Do all BSDs have hotplugging with keyboard support?
reddit / BSD

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gokupop · 2010-01-01 13:55

There was a room with 20 servers that were networked. I had to access
them at times to reboot them manually, so I would have to console them
with a monitor and a keyboard.  I would plug in the keyboard and *bsd
wouldnt repsond... as if I have to boot the box up with the keyboard
already attached....Whenever I use a USB device, it always detects it
on the spot but thats probably because its just a newer standardDo all
BSDs have hotplugging with keyboard support?  There was a room with 20
servers that were networked. I had to access them at times to reboot
them manually, so I would have to console them with a monitor and a
keyboard.  I would plug in the keyboard and *bsd wouldnt repsond... as
if I have to boot the box up with the keyboard already
attached....Whenever I use a USB device, it always detects it on the
spot but thats probably because its just a newer standard........

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hexed · 2010-01-01 15:21

> I would plug in the keyboard and *bsd wouldnt repsond...
> Whenever I use a USB device, it always detects it on the spot

From that I assume you're using a PS/2 keyboard - they're not hot
swappable. If it wasn't plugged in when the machine booted, it's
assumed not to exist.

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gokupop · 2010-01-01 15:30

Why not just have the OS assume its loaded all the time...I thought
that would be part of the OS

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m1ss1ontomars2k4 · 2010-01-01 17:36

It's not part of any OS. PS/2 keyboards are never hot swappable.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PS/2_connector#Hotplugging

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gokupop · 2010-01-01 17:56

oh ok, I misunderstood thanks!

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m1ss1ontomars2k4 · 2010-01-01 18:00

In fairness, you raise a good point though. If you can sorta sometimes
hotswap a keyboard because the computer assumes you haven't changed
anything, why couldn't you always assume there's a keyboard there?
Either way, it's not a very good idea; just go out and buy a USB
keyboard.

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zeek · 2010-01-01 19:44

I don't know why, but Linux and hotplugging PS2 keyboards almost
always works.

BSD never worked for me (hot plugging PS2 keyboards).

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gokupop · 2010-01-02 11:26

yea this is what I noticed too, what the heck?

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zeek · 2010-01-02 23:00

WTF is this being downvoted for?

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bluGill · 2010-01-11 20:22

> In fairness, you raise a good point though.  if you can sorta
sometimes hotswap a keyboard

BSD assumes users who are not idiots, and depend on their computers.
PS/2 keyboard ports were not designed for hot-swapping, and so
plugging in a keyboard can (perhaps just 1 in a million, but there is
no guarantee) break the computer.   Previously the computer was
partially functional, but after you plug in a keyboard (and something
breaks) the hardware is dead.    BSD users will never take the chance.

This should come off as a "new true Scotsman" argument.