Emerson Exchange 365

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Multiple Workstations with Seamless Shared Keyboard & Mouse

I know there are no Emerson approved solutions for using single mouse & keyboard with multiple operator work stations (quads with WYSE extension boxes), and IT PC's (historians, lab data, etc)

I can use a KVM to physically switch between the stations but what my operators are requesting is the ability to go seamless from one machine to another using the same keyboard & mouse.  They also want the ability to override with independent keyboards & mice during startups or upset conditions so that the number of board operators can be increased and not have to share the mouse/keyboard.

There are KVM solutions that require switching via hotkey or buttons.  There are software solutions that can do multiple machines, but that requires non approved software and a common network for the mouse/keyboard integration.  This would require additional NIC cards and crossover from IT/DCS which is not happening or a separate independent network for the mouse/keyboard integration which we would consider.

I checked with GSC and they do not have an approved solution.  But I seem to remember seeing something like horseshoe or large wrap monitor solution at a trade show, but can't find any info on it.

Has anyone done something similar to this or what is your experience.  Or if you have done it with hardwired KVM's does anyone know of a solution that will allow it to auto switch with an external sensor or similar.  Thanks in advance for your feedback.

• mouse
• keyboard
• kvm
• quad

Jason.Brumfield

• 28 Nov 2017 9:13 PM
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9 Replies

• Sheldon Patey

  

  • 28 Nov 2017 11:52 PM

  check our synergy, I use this on a few different control system. DeltaV and Siemens. Works great or Microsoft product called “mouse without borders”

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• Gil simonson

  

  • 29 Nov 2017 1:41 AM

  I’m currently testing the Fredom II KVM from BlackBox on some of our App stations, with good results so far.
  It allows the user to bridge together 4-8 machines with one mouse and keyboard seamlessly:
  www.blackbox.com/.../KV0004A-R2

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• EmilPersson

  

  • 29 Nov 2017 5:40 AM

  In reply to Gil simonson:

  Hi Gil, what is your redundency thoughts if this Fredom stop working in the middle of the night?
  Do you have some screens without or some other solution?

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• SimHogan

  

  • 29 Nov 2017 11:41 AM

  The multi-screen multi-system solution that was on the floor at Exchange was demonstrated by BARCO.
  I thought it was a very impressive concept. It multiplexed video streams from disparate systems into one receiver, and utilized one Keyboard/Mouse. From what I saw demonstrated, it's the closest thing I've ever seen to the need you are describing. I'm sure someone in the Emerson audience can point you to the right POC.

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• Gil simonson

  

  • 29 Nov 2017 3:33 PM

  In reply to EmilPersson:

  Morning Emil,
  We Kept the original keyboard and mouse or just mice and some cases on each workstation as a back up. The Freedom just gives the Console operator the option to leverage one mouse and keyboard for there entire wrap around.
  The Freedom also has the option to be used with redundant power supplies.
  
  Hope this helps,
  Regards,
  
  Gil

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• Andre Dicaire

  

  • 29 Nov 2017 3:39 PM

  In reply to SimHogan:

  We've looked at a couple of software KVM products in our demo: Mouse Without Borders (freeware from Microsoft Garage) and Multiplicity (purchased for $75 cdn). Both worked well, though I preferred Mouse without borders because of how our monitors were laid out and how the mouse moved.
  
  We have a Quad monitor Thin Client connected to a DeltaV VM. We wanted to add a large screen monitor for History visualization and analysis, which was based on Capstone PARCView software. We set up a second Thin client to handle the Large screen and set up the Quad as a 1 x 4 layout with the large screen above. Each WYSE station has its own keyboard.
  
  We then loaded the KVM software on both Wyse machines. Key here is that there is no software installed on the DeltaV workstation, just the thin client. You then link the two machines with a secure ID code. Both keyboards/Mice are then connected to both clients. We hide the second keyboard and mouse in a drawer, and operate from the single keyboard and mouse.
  
  Mouse Without Borders divides the bottom edge into four sections represented by the four monitors laid out below it. So you can drag the mouse down directly to any of the 4 monitors. Multiplicity aligned the top monitor with the left most monitor and although you can mouse up from any monitor to the History screen, mousing back down always goes to the left monitor, and the user has to then drag across to the right. Other than that both software worked well.
  
  You can disable the software and return both thin clients to work with their dedicated keyboard. By adding additional thin clients or thick clients to run the different software, you don't create any software compatibility issues or interactions on the DeltaV Operator Station. In our example, we used thin clients and RDP sessions to display data on the additional screens, which could easily be one or two 4K monitors.
  
  The BARCO solution adds an intermediate server to manage video streams to multiple users and screen layouts. the input streams can come from Operator station monitors, either via RDP or with encoders off the display ports, or video cameras, or other video sources connected on various networks. Each work area can have multiple thin clients to provide the horse power to display many video feeds. The mouse and keyboard connected to one of these thin clients is used to manage all the windows on all the screens via the Workspace server. A working screen is defined in front of the user and you can select any screen or window and bring it to this work screen to the operator. As you add more screens to a work area, visibility can become an issue and Workspace does a good job of addressing this. They also have collaboration tools to share a video stream via web tools along with interactive chat, similar to a tech support session where you share your screen with them with a chat session active.
  
  But the BARCO solution is a step change in operating philosophy and workflows. The software KVM is an easy way to extend the display space and available applications and tools to the operators, while keeping the mission critical operator station on dedicated hardware.
  
  We have one of our customers who also used Mouse without borders and they really like it. Of course this is not supported by Emerson, so I like the idea of using it on the Thin Clients. However, it is a very basic application and would also work directly on the Windows 7 OS. I have not used it yet on Windows 10, but it should work there too.

  Andre Dicaire

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• Michael Moody

  

  • 29 Nov 2017 3:59 PM

  In reply to Andre Dicaire:

  I've used one or two of the software solutions in the past. Seemed to work ok. One of our plants used for a single keyboard / mouse with two workstations. This software required one of the two to be a server and other workstations a client. We also kept the original keyboard & mouse for each workstation in case of a software glitch or failure of the server. I like the idea of a hardware solution (assuming it doesn't require software installation).
  
  One question I have for those who have used either hardware or software solutions, what steps did you take to ensure the operator could easily find the mouse. This is usually not too difficult on a dual monitor system, but we get complaints sometimes with quad monitor. If more monitors are available, I would imagine even more difficult.

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• Scott Ross

  

  • 29 Nov 2017 5:00 PM

  Emerson is releasing a new DeltaV solution called the iOps Workspace that should meet your needs. This solution is based on the BARCO OpSpace products. Please inquire with your local Emerson business partner (LBP) or Emerson sales office on this new DeltaV solution. Also, as noted below, we showed this solutions at Emerson Exchange over the past 2 years.

  Scott Ross

  Emerson Automation Solutions

  Modernization

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• MCrisler

  

  • 29 Nov 2017 5:39 PM

  In reply to Michael Moody:

  Something you might try if your workstations are all windows-based is the pointer locator feature. The option makes it so if you press and release the CTRL key, an animation plays around your mouse pointer on the screen. It's distinctive enough that you'll notice the motion even if you aren't looking directly at it.
  
  To enable it, open to the start menu, search for "Mouse". The first option should open the "Mouse Properties" menu. Go to the "Pointer Options" tab, then check the box at the bottom labelled "Show location of pointer when I press the CTRL key". After applying change, you can tap CTRL to see the affect.

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