On Friday 07 February 2003 02:09, Edward F. Howson wrote:

On Friday 07 February 2003 1:28 am, info wrote:

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Hello I cannot get my mouse to work properly through my Linksys 4-port PS/2 KVM switch. If I login as root, the mouse jumps everywhere and opens up everything anywhere just by moving it. When I login as a normal user, the cursor does not move at all. If I connect directly to the PS/2 port (bypassing the KVM switch), everything's OK. The other computers (a SPARC and a couple of Windows boxes) have no trouble. If I boot Windows instead, there's no trouble either. Any ideas?

Thanks

No I have no ideas but ... I do have a Belkin 2-port PS/2 KVM and I experience something similar. When I switch from one machine to another then my mouse behaves just as you describe. It don't think it makes a difference for me whether it is root or a normal user. Would also like to know if anyone has any ideas what's going on or how to fix it.

I also have a Belkin PS/2 KVM and have the same problem with a wheel mouse. I had a look into it and it seems the issue is a hot potato which no one want to accept responsibility for. The problem is in the switch, which isn't smart enough to sort the mouse protocol out when interrupted. Alternatively, the problem is in the mouse driver for the same reason. Then again, some say it's in the X Server, which doesn't spot the interruption in the serial protocol, and therefore gets confused about what it sees. I favour the latter explanation; that appears to be the point where Windows handles the problem. Anyway, my solution is a lot simpler than the exotic sequences others have posted. Just get into the habit of hitting Ctrl-Alt-F1, Ctrl-Alt-F7 when you switch back to the Linux box. The X Server reinitialises the mouse when you switch back into it, and that fixes the problem. Bit of a pain, but it worksaround correctly. If anyone could figure out how to make it do it automatically I'd love to hear about it. -- Microsoft Palladium: "Where the hell do you think YOU'RE going today?"

Thanks, I'll try restarting the X-server. However, I'm using an ATI Radeon 9000 graphics card. The problem is linked to the KVM switch/Linux code since I have no problems with a direct connection. As mentioned in the original message, my Sparc/Solaris and Windows boxes work well with and without the KVM switch. This particular machine exhibits problems only when running Linux and the KVM switch attached. I'd like to point out that I've contacted Linksys and IOGear on "similar" issues on Windows. They point out that "more than two-button and scrolling wheel functionality is not supported on PS/2 KVM switches" (paraphrasing here). However this mouse is quite normal and even conservative Solaris 2.8 is none the wiser. John Pettigrew wrote:

In a previous message, info wrote:

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I cannot get my mouse to work properly through my Linksys 4-port PS/2 KVM switch. If I login as root, the mouse jumps everywhere and opens up everything anywhere just by moving it.

[snip]

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If I boot Windows instead, there's no trouble either. Any ideas?

This sounds like the longstanding problem with nvidia graphics cards - does your computer have such a card? If so, just restart the X server (Ctrl-Alt-Backspace) and it gets another chance to work. FWIW, I found that using the nv drivers (rather than the nvidia ones) stopped the problem occurring anything like as often (although it sometimes still does).

The big test, though, is whether this setup (linux system and mouse) works properly without the switch box in place. The would at least eliminate the box as a possible source of the problem.

John

I tried this suggestion and even got to the point of only having one single computer (the Linux machine) hooked up to the KVM switch at ports 1 or 2. No Go. I'm going to give up on this and have a mouse just for the Linux machine. It will help my RSI anyway. Meanwhile I'll look into the source code for the mouse driver. Gerhard den Hollander wrote:

* info (Thu, Feb 06, 2003 at 07:08:40PM -0800)

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Thanks, I'll try restarting the X-server. However, I'm using an ATI Radeon 9000 graphics card. The problem is linked to the KVM switch/Linux code since I have no problems with a direct connection. As mentioned in the original message, my Sparc/Solaris and Windows boxes work well with and without the KVM switch. This particular machine exhibits problems only when running Linux and the KVM switch attached.

I'd like to point out that I've contacted Linksys and IOGear on "similar" issues on Windows. They point out that "more than two-button and scrolling wheel functionality is not supported on PS/2 KVM switches" (paraphrasing here). However this mouse is quite normal and even conservative Solaris 2.8 is none the wiser.

Been there, done that, wrote the Tshirt.

Bascially what causes the problem is if you replug your mouse when at least one of the amchines is already plugged in (which given that it's a KVM switch is pretty much always the case).

You have to force a reset on the KVM switch, so that it rerecognises the mouse. In my case what worked was: - unplug the keyboard cable from computer #1 (so that the LVM switch thinks computer 1 is out) - switch KVM to another port than port 1 - power down the other machines

Now all lights on the KVM should be off.

replug the mouse into the KVM, plug the keyboard cable back in power on the other 3 machines.

simply unplugging all 4 machines from the KVM might do the trcik as well (or simply powering down all 4 machines).

And yes, the problem is related to the wheel mouse (or to the IMPS/2) (in my case an optical whell USB mouse with a USB -> PS/2 converter,)

Kind regards, -- Gerhard den Hollander Phone :+31-10.280.1515 Global IT Support manager Direct:+31-10.280.1539 Jason Geosystems BV Fax :+31-10.280.1511 (When calling please note: we are in GMT+1) gdenhollander@jasongeo.com POBox 1573 visit us at http://www.jasongeo.com 3000 BN Rotterdam JASON.......#1 in Reservoir Characterization The Netherlands

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Yes I did have the KVM switch completely disconnected from everything. I held it in my hand for a while trying to stare it into working. Thanks for the suggestions. Gerhard den Hollander wrote:

* info (Thu, Feb 06, 2003 at 10:46:32PM -0800)

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I tried this suggestion and even got to the point of only having one single computer (the Linux machine) hooked up to the KVM switch at ports 1 or 2. No Go. I'm going to give up on this and have a mouse just for the Linux machine. It will help my RSI anyway. Meanwhile I'll look into the source code for the mouse driver.

Just to make sure. You had powered down the single linux machine , so that all lights on the KVM are out ?

It did the trick for me on a Dakota Scout KVM.

The linksys docs specifically state that they only support MicroSoft PS/2.

Kind regards, -- Gerhard den Hollander Phone :+31-10.280.1515 Global IT Support manager Direct:+31-10.280.1539 Jason Geosystems BV Fax :+31-10.280.1511 (When calling please note: we are in GMT+1) gdenhollander@jasongeo.com POBox 1573 visit us at http://www.jasongeo.com 3000 BN Rotterdam JASON.......#1 in Reservoir Characterization The Netherlands

This e-mail and any attachment is/are intended solely for the named addressee(s) and may contain information that is confidential and privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, we request that you do not disseminate, forward, distribute or copy this e-mail message. If you have received this e-mail message in error, please notify us immediately by telephone and destroy the original message.