Connecting multiple computers and monitors to 1 mouse & keyboard?

Question

What is the best way to connect multiple computers (say 4 or 5) to multiple monitors (same number) but only using 1 mouse and 1 keyboard?

Solution

To do this you will use a KVM Switch like the IOGEAR 4-Port USB KVM Switch (this one will work for 4 computers.)

You plug in your keyboard and mouse to the switch, and the switch has cables going to the four PCs. You switch which PC to control with a button.

Another option is to use a Software KVM Switch. Which works by plugging in the keyboard and mouse in one computer and installing the software on all of them. You switch which system to control using a predefined hotkey.

One of the best software for this is Synergy (https://symless.com/synergy), but it will cost you a few dollars. Another popular one is Input Director (http://www.inputdirector.com/index.html), which is free.