A Geek Goes Flying

Back when I was starting my first career (IT), we had a clunky first-generation remote keyboard/video/mouse system (I think  it was a Cybex Key-View II , or maybe the XP4000 system ?, but I’m not 100% on that; I ran the UNIX® (later Linux) machines, and didn’t have to console in, like, ever ... especially compared to the Windows NT admin!). It did the job but it was creaky and slow and I don’t even want to think about how expensive it was. Yesterday, I hooked up a $75 GL.iNet Comet (GL-RM1) Remote KVM Over Internet  device to my AI workstation . (I also got the $15 ATX add-on, but I haven’t hooked that up yet.) Remote KVM connected to workstation OMG, this thing is amazing. No proprietary software to load, I just pointed Chrome at a local URL (https://glkvm.local/) (with a bad certificate, but whatever), and boom, I had a console on the workstation in a browser on my laptop. I was able to use F12 to access the boot menu and direct it to an attached flash drive loaded with Ubun...

I have a somewhat involved office setup, that looks something like this: My 2021 MacBook Pro 14" is connected to a: →   Cable Matters USB C Hub DisplayPort 100W, 4K@240Hz (USB C DisplayPort 1.4 Hub), 480Mbps Ethernet, 2X USB , which in turn is connected via a:    →   IVANKY 3ft/1m DisplayPort Cable, DP to DP 3.3ft, 4K@60Hz, 2K@165Hz, 2K@144Hz  DisplayPort cable to a:      →  Unitek DP KVM Switch 1 Monitor 2 Computers USB 3.0 8K@60Hz KVM unit, which uses another:        →  IVANKY 3ft/1m DisplayPort Cable, DP to DP 3.3ft, 4K@60Hz, 2K@165Hz, 2K@144Hz  DisplayPort cable to a:            → Dell UltraSharp U2412M 24-Inch Screen LED-Lit Monitor   The 2012 Mac Mini (OCLP patched and running Sequoia) is connected via a Cable Matters 4K Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort Cable , to the KVM, and through the KVM to the Dell. It works perfectly. The MacBook Pro keeps blanking the screen, for ~...

ChatGPT rendering of my KVM setup. Sort of. My “adult LEGO” projects continue; this time I’m adding hookups to my desk in my office for a modern (Apple Silicon) laptop, KVM-shared with my existing workstation (a heavily optioned and upgraded Late 2012 Mac mini ‡ ). I’m trying to do this kinda on the inexpensive, while still going with quality gear. Here goes. Mac mini USB to KVM (below) Mini DP to KVM USB to APC BE600M1 UPS Ethernet to GS305 (below)  Laptop USB-C to CableMatters Mulitport Adapter (below) CableMatters USB-C Multiport Adapter ($33 less a coupon) USB-C pigtail (about 10") to Laptop USB-C port to Anker Mac Book Pro Charger, 100W USB C ($24 including a 5' cable) USB 2.0 port to KVM DisplayPort to KVM (via a 3' DisplayPort cable ) Ethernet to GS305   KVM ($51 less a 25% coupon)  After dealing with a weird screen blanking issue , swapped this component out to a Cable Matters USB 3.0 KVM Switch DisplayPort 1.4 for 2 Computers  ($63 Used - Like New) PC1 IN...