MP 1.21 allows you to share a monitor between 2 systems if that monitor has multiple inputs.

So I have a XP and a Vista test box attached to a single monitor.  XP via VGA, Vista via DVI.  Multiplicity will automatically switch inputs depending on which one I am controlling at the time.  So if I move left off my primary it will show Vista and if I move right it will show XP (assuming both are on).

Switching is not instant as it will depend on the monitor.

Okay, first tests...

Test configuration, 3 monitors [DVI] (VGA)

[P] [S] "Wilma", Vista, Multiplicity Primary (Not their real names, hehe)
(S) [P] "Fred", XP, Multiplicity Secondary

So normally, Fred is set up with one monitor and Wilma is set up with two monitors and Fred is to the right of Wilma. The middle monitor is a 24" Dell 2407FPW so it has multiple inputs.

So Wilma is connected DVI to the middle monitor and Fred is connected VGA (DVI->VGA adapter) to the middle monitor.

Note#1, once Multiplicity Pro is set so that Fred (shares with) Primary (aka Wilma), you MUST reboot Wilma (the Multiplicity Primary) for this to even have a chance of working.

Note#2, my hope was that the Primary monitor on both computers would always stay on, with the middle (secondary for both) monitor switching as I moved the mouse from machine to machine.

As you might imagine, none of this worked. When I move the mouse to Fred, both monitors on Wilma go blank/power saving mode, the secondary doesn't switch (I don't know that the 2407 CAN switch inputs via software, maybe only through the front panel button?), and the Primary Vista machine crashes/freezes entirely. A hard reset is required to recover.

So, I think it is CRITICAL to make sure you have a monitor than AUTO sources. I assume (so take my guess for what it's worth) that Multiplicity shuts off/on the respective inputs, allowing the monitor to auto source switch to whichever one is now turned on.

Now my example is extreme...and weird...and ironically the only monitor I want to auto switch doesn't have auto switch (the two primaries listed above and Samsung 226BWs and have Auto Source).   

I may have to switch the monitors on Wilma so that the shared monitor is a Samsung. I'll let you know if this works. My guess is that my configuration is "outside parameters", hehe.

Well, a hard reset it required. Mouse froze, then keyboard (hitting caps/num lock didn't change lit indicator). That was the first time for Vista.   

No.  But if you had a third monitor connected to both of them MP would give the center monitor the output from whichever PC had focus (I think). 

interesting addendum:

I tested this NEW configuration, 3 monitors, connections -> [DVI] (VGA)

[P] (S) "Barney", XP Laptop, Multiplicity Secondary
___(S) [P] "Wilma", Vista desktop, Multiplicity Primary (Not their real names, hehe)

The middle monitor is a 22" Samsung 226BW that does autosource, so it does switch over...but ONLY if you leave the mouse on the switching monitor for a while. If your mouse reaches the LCD primary on the laptop (aka Barney) before the monitor switches over, the middle monitor won't switchover.

This is because, apparently, when you reach Barney's primary, all active monitors are turned back on. So, if you wait for the autoswitch, you'll have Barney with two monitors on and Wilma's primary back on, as one would hope/expect.

If you don't wait in the middle for the switch, the middle monitor change will never take, and so you'll have the primary of Barney and both monitors on Wilma, which is not the intention.

The weird thing is you won't "see" your mouse on the Barney middle during the switch of course. In my case it took about 5 s to switch and stick.

More as I try different configs. Note that after playing with this for a while, it crashed Vista again. I have seen this before with other "screen off" utilities. So far, the only one that DOESN'T eventually crash the system is MONOFF 4, http://www.jimbug.org/downloads/download.htm. Maybe Jim has an alternate/safer way of turning off the monitors?

I hope this helps.

:}

MONOFF uses the same method as MP does.  Due to issues with Vista (low power mode is unreliable) MP has to use the power off mode vs the low power mode and I suspect the same thing happens on your pc if you use the power off mode with MONOFF.

If your machine locks up when monitors are powered off then you probably have a video driver issue.

Hello, I have a HP TFT monitor (15 zoll). Where can I find if autoswitching is possible.

Hi sorry but my tft is Fujitsu Siemens P15-1. I have mixed it with my other pc. I want be test what you have written.

Thanks...

Yeah ist works. I found the error: I was the error   

I connected the monitor cable of my laptop to the graphic card of my primary pc. I don't know why but this was so stupid   

No the new feature works, so i can work with my laptop with the mouse, monitor and keyboard of my home pc.

Bit I have sometimes crahes or freezes but the systems works good.

Thanks.

Neil,

I upgraded to the newly released 163.67 betas on guru3d.com (since the changelog mentioned fixing a standby issue with 64 bit Vista), and even though I'm running 32-but Vista whatever they did seems to have solved the crashing/corruption issue in standby/low power mode I was experiencing with this new Multiplicity beta.

I'll try some different configurations and see if I can break this in some other ways, hehe.