Nekochan Net

Hi Guys,

I'm a novice to Octane2's and Irix and am currently using a Linksys 2-port KVM switchbox with an IBM NetVista keyboard.
I am continuously receiving a keyboard failure message at boot-up and am finding that the Shift, Ctrl, and Alt keys are non-responsive. Worst case scenario, no keyboard response at all from the keyboard, with the execution of a forced shut-down via the mouse. Is this being caused by the IBM NetVista keyboard (fully functional on Windows PC via KVM switchbox), or by the KVM switchbox?

Any floating ideas out there?



Thanks,

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Dual R14K @600Mhz, 2 GB Ram, V8, 1x18GB, 1x70GB, Pioneer DVD 305S, SGI/Sony SDT-11000 (DDS4) Tape Drive, Sun Microsystems StorEdge External DDS4, Sun Microsystems Quantum External DLT7000 35/70 GB Tape Drive.

Not too sure about the keyboard, but I had problems with a Aten KVM switch on my O2, with an SGI keyboard. I would get a very slow key-repeat rate in a terminal window, unresponsive ALT key when working in Maya and a slowdown of mouse movements. When I took the KVM off everything worked OK.

Didn't get any keyboard failures though...

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No SGI box currently...Snif!

The keyboard issues are likely a result of the KVM you're using. While the "O" series SGIs have the ubiquitous PS2 keyboard and mouse interface, SGI elected to use the less common keyboard scan code set 3 <scan code set 2 is more common in the PC world>. Most PS2 keyboards work when directly connected to an SGI system, but some KVMs seem to only translate a fairly rigid implementation of scan code 2.

So, some KVMs have the ability to transparently relay scan code set 3, some require a jumper or configuration change, and others apparently pass everything through as the <more common> scan code 2. For instance, I have a KVM that works as long as all of the systems connected are SGI; if one of the connected systems is a PC that uses scan 2, as soon as I select that system the key mapping is incorrect for the SGI systems and cannot be reset without removing the PC and restarting the SGI systems.

A little background: man pckeyboard


The PS/2 Keyboard Interface <from computer-engineering.org>:
* Scan Code Set 1 - Original XT scan code set; supported by some modern keyboards
* Scan Code Set 2 - Default scan code set for all modern keyboards
* Scan Code Set 3 - Optional PS/2 scan code set--rarely used

And lastly, an indirect mention in a Belkin support document of how to apply the correct scan code to specific ports on one of their enterprise level KVMs <which may or may not work with other Belkin models>: http://www.belkin.com/support/article/? ... 199&scid=0

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Nice write up recondas! Wiki material?

Agreed. I'll take a crack at wikifying it this evening if recondas hasn't already done so. It also reminds me to add a word about KVMs to the pcmouse wiki page, ie from the man page, "SGI does not support running mice in enhanced mode when connected through a switch."

It'd be worth mentioning that O2's (at least) don't like enhanced "multimedia" keyboards either. I use an old MS Natural keyboard, because my newer PS2/USB version doesn't work with the O2 (it has all the fancy buttons for the browser and windows media that no one remembers to use).

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NeXTStation x 2, A4, A7000, RISC PC

Thanks So Much Guys,

I really appreciate the exacting information posted by "recondas" and "JacquesT." I will probably switch out my Windows PC as soon as I get my network on the Octane2 setup for and working with my ISP and can browse the WWW. Then I will have the Octane2 and the Fuel running side by side on the KVM switch. Hopefully, like in your instance, with all systems being now SGI on the KVM, all will work fine.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH GENTLEMEN!!! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!


P.S. Sure wish I had access to some type of Field Engineer's Technical Reference Handbook for SGI Systems.

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Dual R14K @600Mhz, 2 GB Ram, V8, 1x18GB, 1x70GB, Pioneer DVD 305S, SGI/Sony SDT-11000 (DDS4) Tape Drive, Sun Microsystems StorEdge External DDS4, Sun Microsystems Quantum External DLT7000 35/70 GB Tape Drive.

Done:
Keyboards (PS/2 Style)

Nicely done - thanks!

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***********************************************************************
Welcome to ARMLand - 0/0x0d00
running...(sherwood-root 0607201829)
* InfiniteReality/Reality Software, IRIX 6.5 Release *
***********************************************************************