In sci-fi films remotely resembling reality, and various films about hackers, the theme often flashes when one user uses several displays for different tasks. This form of communication between humans and computers is familiar to almost everyone and is quite common in the real world. But there is another side of the “coin” - one monitor connected to two system units. Why do this? What will it give? And most importantly, how to connect two system units to one monitor? We will consider the answers to these and other questions.
To connect or not to connect, or the Modern Serpent-Gorynych
Without understanding the goals and objectives of this type of connection, it makes no sense to even think about how to connect two computers to one monitor. And even more so to start doing something. At the same time connecting two computers to one monitor to display graphic, text and other useful and useless information makes sense if you have a server and, of course, another computer.
What is a server, and what does it eat with?
Server - the concept of "by ear". Usually, it is presented as a large, powerful computer, in appearance resembling a cabinet with bulbs. And it is used only by large companies, corporations, banks, factories and other large structures.
Actually this is not true. In vernacular, a server is a staff. A service computer provides services to other machines connected to it. Such collective activity unloads computers connected to the server and increases overall labor productivity. Data processing speed also rises, and such a useful option saves users' nerves. There are several types of servers, each of which performs a certain type of task.
There are many server applications, there would be a fantasy ...
Having put the server at home, a regular user can conduct many interesting experiments, for example, with programming. It is very convenient to receive feedback from your personal server, to see the intermediate result, without thinking about connecting to the hosting. You can check the performance directly on your server, for this special software is installed
In general, if you have an additional computer at hand, you can feel many pleasant bonuses: store extra or educational information, books, films on it, use it under storage, put torrent downloads, a game server, a mail server, and perform parallel calculations for complex tasks. There are many applications, there would be a fantasy. One monitor is also more profitable for money. It is more convenient for perception, switching from one station to another. The eyes and nervous system are less stressed.
The best way
One way to figure out how to connect two computers to the same monitor is to use KVM. This strange abbreviation in English means keyboard-video-mouse. And in Russian - an object that connects input devices (mouse and keyboard) and output (display) between several computers. That is, control is performed by one keyboard and mouse. Comfortable enough. There are KVMs and up to 12 objects, but not about them. In principle, it is possible to connect the workstation and the server in other ways, but this one has some advantages that are advantageous in contrasting the others. KVM allows you to perform almost any operation with the server, including the BIOS, without being distracted by the operating system, and as a result, it is possible to install any programs and OS on the second computer through the device. Very convenient one-button operation. Clicked and work.
Divide and rule
Having dealt with the goals and objectives, we will begin a step-by-step examination of the question of how to connect two computers to one monitor.
On the KVM device, there are ports for a video card, keyboard, and mouse. There are inputs for both incoming and outgoing signals. We connect the monitor, mouse and keyboard to the jacks with the OUT sign. The OUT sign is located only on one side of the switch. To make a mistake, in principle, is difficult. There is KVM for PS / 2 ports (standard), there is for USB. Now the most common USB outputs, but if desired, you can find models with old inputs or buy adapters.
The KVM switch has one more side for incoming signals. On this half of the device there are ports for the first and second sistemnik. First we connect the keyboard, mouse and video card from one workstation to them, and then a similar operation is performed for the server. Or vice versa. Change of places does not change the sum.
Checking the connection
We carefully check: the keyboard output cable should stick out in the keyboard port. Input ports must contain cables from system units. And the weekend - from the monitor - and in no other way, if you do not want to repeat the whole procedure again, but, most likely, already with new equipment. A couple of minutes to check will save both strength, money and time.
We start the system
So, everything is ready, checked, double-checked. We connect the KVM device. Do not forget, of course, to turn on both computers in advance. And now, to go from one station to another, just double-click the NumLock button and the numbers 1 or 2. The number indicates the position of the computer in the system. If the computer number, according to the user, does not correspond to a key on the keyboard, then this misunderstanding can be corrected. In order to configure switching convenient for us, KVM manufacturers took care of the software, using which, we can and should program the buttons we need for the corresponding block. So, the main goal - how to connect two computers to one monitor - is achieved!
We are working!
Well, the answer to the question of whether it is possible to connect two computers to one monitor is given. Now it became clear how to implement this, and why such a “double” connection is needed, as well as what benefits it can bring to the average user. The proposed method is not the only one for connecting two workstations to the monitor. There are alternative tricks. We examined the method using the KVM switch, as it is simple and intuitive. And both an advanced user and a novice user can cope with it.