Re: Controlling a second machine on the same desk

MikesBrain <Mike@xxxx> writes:

> 2005-12-28, Responding to Richard E. Silverman...
> >
> > VNC, or a hardware KVM switch?
> >
>
> They are options, but I was hoping to avoid adding more
> hardware, or loading up on more software, just to save
> having to swivel to another keyboard that takes up more
> deskspace.

Well yer gonna need one or the other cus SSH ain't gonna get you where
you want to go by itself. Unless everything you want to do over the
internet machine is command line oriented. SSH won't give you full
function on the 2nd machine unless the internet machine is a unix box
and you also add X server software to the other machine. VNC is a
little better alternative. VNC is also free and gives you full
graphical control of the desktop gui (as X + ssh would), but has the
additional benefit of reconnectable sessions.

A KVM switch uses a single keyboard mouse and video display to switch
among controlling multiple machines. The only hardware you'd be
adding is the switch and its associated cables, which are quite small
and do not take up desk space. You'd push a button and suddenly your
console is connected to the other machine.

With that, you could have your "offline" machine be truly offline.
That network connection and ssh between them wouldn't be required.
However, ssh and a network is very handy for many things, but they do
come at a price of being on the network and susceptible to being
penetrated, whilst a disconnected machine becomes awfully hard to hack
remotely.

One possibility, a Linksys 2-port KVM with integrated cables. Low
cost. Dunno how nice it is though.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817107702

VNC (server and client, available for all platforms that matter)
http://www.realvnc.com/download.html
see also TightVNC, UltraVNC and others.

Best Regards,
--
Todd H.
http://www.toddh.net/
.