USB over Ethernet connects USB devices via a network cable.
USB over Ethernet connects USB devices via a network cable.
It's a unique challenge, but definitely achievable. I'm looking into whether it's possible to use multiple mice and keyboards to manage a single PC over Ethernet, essentially reversing the typical setup. The goal is to have control from different locations without needing one mouse and keyboard per computer.
When network connection is present, using Teamviewer or VNCViewer alongside TightVNC isn't recommended. It seems better suited for managing a computer from different places.
He mentioned a video he made about an app that can do this, though I’m not sure of its exact name. The tool he referenced was https://symless.com/synergy.
Here are the details of my setup situation. I work as an audio engineer with a two-level studio. The control area—PC, interface, reference speakers—is on the upper floor, while the live room is downstairs. An audio snake connects upstairs to the interface. I want to create a secondary control station in the live room so I can be nearby during recordings instead of moving back and forth. To achieve this, I need two monitors, a mouse, and a keyboard in the live room to manage the PC upstairs. The keyboard and mouse are essential because I rely heavily on macros and hotkeys for efficiency.
Similar solutions like RealVNC and TightVNC might still function, though you’d be restricted to one monitor. It would transmit all your function and ctrl hot keys over the network to the upstairs unit and initiate recording tasks, etc. There are also some products that let you connect display, mouse, and keyboard via a fiber optic cable—still available for several years, but quite costly. You’d need a Thunderbolt fiber optic cable, a Thunderbolt card in your PC, and a Thunderbolt hub, which would likely cost around $500 to $600.
RDP allows dual monitor management, enabling a quiet, passively cooled setup with minimal power for running an OS in your living area. You can control the primary PC via RDP while using the monitors. For VGA setups, there’s a USB console extender option available on Amazon. Digital connections like DVI and HDMI aren’t supported for dual displays. If you need many cables between rooms, consider the KVM over IP extension, though it’s expensive. EDIT: If you prefer a lot of extra cables, the Monoprice extender is also an option. For cables, check the recommended ones here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00HEM653...title&th=1
I've allocated $600 as my overall budget for this project. Unfortunately, Teamviewer or any remote access over a network isn't feasible. I require immediate real-time responses and updates, particularly when monitoring system status. Delays would be unacceptable. My setup already uses a Thunderbolt card on my PC, which is a straightforward and effective approach. The budget covers a mouse, keyboard, two new displays, plus adapters and cables for both directions. A second PC isn't necessary unless it's solely for controlling the main system. After some research, I found a suitable solution: with a GTX 970SC, I have two DVI ports, one HDMI, and a DP output. My current monitors use DVI from my card. I plan to switch to using the DP and HDMI ports, feeding them into splitters. Each splitter will connect to separate displays in the control room via Cat6 cables, with dedicated lines for the monitor outputs and the USB adapter. Each display should have its own Cat6 connection. The USB port will also use a dedicated Cat6 line. For this configuration, a mouse, keyboard, and possibly a USB controller should all work over a single Cat6 cable without issues. If needed, I could remove the splitters and rely on software fixes to avoid lag.