OT: solution to PC systems problem??

[Martin Czech]

> 
> I need to find a way to share a mouse and keyboard between two computers.
> They are mounted in my _Live_ rack and the second machine is, for the most
> part, a turn-key system. I've successfully managed to switch the video
> through one monitor. I used a pair of relays which can be remote controlled
> from a switch at the terminal, (Mouse/monitor/keyboard) which is on a
> single extension cable and can be located up to 1.8 metres from the rack it
> self. But switching, or faking the keyboard and mouse is another matter
> entirely. The keyboard and mouse talk back to the system.

Maybe one can find out what happens on the pins of keyboard and mouse
plug if they don't move. I suspect: nothing.  Some computers notice if
you plug out and give an error message, but IBM-compatibles ? They
don't even notice.  So the hope is that you only need a multi throw,
two pole switch for each computer, switching between real device and
fake device, ie.  pullup or pulldown resistor. Maybe a couple of 4066
switches do the job.

Isn't this a shame? I mean : it is 1998, we could fly to the mars if we
had the money, but still Windooze is to dumb to allow remote login from
another machine and remote terminal and remote graphics.

Maybe there is software that allows remote login, perhaps via RS232?

At work I've a Sparc 10 (maybe upgrade to Ultra).  I always remote
login for compute jobs, even if they have graphics.  The job runs on
the server, and the server sends X-commands to my sparc, where the data
is displayed. You don't evben feel that it is remote.
When I return home and sit in front of my pentium , I feel
like getting from ferrari to a childrens toy-car. No shell,
no real multitasking, oh boy, that's progress.

m.c.