[Lula] 2.6.x kernel PS2 mouse/KVM connection broken

[Chuck Kerschner]

Hey guys:

I just posted this to the PCLinuxOS forum since it's the distribution
I'm currently (trying) to use.  I'm interested in whatever thoughts
Lula-ites have about this too:


2.6.x kernel PS2 mouse/KVM connection broken

PCLinuxOS
March 27, 2007, 06:23:33 PM

2.6.x kernel PS2 mouse/KVM connection broken

Hello:

Running Win98SE on an Intel P-III 500MH with 512M RAM on a LAN with one
other Win98 and one other XP box, all through a Linksys router:

When I'm using Linux, it takes the place of the Win98SE on the main
box, with Win98SE sitting next to me on a shelf (good place for it).

Question: Does anyone have an idea how to get the attention of the
Kernel Developers regarding the 2.6.x kernel's inability to maintain
sync with a KVM switch?

Earlier, when I had just started with Mandrake 9.2 and was beginning to
learn a little, I decided to upgrade to Mandriva 10.1.  As soon as I
did so, my troubles began.

More recently, I had just started with PCLOS .92 and was beginning to
learn a little, then decided to upgrade to PCLOS .92a Big Daddy -- from
On-disk.com -- currently possibly the only place it's available until
.94/2007 is released.  As soon as I did so, my troubles began.

I am still dependent on certain Macrocrap programs and files and must
switch back & forth between towers frequently;  Repeatedly shutting
down to re-plug a PS2 mouse just doesn't cut it.

What happens here is;  Linux works just fine as long as the mouse
(Logitech trackball) is plugged directly into the tower.  With the KVM
switch in use, the cursor flies all over the screen, is totally
uncontrollable, and selects and clicks everything it passes over.  The
only way out of it is hard re-boot (shutdown) and re-plug the trackball
directly, bypassing the KVM switch.

Macrocrap OS's seem to have no problem with the KVM -- at least here --
but somehow the Linux OS goes nuts.

Here's a few links to examples of other folks having the same problem.
It seems to have something to do with any distribution using a kernel
over 2.4.x. -- (not real sure exactly which version....)

<http://forum.mandrivaclub.com/viewtopic.php?t=38059> (My own post)

and
<http://forum.mandrivaclub.com/viewtopic.php?t=34115&highlight=kvm>

and
<http://forum.mandrivaclub.com/viewtopic.php?t=34115&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=kvm&start=15>

or <http://ClubForumPage2.notlong.com> if the long link breaks up.

and
<http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/showthread.php?t=515447&highlight=kvm>

and my own query to bugzilla:

<http://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1255>

(read all the way to the bottom -- it IS bugzilla, and also seems to
have the most current postings.)

My own hardware is an IOgear 4-port KVM, switching between Win98 and
PCLOS.

Folks, this is NOT A PCLOS or Mandrivel or Suse or Ubuntu or Redhat or
any other distribution's problem, nor is it dependent on brands of KVM
hardware.  I've seen too many references to workarounds and patches,
making changes in some /dev or /.conf or service or other, and
suggestions about what hardware to look for -- All this is NOT the
solution.

It is a LINUX KERNEL problem.

For some reason Linux has difficulty recognizing whatever signal the
KVM puts out that tells the computer "I'm a mouse".  On the other hand,
Winders Anyversion has no problem whatever.  The question, then, is
"What does it take to get some attention from the Kernel Folks for this
matter?"  They seem to be boxed into their own little world where it's
only Linux and/or Unix, and probably don't feel the pain of having to
switch between operating systems.  It's also somewhat of a shame to
"upgrade" from something that works to something that does not.

This is a real killer for Linux when a Winders user has to get some
work done.  I am interested in any comments ... and keep in mind I've
already tried the bugzilla routine.

Chuck
("Maximillium" in the pages linked to above)

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