Lets clarify "active"... to me "active" or "active computer"
means the KVM has been set to be used with that computer. It does NOT mean
the computer is powered on or off.
>
> The one puter that is NOT being used with the keyboard, but on, can be or
> could be accessed by the other two puters if all 3 are in a network
> workgroup. Is this correct???
***
Yes.
>
> There is one thing I need to know. Now I am assuming here that both puters
> connected to the switch are active.
***
By my definition of "active computer" both can not be active at the same
time. I will assume in this context that you meant turned on and
functioning normal, so the answer is yes. If I am wrong, please correct me.
> So lets say that one of those
> computers
> collect the mail from your ISP, the mail program (assuming OE) is set up
> to
> download email from your mail box automatically every 5 minutes. If this
> computer can do the accessing of the mail box with out you being connected
> to it through the KVM switch then it does not make a difference which put
> gets the mail. If this can be done then I would install the email server
> on
> the puter that will NOT be used the most.
***
I agree. That would be the L466c. However, the more I think about it, the
more I think the email server idea will not be a practical one. For the
purposes of this discussion we can drop the idea of an email server. With
Google and Yahoo now offering so much storage space, it may be more
practical to use one or both of them and use POP/SMTP to collect the mail.
That will accomplish about 95% of what an email server will accomplish for
me. And it will probably be cheaper and E A S I E R! :-))
> I am assuming that both of you
> are
> getting your email from one email box and that is the reason you want an
> email server.
***
No. We have 5 email accounts with our ISP that share the one email storage
limit. I use 4, roommate uses one. The server idea was to be able to shut
down a computer and still have email checked to prevent an inbox over flow
and also to minimize the impact on resources in the two main computers.
> It is intuitively obvious that the email server puter would
> have to allow access to it from all 3 puters (with or without a workgroup
> set up) to function as you want. Now whether a network of your 3 puters
> would have to be set up to accomplish this, (but you are going to need a
> network set up any way to access each others files and the printer) I do
> not
> know since I have never been involved in setting up an email server.
>
> What I would suggest for you to consider is getting another email box at
> your ISP and have it for the other person. Some ISP's will not charge for
> a
> second box some do. This way, you will not need an email server and each
> can
> access their own mail box and each emails remain private. You still can
> have
> one puter on the KVM switch, but not using the keyboard, access and
> download
> your email. Then when you want to read your email, just throw the switch.
***
Great minds think alike!!! Pretty much exactly my line of thinking. I
should have read this far before typing the previous comment about dropping
the email server idea. :-))
>
> Now for the network.
> You can set up a work group through Network Neighborhood for all 3 puters
> without having ICS. Here is where XP PRO will want to be boss over the
> other
> OS's you have and will be using. That is ok. You just have to follow the
> set
> up instructions for it. Then you will have to set up a file and printer
> sharing. In the file sharing part, you can set up permissions for read,
> write, and deleting files for those files you want to share. I suggest you
> use passwords to protect the files from unauthorized sources.
***
All right! Now we are getting to the meat of the subject! I knew we would
get here sooner or later. :-))
I pretty much know what needs to be done... the trick is knowing where, when
and how to do it. It looks like the L466 may be the first... installing XP
Pro and setting up the network.... Then what???? Will I be able to leave
all the computers hooked up to the router during the process or will they
need to be disconnected for some or all of the setup?
(A personal side note: My relationship with my roommate is such that
neither of us would ever dream of password protecting anything on our
computer to keep the other out. There is absolutely nothing on either
computer that the other can not access. We DO stay out of some stuff, or
get permission first, but that is respect not passwords. Nobody else is
allowed to even think about touching either computer without one of us
watching over them like a hawk.)
>
> Printer
> Assuming the printer is installed on one of the puters on the KVM switch
> and
> that computer can be access by the other two puters when that puter is NOT
> connected to the KVM switch, I suggest you install it on the putter that
> will be used the least. Can the printer be on 24/7 or is their a feature
> on
> it that it will turn its self off after a certain amount of time has
> elapsed? You will not be able to hook up the printer to the router since
> it
> is not a network printer.
The printer will be connected to the L466c. The printer can be left on or
turned on as required. I wish I had a network printer sometimes... it would
be convenient, but not often enough to justify the expense.
>
> Alternate scenario
> Now if the puter that is not being used through the KVM switch can NOT be
> accessed when the switch is not set to work with it, then you will have to
> set up the mail server and printer on the third computer so any puter can
> access them at any time since it is going to be on 24/7. Here I think this
> puter should be the fastest one. You still could use the 2 mailbox
> scenario
> here if you choose and the workgroup too.
This is moot since both computers connected to the KVM will both function as
if they both had keyboards, monitors and mouses (meese? mices? meeses?
<grin>).
>
> Hope I understand (finally) how you want things and that this is of some
> benefit to you.
So far, so good. I think we are over the hump of understanding the KVM
switch and the desired topography. And I think it is safe to say the email
server idea stunk to high heaven... consider it dead.
Don
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