[geeks] Unusual Problem with KVM

[Sridhar Ayengar]

Hi.  I have a monitor (Mitsubishi Diamond Pro 2040u) which has a 
built-in USB KVM switch.  When one of the computers on the switch puts 
it into power-save mode, and the other is still providing signal, its 
normal behavior is to automatically switch to whichever computer is 
still providing signal.

This is normally just fine, but it leads to a problem.  One of the boxes 
I have connected to the switch has fallen asleep.  If I hit the 
switch-upstream button on the front of the monitor, the monitor detects 
that it isn't getting signal from the other input, and immediately 
switches back to the machine I was just working on.  This means I can't 
wake up the other machine.

I don't even think it gets to the point of reconnecting the USB devices 
to the other upstream, so I don't believe that a USB doohickey that 
would wake up a computer as soon as it is plugged in would work.  It 
just wouldn't even have the chance.

Any ideas?  This seems really stupid.

Peace...  Sridhar