不久前，一个家庭很少有一台电脑。在个人电脑革命(PC revolution)的早期，每个人都拥有一台电脑的想法似乎很可笑。现在，大多数人都配备了多种强大的计算设备，无论是在他们身上还是在家里。
如果你家里有多台电脑，你真的需要在它们之间移动才能使用它们吗？答案当然是否定的。您可以使用单个鼠标、键盘和显示器设置(keyboard and monitor setup)来控制多台计算机。
您的确切解决方案将取决于您的计算机的配置。他们是否并排在同一张桌子上？他们在不同的房间吗？从下面的一组监视器和控件控制多台计算机的各种方法几乎可以满足多台计算机设置的任何组合。
使用多个端口将两台计算机连接到一台显示器 (Connect Two Computers to One Monitor with Multiple Ports )
第一个答案来自现代计算机显示器本身。大多数好的显示器现在都有多个输入，就像电视一样。两个HDMI 或 Displayport 插座(HDMI or Displayport sockets)相当常见，但您也可能有一个混合了VGA、DVI 和 HDMI(DVI and HDMI)的显示器。这完全取决于它的年龄和型号(age and model)。
为了使用一台显示器在两台不同的计算机之间切换，您需要访问显示器的内部菜单并更改输入。
这种方法的主要优点是您可能可以使用已有的监视器。主要缺点是您仍然需要两组输入设备，或者每次切换时都必须手动将键盘和鼠标插入另一台计算机。(keyboard and mouse)对于您只是偶尔需要控制的计算机，例如家庭媒体服务器，这是一种快速且经济实惠的方法，但对于其他情况并不理想。
某些(Certain)超宽屏幕可以在分屏配置中同时显示来自两台不同计算机的输入。这(Which)显然有它自己的用途，但除非你已经拥有一台超宽显示器，否则不值得仅仅因为这个原因出去购买一台。
硬件 KVM 切换器(Hardware KVM Switches)
“KVM”是键盘、视频和鼠标(Keyboard, Video and Mouse)的缩写。硬件KVM 切换器(KVM switch)是一种物理设备，可以接受来自多台计算机的连接，然后输出到单个显示器，同时接受来自单个键盘和鼠标(keyboard and mouse)的输入。
KVM切换器的(KVM)价格和功能(price and functionality)差异很大。您可以花大约 20 美元购买一个基本的 2 端口 VGA 型号(basic 2-port VGA model)，或者花费数百美元购买具有相当花哨功能（如画中画选项）的高端 4K 4 端口设备。(high-end 4K 4-port unit)
KVM 切换器(KVM switch)的一大优势在于它们易于使用。只需将(Just plug)所有东西都插入并使用每台计算机，而不会造成性能损失或(performance penalty or potential)软件故障导致停机的可能性。
然而，也有很多缺点。一方面，您的所有计算机都需要物理连接到KVM 切换器(KVM switch)。在您需要开始购买信号中继器或简单地在距离您几英尺的范围内使用所有硬件之前，所有显示器和 USB 电缆(display and USB cables)都有长度限制。
KVM切换器的实际切换速度也可能很慢，具体取决于您使用的特定硬件。在计算机之间切换可能需要几秒钟，如果你必须经常这样做，那可能会有点痛苦。
软件 KVM 切换器
(Software KVM)在大多数情况下，软件 KVM切换器实际上并不等同于硬件KVM切换器。(KVM)您实际获得的是一种软件解决方案(software solution)，可让您通过主计算机的鼠标和键盘使用多台计算机。
每台计算机仍然需要有自己的显示器并与您在房间里。这些软件包的示例包括：
所以这些实际上是软件“KM”开关，并不能真正解决我们的问题。但是，如果您将软件KM 切换器(KM switch)与我们将两台计算机连接到一个显示器的第一个解决方案相结合，您无需支付任何额外费用即可有效地获得KVM 切换器！(KVM switch)
还有真正的软件KVM(KVMs)，例如Stardock Multiplicity（30 天试用版）。不幸的是，该产品不是免费的，尽管您可以尝试看看它是否适合您。然而，与硬件KVM的价格相比，Multiplicity是真正的便宜货，并增加了许多优势。例如缺乏布线和距离很远的KVM计算机的能力。(KVM)
(Software KM)诸如Mouse Without Borders之类的(Borders)软件 KM开关甚至可以让您无缝地使用剪贴板并在机器之间拖动文件(clipboard and drag files)，就好像它们是一个机器一样。
远程桌面解决方案(Remote Desktop Solutions)
如果您需要使用一台显示器来控制两台计算机，而硬件KVM 切换器(KVM switch)是不可能的，您可以怎么做？特别是如果您不愿意花钱购买专业软件KVM 切换器(KVM switch)。
最佳答案是使用远程桌面客户端(desktop client)和服务器应用程序(server application)。基本上(Basically)，您在您将实际坐在的计算机上运行客户端应用程序(client app)，并在您要控制的第二台计算机上运行服务器应用程序。(server application)
远程计算机的屏幕作为主计算机上的一个窗口存在。您可以随时将其最大化，在这种情况下使用它就像坐在机器前一样。
还有很多免费的远程桌面(remote desktop)客户端可供选择，所以看起来使用远程桌面(remote desktop)应用程序确实是最好的解决方案，对吧？好吧，有很多潜在的苍蝇最终可能会出现在这种多计算机软膏中。
由于您依赖网络连接(network connection)，因此该连接的任何问题都可能成为问题。没有网络意味着无法控制其他机器。连接不良会导致性能不佳，包括音频和视频延迟(audio and video lag)。此外，如果远程机器挂起或有任何需要物理修复的问题，您不能只是伸出手来修复它。
当然，您没有理由不能在一台机器上使用(t use)远程桌面技术(desktop technology)。事实上，只要稍加干预，您就可以使用以太网电缆(ethernet cable)直接将两台计算机连接在一起，并通过该连接运行远程桌面软件(desktop software)，这将几乎 100% 可靠且速度足够快。
有很多不错的选择，但VNC 查看器(VNC Viewer)和Chrome 远程桌面(Chrome Remote Desktop)都是很好的选择，而且是免费的！
How to Connect Two or More Computers to One Monitor
Therе was a time not too long ago that it was rare for a household to have even one computer. Τhe idea that each person woυld have a computer would havе seemed laughable in thе eаrly days of the PC revolution. Now, most people are armed with multiple powerful computing devices, both on their person and whеn at homе.
If you have multiple computers in your home, do you really need to move between them to use them all? The answer is of course no. You can use a single mouse, keyboard and monitor setup to control several computers.
The exact solution for you will depend on the configuration of your computers. Are they side-by-side on the same desk? Are they in different rooms? The various methods of controlling multiple computers from a single set of monitors and controls below cater for virtually any mix of multi-computer setups.
Connect Two Computers to One Monitor with Multiple Ports
The first answer comes from modern computer monitors themselves. Most good monitors now have multiple inputs, just as televisions do. Two HDMI or Displayport sockets is fairly common, but you may also have a monitor with a mix of VGA, DVI and HDMI. It all depends on its age and model.
In order to switch between the two different computers with one monitor, you need to access the internal menu of the monitor and change the input.
The main advantage of this approach is that you can probably use the monitor you already have. The main downside is that you still need two sets of input devices or will have to manually plug your keyboard and mouse into the other computer each time you switch. For a computer you only occasionally need to take control of, such as a home media server, this is a quick and affordable approach, but it’s not ideal for other situations.
Certain ultrawide screens can display the input from two different computers at the same time, in a split-screen configuration. Which obviously has its own uses, but unless you already own an ultrawide monitor, it’s not worth going out and buying one for this reason alone.
Hardware KVM Switches
“KVM” is short for Keyboard, Video and Mouse. A hardware KVM switch is a physical device that can accept connections from multiple computers and then output to a single monitor, while accepting input from a single keyboard and mouse.
KVM switches vary significantly in both price and functionality. You can get a basic 2-port VGA model for about twenty dollars, or spend hundreds of dollars on a high-end 4K 4-port unit with rather fancy features such as picture-in-picture options.
The big advantage of a KVM switch is that they are straightforward to use. Just plug everything in and use each computer with no performance penalty or potential for software glitches causing downtime.
There are plenty of downsides too however. For one thing, all of your computers need to be physically connected to the KVM switch. All display and USB cables have length limits before you need to start buying a signal repeater or simply live with all of your hardware within a few feet of you.
KVM switches can also be slow to actually make the switch, depending on the specific hardware you are using. It might take a few seconds to change between computers and if you have to do so constantly that can be a bit of a pain.
Software KVM Switches
Software KVM switches are actually not the equivalent of hardware KVM switches in most cases. What you actually get is a software solution that lets you use multiple computers with the primary computer’s mouse and keyboard.
Each computer still needs to have its own monitor and be in the room with you. Examples of these software packages include:
So these are actually software “KM” switches and don’t really solve our problem at all. However, if you combine a software KM switch with our first solution where we plug two computers into one monitor, you effectively get a KVM switch without paying anything extra!
There are true software KVMs as well, such as Stardock Multiplicity (30-day trial). Unfortunately that product is not free, although you can try it out to see if it works for you. However, compared to the price of a hardware KVM, Multiplicity is a real bargain and adds many advantages. Such as a lack of cabling and the ability to KVM computers that are very far away.
Software KM switches such as Mouse Without Borders even lets you seamlessly use the clipboard and drag files between machines as if they were one.
Remote Desktop Solutions
If you need to control two computers using one monitor and a hardware KVM switch is out of the question, what can you do? Especially if you aren’t willing to shell out for a professional software KVM switch.
The optimal answer is to use a remote desktop client and server application. Basically you run the client app on the computer you will physically be sitting at and run the server application on the second computer you want to control.
The screen of the remote computer exists as a window on your primary machine. You can maximize it at any time, in which case using it is just like sitting in front of the machine itself.
There are plenty of free remote desktop clients to choose from as well, so really it seems like using a remote desktop app is the best solution of all, right? Well, there are plenty of potential flies that could end up in this multi-computer ointment.
Since you are relying on a network connection, any problems with that connections can be an issue. No network means no control of the other machines. A poor connection can lead to bad performance, including audio and video lag. Additionally, if the remote machine hangs or has any sort of problem that needs a physical fix, you can’t just reach out and fix it.
Of course, there’s no reason you can’t use remote desktop technology with a machine that’s right there. In fact, with a little meddling under the hood, you can connect two computers together directly with an ethernet cable and run the remote desktop software over that connection, which will be nearly 100% reliable and more than fast enough.
There are many good options, but VNC Viewer and Chrome Remote Desktop are both excellent choices and free!
