PS/2 peripherals still useful, but little to no info...

[Bill_Bright]

I get that it isn't a "traditional" network, but that never stopped hackers before...

Ummm, sure it has. The only way a hacker can hack via a USB "hub" is if they have physical access to the hub. So if the hacker is physically there, in the office, your wife's company has bigger problems. Now if there is an unsecured network adapter connected to the hub, that's a different story. But that's not the hub's fault.

I wonder if a docking station setup might be better for her. Instead of having a notebook and a PC, she just uses her notebook, then when at her desk, she just slides it into a docking station.

 

[Horrux]

Buying a keyboard with a USB to PS/2 adapter is a risk. I'd really try to find one that's hardwired PS/2. Because PS/2 natively supports N-key rollover, there's still quite a lot of demand for them.

I have looked, believe me. Searching everywhere for Cherry MX Red PS/2 yields no PS/2 keyboards.

I find it frustrating that there is no info on why this or that particular keyboard may or may not work through an USB to PS/2 adapter.

Ummm, sure it has. The only way a hacker can hack via a USB "hub" is if they have physical access to the hub. So if the hacker is physically there, in the office, your wife's company has bigger problems. Now if there is an unsecured network adapter connected to the hub, that's a different story. But that's not the hub's fault.

I wonder if a docking station setup might be better for her. Instead of having a notebook and a PC, she just uses her notebook, then when at her desk, she just slides it into a docking station.

She has very good reasons for using both the desktop and the laptop. One client requires that she work on their laptop. The rest she does on her own computer. Who knows, maybe some other time she'll have 2 clients that each require that the work be completed on their own computers.

And you are right, the USB hub itself isn't the problem, except only in that a USB hub can allow other devices to plug into the corporate network and infiltrate it. When billions are at stake, you don't fool around.

 

[Bill_Bright]

And you are right, the USB hub itself isn't the problem, except only in that a USB hub can allow other devices to plug into the corporate network and infiltrate it. When billions are at stake, you don't fool around.

Okay and I agree. But again, this is company policy and "physical security" issues. If a bad guy has physical access to a USB hub sitting next to a computer, he/she probably has physical access to a USB port on one of those company computers. I'm just saying.

I have had lots of experience with KVM switches and while they tend to work fine with mice and keyboards, they can be real headaches with monitors, especially if the monitors run at different resolutions. I don't see a happy ending here.

 

[Horrux]

Okay and I agree. But again, this is company policy and "physical security" issues. If a bad guy has physical access to a USB hub sitting next to a computer, he/she probably has physical access to a USB port on one of those company computers. I'm just saying.

I have had lots of experience with KVM switches and while they tend to work fine with mice and keyboards, they can be real headaches with monitors, especially if the monitors run at different resolutions. I don't see a happy ending here.

The monitor aspect of this is by far the least important in our situation. She'll be happy if we can get keyboard & mouse switching, because typing for hours on end on a laptop is not fun, and having 2 keyboards and 2 mice, along with a laptop and 2 monitors is just a huge waste of space.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Okay. And for sure, I cannot stand using a small keyboard for any length of time either.

So all I can say about KVM switches then is don't skimp on quality. It definitely makes a difference.

 

[SnakeDoctor]

You could use these usb to ps2 converters , should obtain from your local pc shop
I always have a couple lying around

 

[notb]

Well, my only usage for PS/2 keyboard has been for some motherboards that don't work that fine when I want to go to BIOS. I'd say that manufacturers just should make USB keyboards more compatible.

USB keyboards are beautifully compatible, considering how universal USB is and how much keyboards can do these days.
The issue discussed stems from IT security policies. And limiting USB access is something pretty normal these days.

Okay and I agree. But again, this is company policy and "physical security" issues. If a bad guy has physical access to a USB hub sitting next to a computer, he/she probably has physical access to a USB port on one of those company computers. I'm just saying.

Well it's not only about "bad guys". It's also for the permitted users, who might want to try copying something from/to their firm's PC. It doesn't have to be a planned crime. Sometimes people just want to listen to some music they brought from home or print some materials they've found online... and boom... you have a company-wide ransomware situation.

Usually USB hubs are not blocked on purpose. Actually, it's the opposite: a company allows some devices to be connected: a particular model of mouse and keyboard, company-provided encrypted pendrives and soon monitors (when they all go USB...). Everything else is blocked by default.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

I find it frustrating that there is no info on why this or that particular keyboard may or may not work through an USB to PS/2 adapter.

Because USB isn't backwards compatible with PS/2 nor visa versa. They're active converters and in that role, they're limited to what they're designed to handle. They are by no means universal. Since the SteelSeries does come with an adapter, I put it at 75% that it will work. The 25% stems from your PS/2 -> USB adapter stopping (more specifically, quits working when KVM switch occurs).

 

[Bill_Bright]

Well it's not only about "bad guys". It's also for the permitted users, who might want to try copying something from/to their firm's PC. It doesn't have to be a planned crime. Sometimes people just want to listen to some music they brought from home or print some materials they've found online... and boom... you have a company-wide ransomware situation.

This is true but then they should not "permitted users" if such actions may result in serious security concerns.

I supported secure government networks and a major defense contractor's secure network for many years. What was permitted and what was not permitted was made very clear to every employee upon hiring and regularly thereafter. If classified/sensitive information is at stake, or $billions are at stake, employee's jobs and even freedom should be at stake too! This is not hard.

And if government or company own systems are involved, it is not hard for IT to disable USB ports. If employees don't want to follow the rules and policies, they don't have to work there.

Now for smaller companies where there may not be a dedicated IT professional, this may be difficult to enforce. But it is not like such a small company would have $billions at stake either.

If you look at most ransomware situations, they occurred because someone failed to do their job - not because they didn't know better, but because they did not care or there were no consequences.

 

[Horrux]

You could use these usb to ps2 converters , should obtain from your local pc shop
I always have a couple lying around


View attachment 95610

Yep, have them. I am concerned by the possibility that each step of conversion to / from USB / PS/2 adds uncertainty that things will work. But since even the pros on this forum don't have access to magical manufacturer information, there is no choice but to try, risk, and see... :-/

 

[cakehunter]

Does the laptop have ps2 keyboard connection? And ps2 mouse connection? And restricted USB?

 

[Vario]

My Filco MajestouchII does PS/2 with a USB to PS/2 Adapter. Worked fine for me. It has NKRO in that mode instead of 6KRO in USB. I don't know if it will work with a KVM. Why not get a really old keyboard that is native PS/2.

 

[MrGenius]

I've got one of those you can have. I found out the hard way it doesn't work as intended...with my mobo at least. I can only get one device at a time to function with it. Plug just a mouse in, works fine. Plug just a keyboard in, works fine. Plug both in, neither one works. Oh well...only a $7 loss.

 

[Horrux]

My Filco MajestouchII does PS/2 with a USB to PS/2 Adapter. Worked fine for me. It has NKRO in that mode instead of 6KRO in USB. I don't know if it will work with a KVM. Why not get a really old keyboard that is native PS/2.

LOL I have a Filco Majestouch Ninja Tenkeyless, I'll bet it does work with this setup! As for getting a really old keyboard, I doubt I could find one with the kind of smooth typing response that would be appropriate for the use it's intended for. Not to mention that, ewww used hardware... AND it would likely be fugly beige... Not exactly great for an executive type office... I might suggest a retro-tech redesign, making everything look like it's from the 1980s? But then, I might get doghoused...

Does the laptop have ps2 keyboard connection? And ps2 mouse connection? And restricted USB?

Laptop has no PS/2 port. USB is restricted in terms of security software not allowing anything that registers as a USB hub. Not entirely sure why, because after all, if you can plug something into an USB port, you don't need a hub. But whatever. It is the way it is, and this prevents me using a simple USB KVM.

I've got one of those you can have. I found out the hard way it doesn't work as intended...with my mobo at least. I can only get one device at a time to function with it. Plug just a mouse in, works fine. Plug just a keyboard in, works fine. Plug both in, neither one works. Oh well...only a $7 loss.

Thanks, but it wouldn't be useful.

 

[Horrux]

So it turns out your idea was perfect!

I was able to get both keyboard and mouse working on both the laptop and the desktop with a PS/2 KVM using USB to PS/2 adapters! This was achieved using a Filco Majestouch keyboard and a generic optical mouse.

My thanks to each and everyone of you who contributed to this thread!

I hope my experiments will also benefit somebody else out there in the wide world, looking for a solution to such a problem...

 

[eidairaman1]

Well im glad you grew a pair and tried, I knew they would work lol