Good morning. I want to use a Comet (GL‑RM1) Remote KVM over the Internet switch to control a computer that has a VGA connector for video output (the old monitor connector with three rows of five pins) instead of a HDMI output. Is it possible to use the Comet KVM through a “VGA‑to‑USB” adapter? If it is possible, should I use a “VGA‑to‑USB” adapter or a “USB‑to‑VGA” adapter? If it is not possible, any idea what I need to do?
Thanks for your help.
Gustavo
You need a VGA to HDMI adapter
Thanks for your quick response, and apologies for the typo in my original question. I meant to ask whether I need a “VGA‑to‑HDMI” adapter, not “VGA‑to‑USB.”
My question is probably more complex than just choosing the correct physical adapter type. I’m not sure whether the video signal generated by the computer I want to control is actually compatible with the Comet KVM. VGA is an analog signal with a completely different pattern (an entirely different electrical protocol) compared to the digital HDMI signal used by modern systems.
So the real question is whether the electrical signals produced by a VGA output are compatible with what the Comet KVM expects. Do you have any insight into that? Can I use a simple passive VGA‑to‑HDMI adapter, or do I need an active VGA‑to‑HDMI converter?
Thanks again for your help.
Gustavo
Buy the cheapest ones you can find; there's no real difference in quality among these things.
It has been a while since my last post, but I have finally received the KVM switch and the HDMI adapter recommended by @minmie. Everything is connected, and basic functionality works; however, there is one critical issue.
When the managed computer reboots, no video output appears until Windows fully loads (the login screen). We cannot see BIOS/POST screens or early boot messages, although input devices (keyboard/mouse) appear to work. Essentially, we lose visibility of the boot process entirely.
Is this a known limitation when using the KVM switch via an HDMI adapter? Are there any workarounds to ensure video passes through before the OS loads? Our primary goal is specifically to access pre-boot environments (BIOS/UEFI) and early boot stages, as we can already use RDP or VPN once Windows is active.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!
Is the KVM the only device connected? Usually if there's also a physical monitor only one will be active until the boot process is complete.
It also may simply take time to sync properly, ensure the resolution you've set for the KVM is accepted by the adapter (for example, move to a 1080p profile) and check your BIOS settings to do things like disable fast boot modes.
I have a similar problem on one of my devices where I can see the BIOS boot screen, but I can't type anything until the system boots. I can fix this by disabling mass storage, if that's not something you use often disabling it may help in case the system can't see the keyboard/mouse with mass storage in the composite device. PCs from the VGA era often had different behavior when booted without an input device.
If you have additional monitors, the BIOS screen will display on only one of them. Set KVM as the primary monitor or disconnect the other monitors.