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Re: Something like a KVM switch for multiple Raspberry Pis

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On 2015-09-06, James Harris <james.harris.1@gmail.com> wrote:
> I fancy setting up a few Raspberry Pis with different configurations. 
> Their small size would make them ideal for having many of them in a 
> reasonably small space and I would need them all to be viewable on a 
> single monitor (by switching).
>
> One monitor, keyboard and mouse would probably do for them all. Anyone 
> aware of a good-value KVM solution for this? An 8-way would be enough. 
> Some sort of power distribution would be a bonus. Second hand would be 
> OK. Cheap components would be a double bonus.

I'm a bit late into this discussion but as others have already said
I'd be thinking more in terms of network conenction for day to day
access.  The problem is that both HDMI and USB are a bit too smart
to make this kind of thing easy - there is constant two-way
communication between the devices so a layer of emulation is needed
to give the attahed hosts something to talk to while they are
disconnected from the real peripherals.  The older PS/2/VGA KVM
switches had it a lot easier in this regard.

For initial set-up and emergency access (if it drops off the network)
my preference would be for a serial console hooked up to a console
server (or a serial access server - they're the same thing).  Those
aren't cheap new either but if you keep an eye on ebay or similar
for a few weeks you'll be able to find a used one going for a song,
just don't expect to be able to go out and buy one today for sane
money.  I picked up a Lantronix 32 port model for £1 seven or
eight years ago (plus £10 P&P) and while it's never been more than
a third full it's given spectacular service for the money.  

Just be sure you are comfortable on a serial line, i.e. a bare
command prompt: Unix old hands will feel perfectly at home but if
you want everything graphical from the get-go you will find yourself
lost.

-- 
Andrew Smallshaw
andrews@sdf.lonestar.org

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Something like a KVM switch for multiple Raspberry Pis "James Harris" <james.harris.1@gmail.com> - 2015-09-06 18:00 +0100
  Re: Something like a KVM switch for multiple Raspberry Pis Dave Higton <dave@davehigton.me.uk> - 2015-09-06 21:46 +0100
    Re: Something like a KVM switch for multiple Raspberry Pis "James Harris" <james.harris.1@gmail.com> - 2015-09-07 17:42 +0100
  Re: Something like a KVM switch for multiple Raspberry Pis ray carter <ray@zianet.com> - 2015-09-07 00:36 +0000
  Re: Something like a KVM switch for multiple Raspberry Pis davehigton14@gmail.com - 2015-09-07 03:54 -0700
  Re: Something like a KVM switch for multiple Raspberry Pis Gordon Levi <gordon@address.invalid> - 2015-09-08 00:54 +1000
  Re: Something like a KVM switch for multiple Raspberry Pis Andrew Smallshaw <andrews@sdf.lonestar.org> - 2015-09-13 12:45 +0000
    Re: Something like a KVM switch for multiple Raspberry Pis Alan Adams <alan@adamshome.org.uk> - 2015-09-13 19:22 +0100
    Re: Something like a KVM switch for multiple Raspberry Pis Jonathan Lane <tidux@faeroes.freeshell.org> - 2015-09-27 15:28 +0000
  Re: Something like a KVM switch for multiple Raspberry Pis Martin Gregorie <martin@address-in-sig.invalid> - 2015-09-13 13:48 +0000
    Re: Something like a KVM switch for multiple Raspberry Pis David James <david@tcs01.demon.co.uk> - 2015-09-13 14:22 +0000
      Re: Something like a KVM switch for multiple Raspberry Pis Martin Gregorie <martin@address-in-sig.invalid> - 2015-09-13 17:42 +0000
        Re: Something like a KVM switch for multiple Raspberry Pis David James <david@tcs01.demon.co.uk> - 2015-09-16 00:01 +0000
  Re: Something like a KVM switch for multiple Raspberry Pis DisneyWizard the Fantasmic! <wiz@FANTASMIC!disneywizard.com> - 2015-09-17 08:38 -0700
    Re: Something like a KVM switch for multiple Raspberry Pis rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> - 2015-09-18 08:40 -0400
      Re: Something like a KVM switch for multiple Raspberry Pis Rob Morley <nospam@ntlworld.com> - 2015-09-18 14:26 +0100
      Re: Something like a KVM switch for multiple Raspberry Pis Martin Gregorie <martin@address-in-sig.invalid> - 2015-09-18 18:42 +0000
        Re: Something like a KVM switch for multiple Raspberry Pis rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> - 2015-09-18 15:09 -0400
          Re: Something like a KVM switch for multiple Raspberry Pis "James Harris" <james.harris.1@gmail.com> - 2015-09-18 20:17 +0100
            Re: Something like a KVM switch for multiple Raspberry Pis Rob <nomail@example.com> - 2015-09-18 21:35 +0000
              Re: Something like a KVM switch for multiple Raspberry Pis "James Harris" <james.harris.1@gmail.com> - 2015-09-18 23:19 +0100
                Re: Something like a KVM switch for multiple Raspberry Pis Rob <nomail@example.com> - 2015-09-19 06:48 +0000
                Re: Something like a KVM switch for multiple Raspberry Pis "James Harris" <james.harris.1@gmail.com> - 2015-09-19 11:15 +0100
                Re: Something like a KVM switch for multiple Raspberry Pis mm0fmf <none@mailinator.com> - 2015-09-19 08:13 +0100
                Re: Something like a KVM switch for multiple Raspberry Pis "James Harris" <james.harris.1@gmail.com> - 2015-09-19 11:19 +0100
            Re: Something like a KVM switch for multiple Raspberry Pis rickman <gnuarm@gmail.com> - 2015-09-19 11:31 -0400
            Re: Something like a KVM switch for multiple Raspberry Pis druck <news@druck.org.uk> - 2015-09-19 19:39 +0100
              Re: Something like a KVM switch for multiple Raspberry Pis colonel_hack@yahoo.com - 2015-09-20 22:06 -0700

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