Internal KVM Switch

FastAPI dashboard and polling service for Alienware-only KVM switching.

Trigger Logic

The app targets Alienware AW3423DWF for switching and uses Samsung as trigger-only.

Monitor filtering:

• Alienware target monitor: description contains AW3423DWF
• Samsung trigger monitor: Samsung-only descriptions (SAM... / SAMSUNG)
• Other non-Alienware DDC monitors are ignored for trigger selection

Configure only one value per machine:

• this device Alienware target port: DP1, DP2, or HDMI
• optional auxiliary trigger monitor: selected in UI; if not set, auto-detection is used

Samsung trigger input codes (for diagnostics only):

• DP1 -> 15

• DP2 -> 19 (or 16 on some setups)

• HDMI -> 17

• If the auxiliary external monitor is present, the app checks Alienware current input and enforces the configured device_port via monitorcontrol.

Retry behavior:

• Only attempts switching while the Samsung screen is connected
• After each switch attempt, waits 5 seconds and rechecks
• Tries at most 3 times per Samsung-connected session
• After success, it will not try again until the Samsung screen disconnects and reconnects

Run

uv run kvm-switch

The dashboard is served at http://localhost:4000.

Test

uv run pytest -q

Diagnostic Script

Use this to inspect connected DDC/CI monitors and current input values:

uv run monitorcontrol_main.py

Autostart

Recommended: one-command installer

From the project folder, run:

powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File .\install_autostart.ps1

This creates or updates a Startup shortcut for the current Windows user and points it to this folder's start_kvm_switch_background.vbs. No hardcoded C:\Users\... path is required, so it works across tower/laptop deployments.

Manual option: Startup folder

1. Press Win + R
2. Run shell:startup
3. Create a shortcut to this repo's start_kvm_switch_background.vbs

The launcher resolves its own folder dynamically, so the project can live in different user directories.

Cleaner option: Task Scheduler

Use Task Scheduler if you want it to start automatically at logon with better control.

Program/script:

wscript.exe

Arguments:

"<full-path-to-project>\\start_kvm_switch_background.vbs"

Set the trigger to At log on. Optional: enable Hidden in task settings.