Patent ID: 8271704

Claim:
A method, comprising: operating a first computer having a plurality of input/output ports for input/output devices including a keyboard port and a video display port, coupled by cables to a plurality of corresponding input/output ports of a KVM (keyboard video mouse) switch for input/output devices including a keyboard port and a video display port, using a plurality of input/output devices including a keyboard and a video display, coupled by cables to corresponding input/output ports of the KVM switch for input/output devices including a keyboard port and a video display port, over input/output signal paths passing through the KVM switch between the plurality of input/output ports of the KVM switch coupled to the first computer and the plurality of input/output ports of the KVM switch coupled to the plurality of input/output devices; switching input/output signal paths passing through the KVM switch for the plurality of input/output devices to be between a second computer and the plurality of input/output devices instead of between the first computer and the plurality of input/output devices; operating the second computer having a plurality of input/output ports for input/output devices including a keyboard port and a video display port, coupled by cables to another plurality of corresponding input/output ports of the KVM switch for input/output devices including a keyboard port and a video display port, using the plurality of input/output devices over the switched input/output signal paths passing through the KVM switch between the plurality of input/output ports of the KVM switch coupled to the second computer and the plurality of input/output ports of the KVM switch coupled to the plurality of input/output devices; passing status data over at least one of the input/output signal paths passing through the KVM switch from the plurality of input/output ports of the KVM switch coupled to the first and second computers wherein the status data represents status information for at least one of the first and second computers; and storing the status data passing through the KVM switch in a memory coupled to the KVM switch wherein said status data is saved as a file in said memory for each computer of said first and second computers and wherein said file of status data for each computer of said first and second computers includes an IP address of the associated computer as a unique identifier and differentiator between status information for each computer of said first and second computers.