Aluminum Keyboard not recognized through a USB KVM

Question

Level 1

8 points

Aluminum Keyboard not recognized through a USB KVM

I have an Aluminum Keyboard attached to my IOgear DVI usb KVM. My MacPro does not see this as the Apple keyboard so most of the function keys don't work properly. If I hook in directly the keyboard works.

Is this a known issue? Is there any fix for this?

Thanks,
Zeke

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.2)

Posted on Apr 23, 2008 12:20 AM

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Answer 1

Apr 23, 2008 4:38 PM in response to jdehnert

Some switches can be control by the keyboard, so the intercept all the keystrokes. They can have problems with some keyboards. A manually controlled switch is more likely to work.

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Answer 2

jdehnert Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 23, 2008 6:59 PM in response to Malcolm Rayfield

Well, my KVM switch works fine. I always use the manual buttons on the front of it as opposed to the keystroke method of changing screens.

What doesn't work is that my Mac Pro does not recognize the Aluminum keyboard as a Mac Aluminum keyboard. It sees a generic 101 US, so the function keys and the CD eject buttons to match up.

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Answer 3

sdagley

Level 1

30 points

Apr 24, 2008 11:37 AM in response to jdehnert

Does your KVM have an option to disable "keyboard/mouse emulation"? Some KVMs will always emulate the presence of a keyboard & mouse so that a re-booting PC won't halt the boot process to report a missing keyboard or mouse error. This emulation is usually of the generic 101 key keyboard that you mention.

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Answer 4

LGJ001

Level 1

20 points

Apr 24, 2008 1:09 PM in response to jdehnert

I have the same problem with my Avocent Switchview DVI - it's very annoying. I'm thinking of replacing it with an Aten 1764 (which claims to be mac-compatible), but I don't want to spend the money only to find I have the same problem!

Anyone know if the 1764 solves this problem?

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Answer 5

jdehnert Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 24, 2008 2:46 PM in response to jdehnert

SOLVED, for this KVM switch anyway.

Your feedback prompted me to go back and RTFM, and for the IOGEAR GCS1764 all you need to do is out the KVM in HSM ( Hot key Setting Mode ) mode and hit F2 to change the KVM to Mac keyboard mode.

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Answer 6

LGJ001

Level 1

20 points

Apr 25, 2008 12:30 AM in response to jdehnert

Cool! That answers my question too since the IOGEAR 1764 is a re-badged version of the Aten CS1764.... Thanks!

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