Multiple USB switches - native possible, or 2nd service with second config

[jziolkowski]

basically title.

I have one setup working at home (working perfectly, let me add) and I wanted to mimic similar setup in my workshop.

The scenario is: the same laptop, different screen+switch at home and a different screen+switch in the workshop.

I think the easiest is to leverage the fact that the application can be run multiple times, and with unique screens/USB IDs there should be no race condition between them.

Or am I overcomplicating things and I can do it all with a single config?

PS Love this application!

[haimgel]

This could be a worthwhile addition, I think... Unfortunately, there are no provisions in the code today to make it work:

• Only one USB device is monitored.
• The config file search logic is hardcoded, so it's not easy to run two instances with two separate config files.

Given that there's logic for switching on USB device connection and device disconnection both, we'll need to be careful how this is implemented.

I'm not sure whether "two instances" or "support two USB devices in the same config file" is the best approach, but the former is certainly easier (support flexible config path, via a command-line parameter or an environment varialbe, or both), and is good to have anyway.

[jziolkowski]

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

I'm completely fine with the "hassle" of creating a secondary service set with a new config file, now that you added this parameter. I'll test it and let you know.

[besseddrest]

Hi there, excited to try this out!

I use a simple USB switcher btwn Linux and MacOS - its a single toggle button and 4 USB ports (2 x USB C & 2 x USB A) .

When I run my lsusb diff on Linux i get the following:

 Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
 Bus 001 Device 003: ID 8087:0033 Intel Corp. AX211 Bluetooth
-Bus 001 Device 009: ID 0bda:5420 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. 4-Port USB 2.0 Hub
-Bus 001 Device 010: ID b58e:0005 Blue Microphones Yeti Nano
-Bus 001 Device 011: ID 046d:085e Logitech, Inc. BRIO Ultra HD Webcam
-Bus 001 Device 012: ID 04fe:0016 PFU, Ltd HHKB-Studio
-Bus 001 Device 013: ID 046d:c52b Logitech, Inc. Unifying Receiver
 Bus 001 Device 014: ID 04fe:0020 PFU, Ltd HHKB-Classic
 Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
 Bus 002 Device 002: ID 1058:25e1 Western Digital Technologies, Inc. My Passport (WD20NMVW)
-Bus 002 Device 004: ID 0bda:0420 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. 4-Port USB 3.0 Hub

And so I'm pretty sure that the 3rd line 0bda:5420 is my USB device, but what brought me here is the last device, which is basically the same - diff BUS and USB 3.0, And so I was thinking that I made need to include 2 usb_device IDs in my .ini file.

So i guess now that I know that only 1 USB device is monitored, I'm wondering what that BUS 002 usb device could be, if you can help me make sense of this?

My best guess is that those ports are USB 3.2 capable but since all those peripherals only require 2.0, they get listed along with the BUS 001 usb device. If any of those devices required a faster USB speed then I'd porb see them listed beaneath the USB 3.0 entry. but yeah that's mostly a guess. Thanks again!

[haimgel]

What you need to configure in Display Switch is not the switch itself, but a device connected to that switch. E.g. 046d:c52b, your Logitech receiver, for example. You generally want your screens to follow where your keyboard/mouse is, and that'll do exactly that.

When you use your USB switch to toggle between the two connections, your Logitech receiver will appear/disappear on each computer, Display Switch will react and switch the displays, too.

[besseddrest]

@haimgel oh interesting - so if that's the case then that actually might be better because from what i understand the more devices plugged into your switcher the longer the delay to complete the swap... meaning that display-switch will only execute when the device is available, correct?

but just so i understand the 4-Port USB Hub is still technically considered a device, yeah?

[haimgel]

will only execute when the device is available, correct?

Correct. You are correct, devices take time to enumerate, but it's usually pretty fast.

The 4-Port USB Hub is still technically considered a device, yeah?

Correct.

[besseddrest]

awesome, i'll give this a try. I mentioned the delay because i was looking at some usb switches that had more than 4 available ports on front and some reviews were saying things like 'it works, but overall the swap takes 7 seconds to complete'.

Which is kinda crazy, though mine takes about 2 seconds - you'd think it'd be more instant

Anyway thank you for the tip!