Ok so here is our dillemma. We are imaging PC's for use in our business. We are currently using Iogear GCS1758 KVM switch. However while imaging if you dont have one of the 8 computers on the "active port" meaning the port is currently in use and is displayed on the screen then you get a error message at some point when you go to one of the 7 ports that were currently not the active one. No I called Iogear and they said that it is a problem between the video card and the monitor (specifically passing DDC information ) Now there are KVM's that have display emulation . (Not really too sure what exactly that means) But Iogear said it would solve our problem. Iogear only suplies a 4 port one of these and this is not going to work. I guess I want to start off with does anyone or has anyone ever had this experience? If so please respond ... oh oh oh and only respond please if you found a solution or you can help me understand the DDC information and why it might change and if the monitor is not currently in use during the video change how and why????????? things happen such as not being to display Learning in progress..........

I can not claim a solution because I don't have the setup described to experiment with. DDC is the communication protocol used which allows computers during boot up to detect the type of monitor attached and it's capabilities. If each of the 8 computers are booted while "active" on the monitor being used, then it seems that they would retain that information as long as they are on. However, if the computers are running "green" functions where they are programed to turn off the monitor after a certain period of no input, then they will need to re-communicate with the monitor when the computer detects input again (when you switch the KVM switch to that computer). Maybe if you disabled the green functions relating to the monitor, programming the computers to keep the monitor "always on", then when you switched to particular computer maybe it wouldn't get messed up by trying to turn on a monitor which is already on. Just a guess, but I have used KVM switches before and didn't have the problem. But, I didn't have the computers on the KVM switch turning off the monitor either.

Well I was reading that i can cut pin 15 off off the VGA male connector. PIN 15 is DDC Clock sound like this would work or not? Learning in progress..........

"Now there are KVM's that have display emulation " All newer ones do. Only real old ones do not. The problem I said was their emulation is not in the range that you need. Cutting wires will not help. It will prevent any signals. If Iogear has a 4 port then piggy back it to one another. "Best Practices", Event viewer, host file, perfmon, antivirus, anti-spyware, Live CD's, backups, are in my top 10

Well we have a newer KVM Iogear GCS1758 This has the USB capability When you say piggy back connect the 8 port GCS1758 (usb) to the 4 port ? Will the hotkey still work correctly As in i will be navigating from the 4 port into the 8 port? All in all I have heard that If we disable DDC by turning off plug and play on the video card on each machine this will help or cut the pins on the video cable that will disable DDC capability? Your saying this wont help? Well Can you direct me to a KVM that will suit my needs ? Or is this hopeless for what im trying to do ? Learning in progress..........

Bump..... Bump.....Bump..... Bump.....Bump..... Bump..... Just looking to see if anyone has any information on DDC or the problem I'm having ..... Work arounds .............. Learning in progress..........