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Inquiring minds want to know. I just cobbled together another folding machine from junk lying around.

I don't have a monitor for it. I have one monitor and was using with two machines since it has a normal s-vga connector and a BNC. Now I need to use it with three. Can I swap the s-vga cable from one PC to the other while they are both running?

Thanks

I do it all the time on my Linux boxes, but YMMV. I know it worked fine for me, though

I have often wondered the same thing about lots of things like Keyboards, mice, joysticks, etc. I know USB devices are hot swappable but how about other non USB peripherals devices?

You can do it .... but you might want to look into VNC or comparable remote admin software (assuming the machines are networked ...). Just run VNC server on one of the machines without a monitor and use VNC viewer on your main machine to connect to the ones without a monitor. That's how I administrate my machines on the network that're running a GUI ... though I'm usign TightVNC. I can even use this to remotely administrate my PCs via DSL from somewhere else, using a SSL connection (though via dialup is painful).
Another possibility would be a hardware KVM-switch (Keyboard/Video/Mouse) where you can select via a switch which PC to use with your keyboard/mouse/monitor. I just wouldn't use this solution when you use high-res cause your videosignal is likely to weaken using a KVM switch (unless it's a real expensive one).

Originally posted by dadx2mj
I have often wondered the same thing about lots of things like Keyboards, mice, joysticks, etc. I know USB devices are hot swappable but how about other non USB peripherals devices?

Well, I switch those all the time too, dad. When I need to access my linux box, I have to hook up everything to it. Keyboard, mouse, monitor, etc - so I know those are hot swap (ish, as I dont think they are MEANT to be that way).

Also, something I learned a few weeks ago, Floppy drives are basically hot swappable too hehe.
i needed to install XP, but the CD wouldnt boot. And I only had 3 floppies. XP boot needs 6 hehe.
So I plugged the FDD into the working box, formatted the first 3 floppies, unplugged the drive at the "please insert floppy disk #4 and press enter", plugged it into new box, ran through the install, when it said "please insert disk #4" i unplugged the fdd, plugged it into the other box, popped in the floppy, and it formatted and set it up perfect. hehe

I was actually sort of expecting it to behave this way, since Windows doesn't mount the drive until it needs it. I've even hot swapped CD-Roms with the same results.

i switch my monitor around all the time it don't hurt it any... keyboards and usb mice form my experience ps2 don't like it but usb has no problem at all...

Ditto. Doesn't hurt anything. I do it all the time wile bench testing.

They aren't data signals - they're analog signals. No handshaking going on, and neither the card's output or the monitor's input is static sensitive.

i have two folding rigs that share a monitor kb and mouse - all old stuff - 14" monitor - just connect them whenever i want to check - i reality the only time i ever hook the monitor up is when there is a power outage and i have to restart them - neither are hooked up at the moment - don't even remember the last time i looked - i checked them every coupleof day sat first for temp etc, but after a few weeks just let them be

everything but the powercord is hostswapable. be carful of the audio ports though, I found sometimes it will short out if you have music playing with an amped speaker set. the rest i have never had a problem with.

Well if we're discussing other ports, NEVER hotswap a parallel port connected to a laser printer. Many documented cases of damaging the printer. This is the reason you also never use a mechanical printer port switch on a laser.

Modern lasers may have more buffering now, but why take a chance?

Thanks everybody.

DocSilly - That VNC proggie is way cool! Thanks for pointing it out to me. Worked fine with my new junkbox once I found drivers for the state of the art Creative Graphics Blaster Extreme 4mb videocard!!!

Yeah, I find it way more convinient than crouching under my table and trying to swap the monitorcable behind my PCs without seeing the videocards