{"id":11574,"date":"2011-09-28T15:48:07","date_gmt":"2011-09-28T15:48:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/keyboard-video-mouse\/"},"modified":"2011-09-28T15:48:07","modified_gmt":"2011-09-28T15:48:07","slug":"keyboard-video-mouse","status":"publish","type":"definition","link":"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/26374\/keyboard-video-mouse-kvm","title":{"rendered":"Keyboard, Video, Mouse"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><span id=\"what_does_keyboard_video_mouse_mean\">What Does Keyboard, Video, Mouse Mean?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A keyboard, video, mouse (KVM) switch is a hardware device that connects a keyboard, video display and mouse to multiple computers. It allows a user to control more than one computer using only one input\/output (I\/O) device. <\/p>\n<p>The KVM switch is typically used to support terminals at both ends of the connection, allowing remote and local access to all computers. A KVM can also be used to regulate numerous groups of servers in a data center. There are several benefits to a KVM that may include the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Saves space<\/li>\n<li>Reduces cost<\/li>\n<li>More convenient<\/li>\n<li>Decreases desktop clutter <\/li>\n<li>Moderates cabling requirements <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In addition, a KVM switch can connect a single PC to multiple keyboards, video displays and mice. This can be helpful when a user needs to access a PC from two or more locations.<\/p>\n<p>Newer KVM switches can be comprised of other switching functions that share audio as in speakers or USB devices between various PCs.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"techopedia_explains_keyboard_video_mouse\">Techopedia Explains Keyboard, Video, Mouse<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The connection of a KVM depends on the port density and type of connector. There are a variety of ways that a KVM switch can be connected: <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>USB connectors for USB ports <\/li>\n<li>Devices with native connectors using standard cable<\/li>\n<li>Older models may include PS\/2 or serial ports connectors<\/li>\n<li>IP-based KVM switches are cabled to the network and to the computers over an IP network <\/li>\n<li>Monitors may connect via a digital video interactive (DVI) port, video graphics array (VGA) port, or both<\/li>\n<li>Single DB25 using a 25-pin electrical connector for serial and parallel ports on PCs that connect to a special cable <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>To change from one computer to another, a switch is used on the KVM unit. The KVM device transmits a signal between the PC and the intended module such as the keyboard, monitor or mouse. Some high-tech switches also permit a user to change PCs by using hotkeys or keyboard shortcuts. <\/p>\n<p>One of the most common and cost-effective KVM switches allows access to two PCs. However, a local remote KVM architecture can support over 256 access points with communication to more than 8,000 PCs using a closed-loop, high-bandwidth bus. In addition, IP KVM support is used for local remote KVM systems that need to be managed off-site. <\/p>\n<p>Oftentimes, the KVM is used in databases that have multiple servers on a rack using just one keyboard, mouse and monitor. It is also used in home environments using a PC with a keyboard, monitor and mouse that extends to a laptop, PDA or additional PC that has a different operating system.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What Does Keyboard, Video, Mouse Mean? A keyboard, video, mouse (KVM) switch is a hardware device that connects a keyboard, video display and mouse to multiple computers. It allows a user to control more than one computer using only one input\/output (I\/O) device. The KVM switch is typically used to support terminals at both ends [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7813,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"definitioncat":[217,226,237],"class_list":["post-11574","definition","type-definition","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","definitioncat-hardware","definitioncat-home-networks","definitioncat-servers"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.2 (Yoast SEO v24.5) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What is Keyboard, Video, Mouse (KVM)? - Definition from Techopedia<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"This definition explains the meaning of Keyboard, Video, Mouse and why it matters.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Keyboard, Video, Mouse\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"This definition explains the meaning of Keyboard, Video, Mouse and why it matters.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/26374\/keyboard-video-mouse-kvm\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Techopedia\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/techopedia\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@techopedia\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/26374\/keyboard-video-mouse-kvm#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/26374\/keyboard-video-mouse-kvm\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Margaret Rouse\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/#\/schema\/person\/f5dd538e31ee352d105b8af36c4268a5\"},\"headline\":\"Keyboard, Video, Mouse\",\"datePublished\":\"2011-09-28T15:48:07+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/26374\/keyboard-video-mouse-kvm\"},\"wordCount\":430,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/#organization\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/26374\/keyboard-video-mouse-kvm#respond\"]}],\"articleSection\":\"\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/26374\/keyboard-video-mouse-kvm\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/26374\/keyboard-video-mouse-kvm\",\"name\":\"What is Keyboard, Video, Mouse (KVM)? 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