Explorer mouse and video switch issues

[alembic5]

Greetings! I'm a Linux newbie, so be gentle!

I just got a Belkin SOHO 4 port KVM switch(PS/2 and USB), and am currently switching between 2 windows boxes and my linux machine. Problem 1: On my Linux box, I have my mouse configured as a Microsoft Intellimouse PS/2, as I figured that to be the closest match to my explorer PS/2. I can wheel scroll down the page, but not back up. Also my side button doesn't work. Where can I configure this? Problem 2: This is the big problem. When I switch to my linux box from my XP box, the mouse completely freaks out. It is jumping around the screen opening and moving everything you can imagine. I have to log off and log back on to reset the mouse, then it works fine. I don't have this problem if I log off before switching back and forth, but I'd really like to be able to leave my linux box logged on as I work on both of them through the day. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers,
Erik

 

[esromneb]

I don't know what that is, but I'm assuming you have 1 mouse and 1 keyboard, and it controlls your three other computers depending on which one you switch it to right? Well ps2 can't be plugged in after the computer has started right? That's my knowledge anyway. So that could be your problem.

 

[alembic5]

You are correct about not wanting to plug in a ps/2 with the power on. You can potentially damage your motherboard. A KVM switch however, remains "connected" at all times. The computer, although not being used at the time, always has the connection to the KVM.

 

[TopDawg]

I had the same issue with my mouse, however my problem was related to installing Linux through the KVM switch. Once I connected the PS/2 mouse directly to the machine and performed a clean install. The problem went away and I was able to use the KVM switching back and forth with no problems. Hope this helps.

 

[alembic5]

Well, I don't believe that is my problem, as I just added the KVM to a system I installed about 2 months ago. Until last week, it had its own mouse and keyboard... maybe its just upset that it has to share with a windows box and a mac now...

 

[KingOfMetal]

My Red Hat 8.0 system was originally installed with a standard P/2 mouse. Two weeks later I bought the Belkin four-port KVM switch to use on the Linux and a separate Win2k machine I have - and experienced the exact same problem when I switched back to Linux from Windows 2000.

I could never really find a solution. The problem is that Linux can initate the mouse in any fashion, but it couldn't accept the mouse after Win2K had "messed with" its interface, I guess it is somewhat dynamic.

My solution was to buy a second mouse and connect each mouse directly to its respective machine. So I have one keyboard, one monitor, the KVM switch, and two mice.

The mouse I use on My RH 8.0 box is a standard P/2 mouse with a roller; and I bought a Microsoft SE Wireless Optical Mouse for the Win2k box. That way, my two mice don't really tangle or get in each other's way - in short it turned out much better than I thought.

Hope this helps!