Helping people with computers... one answer at a time.
There are two approaches to sharing a display, keyboard, and mouse with multiple computers. I'll give a brief overview of both.
I have two computers but only one monitor, keyboard, & mouse. I would like to set up a network (I have a router), but do I need any other software or hardware so that I can see & work on each computer without plugging & unplugging cables into each?
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Not only are computers cheap and their displays often somewhat expensive, but there's only so much room on people's desks and in homes. Setting something up so that you can access more than one computer from a single station makes a lot of sense.
Given that I have perhaps half a dozen computers that I deal with from time to time here at home, this kind of set-up is more than just sensible - it's a requirement.
I'll discuss one common option, why I don't use it (though you might), and what I do instead.
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KVM Switches
KVM stands for keyboard, video, and mouse; this is a hardware device where you connect a single keyboard, display, and mouse to one side and two or more computers to the other. The computer connections are made through the keyboard, mouse, and video connectors (a USB connector is often part of the mix), so you may end up with three cables from each computer to this box.
Aside from the cabling, it's conceptually very simple. You connect everything up and simply press a button to switch from one computer to another.
The only real expense is the KVM switch itself and any additional cables that might be required.
I don't have a specific recommendation but a quick search at your favorite online retailer will show you many, many options.
Now, I have to be honest. While it's been a few years since I've tried to use them, my track record with KVM switches is abysmal. The ones that I tried rarely worked well; occasionally, they didn't work at all.
I use a different approach completely.
Remote Desktop
My approach is to take advantage of the fact that all of my computers sit on the same local network.
I simply enable Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) on all of the Windows machines.
Using Remote Desktop, I can open a window that "is" the remote computer and drive it pretty much as if I were sitting in front of it.
In the screenshot above, you can see my desktop machine. The window in the center is the desktop of my laptop. I can then use my laptop simply by clicking on that window.
I have good news and bad news about this approach.
Good news:
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If you have the Pro edition or better of Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7, you already have remote desktop software on your machine and that machine can be remote-desktopped to (computers 2 and 3 in the diagram above).
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Any version of Windows (and, in fact, Mac and Linux as well) can run Remote Desktop client software (computer #1 in the diagram).
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There's no limit on the number of computers that you can connect to at once. I occasionally find myself with half a dozen Remote Desktop windows open to my other computers.
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After they've been set up, the computers that you connect to don't even need to have a keyboard, mouse, or display connected.
Bad news:
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It requires Windows networking to be set up properly, and networking is difficult to get right.
Once networked, running Remote Desktop is as simple as enabling Remote Desktop access on the computers that you want to connect to (typically, right-click My Computer, click Properties, click Remote), and running the Remote Desktop client on the machine that you want to physically use (typically, in All Programs, Accessories).
An alternative to Remote Desktop
As I mentioned, Remote Desktop is available only if you want to connect to Windows editions Pro or better. If you have Home edition, Remote Desktop isn't an option.
VNC, however, is.
VNC stands for Virtual Network Computing and is conceptually the same kind of technology as Remote Desktop with a couple of differences:
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Remote Desktop "takes over" the computer - only one person can use it at a time. VNC technology allows the computer to be used from the computer itself at the same time as it's being accessed by one or more VNC clients. All users see the same session - meaning that keystrokes and mouse movements may collide, but all can see and interact on the same desktop.
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VNC requires that you install a VNC server on the machines that you want to connect to and use a VNC client to connect.
There are several VNC packages available, often free for home use: RealVNC, TightVNC and UltraVNC are all popular candidates. (I happen to use RealVNC.)
Besides having several of the same pros and cons as Remote Desktop, VNC has one more: it's typically available on Macs and Linux by default.
Here's my desktop again; this time with a VNC window open to my Mac laptop:
Ultimately, there are two paths to go. My recommendation is to avoid additional hardware and take advantage of your existing network and free software to enable remote access of any of the machines that you have networked together.
Article C4825 - May 19, 2011 « »
Leo A. Notenboom has been playing with computers since he
was required to take a programming class in 1976. An 18 year career as a programmer at Microsoft soon followed.
After "retiring" in 2001, Leo started Ask Leo! in 2003 as a place for answers
to common computer and technical questions. More about Leo.
June 2, 2011 7:31 AM
There is one small free program that gets the job done perfectly. I am not endorsed by them, and am saying this only out of my own free will:
A program called Synergy.
You install it onto both computers, set up the 'server' computer to have the keyboard and mouse, and the 'client' computer that will act as if its a 2nd monitor.
This is what i use all the time, since i have my laptop with all the harddrives, speakers, mouse, keyboard, programs, settings, and i recently added a 2nd desktop computer next to me to take some of the load off of this laptop. It connects through your home's router, and sends the movement from one to another.
The limitations are you must have at least one monitor for each computer, and auto-login at windows startup, and then have the program auto-start when the desktop loads. After you get that done the first time, it should be easy after that.
For me, my setup is:
[Desktop] [Laptop]-[TV Screen]. I have a total of 2 monitors, 2 computers, and some extra wires to connect the tv screen.
September 12, 2011 8:49 AM
For several years I have operated several desktops from my recliner with laptop. Kavoom software KVM
http://www.kavoom.biz/ works perfectly. On rare occasions the tech help was needed........it was fast and sure. Around $14/per computer. Have never seen a bad review.
January 2, 2012 11:52 PM
The downside to what you are suggesting is you cant use it for anything with high end graphics, for that a kvm switch would be better. for instance if you wanted to remote into a pc and run 2nd life you can't (i know i have tried tirelessly to do it). It is good however for viewing the web sharing stuff and other remote madness, also you could try logmein works in a similar fashion as RDC, but better. Try it out you might be pleasantly surprised. :)
February 24, 2012 12:21 PM
Leo, with regard to two computers that are connected by a KVM switch, if one of the computer is infected with a malware, does that KVM switch make it possible for the malware to be transmitted to the clean computer? Thanks…
02-Mar-2012
May 6, 2012 3:36 PM
Leo, in the first diagram shown above (under the KVM Switches section), do you consider that setup to be a “network”? Thanks…
06-May-2012