Reddit reviews Sabrent USB 2.0 Sharing Switch for Multiple Computers and Peripherals LED Device Indicators (USB-SW20)

I've debated the time it'll take to document vs. how many people might actually replicate it, and decided it's probably not worth it, but basically:

• Pi Zero W
  
• USB sharing switch
  
• 250 GB SSD
  
• A variety of USB-A, -B, and micro adapters 😅
  
• A relay
  
• Solder
  
• GPIO pins
  
  I use Cron to periodically run a script that checks for my wifi network.
  
  When WiFi is detected, the GPIO pins + relay toggle the USB sharing switch (effectively unplugs the SSD from the Tesla and plugs it into the Pi), and then the script mounts the SSD to the Pi. Aside: I prefer this approach over the TeslaPi project, because the SSD is more durable/reliable.
  
  At this point, Apache NiFi picks up the files and uploads them to S3.
  
  I do some other stuff to basically give the Pi a big uninterruptable power supply, but - again - just more details...

I’m a similar position with software locks and no physical KVM switch.

What I’ve done in the past is leverage my monitor’s multiple inputs to keep both PCs connected. Depending on your monitors, either change the input manually, or they may automatically switch when one PC is off.

For K/M, I’ve picked up a simple USB switch like the one below. Just connect a cheap hub or find a similar USB switch with multiple connections.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074TZKGVR/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_TFL2Ab37R90A2

Even if you need display adapters (i.e. DP to HDMI) or new cables to keep both PCs plugged into the monitors, the cost of those and the USB switch will probably be a lot less than a KVM that supports HDMI or DP.

Edit: since both monitors can be operated independently, you can have your work on one screen and play on another. Think of it as the mullet of battlestations - business on one side, party on the other.

If PC and Xbox are near each other buy a USB Hub/Switch.

Example not necessarily a recommendation:
https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-Computers-Peripherals-Indicators-USB-SW20/dp/B074TZKGVR/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1522460049&sr=8-5&keywords=usb+switch

Something like this? I can find several USB hubs, but not much that lets an incoming USB be split between two outputs.

Sabrent USB 2.0 Sharing Switch for Multiple Computers and Peripherals LED Device Indicators (USB-SW20) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074TZKGVR/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_JF8VAb3F4JFD9

Correct. What you're looking for would be an USB switch, such as this, or this. If the switches you can find don't have enough ports for your needs, you can plug a hub into the switch. Due to the way USB works, you can't just have a passive Y-cable, and need an active switching device.

They're usually called a Sharing switch https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-Computers-Peripherals-Indicators-USB-SW20/dp/B074TZKGVR/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1549059190&sr=8-9&keywords=usb+sharing

Switch:

Sabrent USB 2.0 Sharing Switch for Multiple Computers and Peripherals LED Device Indicators (USB-SW20) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074TZKGVR/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_t649Bb4FW6XYW


Dock:

Wavlink USB 3.0 Universal Docking Station, Dual Video Monitor Display HDMI & DVI/VGA with Gigabit Ethernet, Audio, 6 USB Ports for Laptop, Ultrabook and PCs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019XOJ874/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Xa59Bb94AR8W8


Alternatively: if your monitors can handle the audio input/output and also the usb, you may just be able to rout all your peripherals via the monitors and skip this whole mess.

I’ve used a USB switch. Not all of them are made equal. At work I have one that has dedicated mouse/keyboard USB ports so you can switch from the keyboard itself. Doesn’t work well with my keyboard or mouse. So I can’t use the keyboard switching, or the keyboard/mouse ports. It’s also a little slower than I’d like.

I’m needing something similar at home, so I’m taking a different approach. Instead, I want a powered hub to be what gets switched, and use a simpler 1-port USB switch. Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074TZKGVR

To use your USB-C port, you’d need to add an appropriate cable like this one: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VKSF39O

You can find these in USB 3.0 (5Gbps) versions, which are more future proof. My suggestion is that I’d want a simple 1-port USB switch like this, and pay the extra for a 3.0 version. For now, you only need the one port, but you can add a hub down the road and if it’s a decent one, get usable performance out of it. It won’t be great for SSDs (my hubs tend to throttle write speeds), but SD Card readers and optical drives would be fine.

Something like this should work, since most audio interfaces are USB 2.0 devices: https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-Computers-Peripherals-Indicators-USB-SW20/dp/B074TZKGVR/ref=sr_1_7?gclid=Cj0KCQjw-b7qBRDPARIsADVbUbUK__BqqQBPIOWWpEdR3tnLmB9p_TAYLeaOE8yr-7eRFwX7hJu-0nkaAiFwEALw_wcB&hvadid=153666990682&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9061080&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=e&hvrand=15872095889442537056&hvtargid=aud-649564993678%3Akwd-13815470&hydadcr=18000_9428834&keywords=usb+switch&qid=1565562874&s=electronics&sr=1-7

Yeah. I plan on setting mine up in the basement because of the potential mess/odor but don't want to plug/unplug the flash drive. My FDM has Octoprint which is a drag/drop of my gcode file. Would be nice to have that on my Elegoo. Fortunately I have network connectivity in the basement, so...

Couple of ways I came up with -

1. I could buy a wifi-enabled flash drive. But that's a single point of failure. Nah.
   
2. I could use some old equipment I have lying around not doing anything - i.e. an old ASUS eeePC netbook. It runs Windows 7 32-bit and just for spits and giggles I installed Chitubox on it and it runs fine (don't think I'll use it on the netbook, though I could attach a spare external monitor and use it as a station next to the printer I guess).
   
   Then I just add this: https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-Computers-Peripherals-Indicators-USB-SW20/dp/B074TZKGVR/ref=sr_1_8?keywords=usb+share+switch&qid=1566479458&s=gateway&sr=8-8
   
   ​
   
   I can create a share on the network and drag/drop the files from my main PC upstairs, then when going downstairs and prepping the printer with resin, switch the flash connection over to the Elegoo. When done, switch it back. The netbook can sleep when not in use and WOL with a magic packet.
   
   I think anything intelligent on the "B" side of the switch might do - maybe even a Pi Zero W with Samba (can even use WinSCP on the main PC side to copy files over).
   
   Too bad can't control the printer remotely (other than maybe an intelligent power switch to shut it down). Maybe they'll update the firmware to do it someday...
   
   ​
   
   Oh yeah - I have an ELP mini IP camera that will watch the printer so I don't have to stand in front of it...