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Two computers, one monitor, zero fiddling (2025)

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Re: Two computers, one monitor, zero fiddling (2025)

#71

Post by jijijijij »

jmuguy wrote: post #55

Its amazing to me how annoying these problems can be and there's no real one size fits all solution. I have a desktop PC and macbook, and two monitors. I use a KVM and also switch inputs on the monitors themselves. I tried very unsuccessfully to do something with DDC/CI when the KVM would switch between systems. The idea being when the OS detect the presence of the keyboard/mouse because the KVM had switched to them…

> We need someone like Framework to make a "monitor for hackers" that actually has robust, well documented, DDC/CI support and I'd be all over it.

No, no, no. They need to modify their laptops so I can use the laptop's monitor and keyboard with e.g. a RPi without networking. Using the laptop IO for headless computers flipping a switch, or better ad-hoc streaming into some virtual environment would be such a win!

Re: Two computers, one monitor, zero fiddling (2025)

#72

Post by nkotov »

I have a similar setup for my MBP + Windows Desktop. I ended up using a simple USB switcher for all the devices and just running two inputs and manually switching between screen inputs. One button press for USB switch, one source switch on monitor. If I need something from the other computer during the use, I just remote in.

Re: Two computers, one monitor, zero fiddling (2025)

#73

Post by forsalebypwner »

empiricus wrote: post #46
space_ghost wrote: post #12

I did something similar last year with a monitor without built-in KVM but with good DCC support (Ultrasharp U3417W) and Synergy [0]. I use Synergy as part of my desk setup already, but needed a way to view the UI of a normally headless machine. The solution I built was a small shell script that terminated the active Synergy session and started a new one with a different config file (so keyboard/mouse input would map…

does synergy works better now? 3 years ago, every week I would get into a situations where one machine was not connecting to the other, and I had to randomly restart synergy so maybe it connects. fun to do that 5 min before the meetings.

It's definitely very dependent on the stability of both machine's network.

I also recommend checking out the open source fork of Synergy, which is also compatible with Synergy clients https://github.com/deskflow/deskflow

Re: Two computers, one monitor, zero fiddling (2025)

#74

Post by mikestew »

sciencesama wrote: post #21

now we need the same for two macs !

BenQ claims that their monitors will handle that:

https://www.benq.com/en-us/monitor/home/ma270s.html

https://www.benq.com/en-us/knowledge-center/knowledge/one-se...

I've got one (MA270S) hooked to a MBP (recommended, if you don't want to spend the dosh on an Apple display), but I haven't yet dug out another Mac to test the KVM. Considering that it's a $900 monitor, like the one in TFA, it damned well better work as advertised.

Re: Two computers, one monitor, zero fiddling (2025)

#75

Post by GeorgeDewar »

I love this approach, but a few years ago I tried it very unsuccessfully with my Xiaomi Mi 34" ultrawide.

By very unsuccessfully, I mean that the commands to change input didn't work. I can't remember if they did nothing or crashed the monitor, but subsequent investigation led me to realise I was lucky not to brick it, as some people found certain commands cause non-recoverable issues on that monitor!

So, I suggest caution in the form of maybe checking that others have successfully used DDC commands on your particular model.

https://github.com/rockowitz/ddcutil/issues/153

Re: Two computers, one monitor, zero fiddling (2025)

#76

Post by Selkirk »

mdswanson wrote: post #16

FYI that if you have the right kind of Dell monitor, you can download their Display Manager software to do the same thing (and more): https://www.dell.com/en-us/lp/ddpm

I bought the "right kind of Dell," for this purpose but ddpm is unusable for me as it slams CPU periodically.

Re: Two computers, one monitor, zero fiddling (2025)

#77

Post by [deleted] »

heatmiser wrote: post #56

I solved the multi-computer-to-multi-monitor problem with a Level1Techs KVM[1]. The price (~$500 for the variant I purchased) initially gave me pause, but the longer I've had it, the happier I am with my decision. It handles all the switching at the hardware level and thus has no perceptible lag for video or anything else. I'm able to connect a single set of peripherals, in my case, two monitors, a keyboard, a trackb…

[deleted]

Re: Two computers, one monitor, zero fiddling (2025)

#78

Post by seemaze »

spacedoutman wrote: post #26

Personally i prefer two computers, two monitors, one mouse/keyboard. Deskhop has been a lifesaver https://github.com/hrvach/deskhop

I use two computers displayed side-by-side with the picture-in-picture feature of a single ultra-wide monitor.

Input leap[0] is a great open source KVM software version of the deskhop which allows me to control both computers on the same monitor with the sam peripherals.

[0]https://github.com/input-leap/input-leap

Re: Two computers, one monitor, zero fiddling (2025)

#79

Post by empiricus »

forsalebypwner wrote: post #73
empiricus wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

does synergy works better now? 3 years ago, every week I would get into a situations where one machine was not connecting to the other, and I had to randomly restart synergy so maybe it connects. fun to do that 5 min before the meetings.

It's definitely very dependent on the stability of both machine's network. I also recommend checking out the open source fork of Synergy, which is also compatible with Synergy clients https://github.com/deskflow/deskflow

ty, will look at deskflow

Re: Two computers, one monitor, zero fiddling (2025)

#80

Post by nickzelei »

heatmiser wrote: post #56

I solved the multi-computer-to-multi-monitor problem with a Level1Techs KVM[1]. The price (~$500 for the variant I purchased) initially gave me pause, but the longer I've had it, the happier I am with my decision. It handles all the switching at the hardware level and thus has no perceptible lag for video or anything else. I'm able to connect a single set of peripherals, in my case, two monitors, a keyboard, a trackb…

I’m looking for a setup like this. I currently have a simple usb-c splitter that I use to switch my keyboard between the two. I bought a similar one for display ports but it doesn’t work super well, so I ditched it and just manually move the display port from my desktop to my caldigit.

They were both $20. The keyboard one works fine. I’d love to have a kvm like this but the price certainly gets gives me pause when I got halfway there for basically $20-$40.

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