How can I connect 2 workstations to a multiple monitor setup ?
HI,
I have 2 workstations and I would like to connect each workstation to 3 monitors
and be able to press a switch button to switch between each workstation.
Is this possible and how would I go about it ?
Look forward to any advice you may have.
Many thanks
Ian
I have 2 workstations and I would like to connect each workstation to 3 monitors
and be able to press a switch button to switch between each workstation.
Is this possible and how would I go about it ?
Look forward to any advice you may have.
Many thanks
Ian
Last Comment
How are the three connected at present? DVI/DisplayPort/HDMI - combination? If DisplayPort are they daisy chained off each other? Are you using extended or separate outputs?
The basic solution as rindi says is KVM, multiple monitor support is widely available but you'll need to match the current output or rationalise what you're currently doing to achieve this most cost-effectively.
Example of multi-monitor support via KVM
https://www.kvm-switches-online.com/multi-monitor-kvm.html
The basic solution as rindi says is KVM, multiple monitor support is widely available but you'll need to match the current output or rationalise what you're currently doing to achieve this most cost-effectively.
Example of multi-monitor support via KVM
https://www.kvm-switches-online.com/multi-monitor-kvm.html
ASKER
Wow that is way over my budget. Those prices one can buy a new computer :)
Much simpler and free is to connect one of the work stations to a monitor and
the other two monitors to the other work station.
Much simpler and free is to connect one of the work stations to a monitor and
the other two monitors to the other work station.
You could of course also get 3 simple KVM Switches that only have 1 Display Output. Those are much cheaper (below $ 50.--). One with VGA connections, another with DVI, & the other with HDMI or DisplayPort (provided your PC's have all those outputs and can use all of them simultaneously). You then just have to change the switch on all 3 KVM's when you want to use the other PC.
For Example, I use 2 Displays. One of them has Display-Port, VGA & DVI inputs, the other has HDMI, VGA, & DVI. I use one cheap 4-PC KVM switch with VGA, & that is connected to 3 PC's & a Laptop.
Then I have a 2-PC DVI KVM switch, & that is connected to the Other Display. The Laptop is connected via Display-Port Cable to that Monitor which otherwise uses the DVI Switch. The 4th PC only needs one Display so that one is only connected to VGA Switch.
So when I change between the 1st two PC, I need to press the button on both Switches. If I change the Laptop, then I need to use VGA Switch button, & the buttons on the Monitor connected via Display-Port to change it input. It is bit more work, but it does work...
For Example, I use 2 Displays. One of them has Display-Port, VGA & DVI inputs, the other has HDMI, VGA, & DVI. I use one cheap 4-PC KVM switch with VGA, & that is connected to 3 PC's & a Laptop.
Then I have a 2-PC DVI KVM switch, & that is connected to the Other Display. The Laptop is connected via Display-Port Cable to that Monitor which otherwise uses the DVI Switch. The 4th PC only needs one Display so that one is only connected to VGA Switch.
So when I change between the 1st two PC, I need to press the button on both Switches. If I change the Laptop, then I need to use VGA Switch button, & the buttons on the Monitor connected via Display-Port to change it input. It is bit more work, but it does work...
ASKER
Thanks Rindi, To be honest I only need one workstation. My reason for having two is recently I had two failures 3 months apart on my bespoke one with i9, 64GB Ram. Totally it has cost me 3 months lost productivity. I can't have this happen again. Apart from the loss due to time away being fixed it also takes a very long time to install all the software and programs that I use and importing of a load of data from sources and saved in SQL.
This new one will be my main one and the bespoke will be a backup.
I would like to make a mirror image of the main and copy to the bespoke one.
Linking the two workstations is also on my agenda to update files daily.
I'm not all that good at this stuff but I'll get there eventually especially with help from you guys on EE.
Thanks again.
This new one will be my main one and the bespoke will be a backup.
I would like to make a mirror image of the main and copy to the bespoke one.
Linking the two workstations is also on my agenda to update files daily.
I'm not all that good at this stuff but I'll get there eventually especially with help from you guys on EE.
Thanks again.
Mirrors can cause issues if run from other hardware. Product keys won't work unless both Hardware are identical. Different hardware causes problems with drivers & my cause BSODs.
If you need redundancy it could make more sense to virtualize your System (Linux-based KVM, free & OpenSource, VMware ESXi, Hyper-V etc.). That would make the underlying Hardware more or less irrelevant, & moving a VM to other Hardware should be fast & relatively worry-free...
If you need redundancy it could make more sense to virtualize your System (Linux-based KVM, free & OpenSource, VMware ESXi, Hyper-V etc.). That would make the underlying Hardware more or less irrelevant, & moving a VM to other Hardware should be fast & relatively worry-free...
ASKER
I certainly don't want anymore BSOD's as the last two breakdowns resulted in that.
I have product keys for both units for Windows and Office so I want to keep it that way.
As I'm not a techy type and no contact with one. I may have to go the easy route
and treat each unit as separate entities and just share files via network to keep the data updated on a daily basis.
I have product keys for both units for Windows and Office so I want to keep it that way.
As I'm not a techy type and no contact with one. I may have to go the easy route
and treat each unit as separate entities and just share files via network to keep the data updated on a daily basis.
I can't recall the exact set up we had at past workplaces, but quite a few had this KVM switch, we used a lot of IOGEAR products for our Design Engineers and front desk that had more than one workstation, I don't think we had 3 monitors though for these:
https://www.amazon.com/IOGEAR-2-Port-Compact-Built-GCS42UW6/dp/B000IITQCC/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=kvm+iogear&qid=1628353051&sr=8-6
https://www.amazon.com/IOGEAR-2-Port-Compact-Built-GCS42UW6/dp/B000IITQCC/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=kvm+iogear&qid=1628353051&sr=8-6
But with 3 Displays it can be hard to get such switches, particularly they'll be expensive:
https://www.kvm-switches-online.com/triple-head-kvm-switch.html