OS/2, eCS & ArcaOS - Technical > Hardware

Using a Corsair K70 Keyboard on a KVM under ArcaOS

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Mark Szkolnicki:
Hi All!

Its been quite a few months (21 in fact) since I had any time to stop in to the OS2world forums, to participate, as between pandemic and forest fire response its been a busy time. Hope everyone remains well in what has become a rather extraordinary time in history.

Just thought I'd drop off a tip I learned today, related to getting a Corsair K70 keyboard on a Belkin KVM working with ArcaOS.

As background, I had worn out my keyboard late last year after years of typing, and was in the market for a new one - I wanted it for both use in a professional manner (purely for typing) and for gaming (in the odd time I have for such).

As a result I came across the Corsair K70 Mk. 2, which had very high marks - it is a very well made (aluminum frame) keyboard with a rugged Gold Contact Cherry MX mechanical movement. I've always preferred mechanical keyboards to membrane, but as with all things it runs to personal preference.

It also is an extremely attractive bright back lighted keyboard, in multiple colours in a variety of patterns, which looks good whether in daylight or at night.

Purchasing the keyboard last December I attempted to hook it up to first one computer directly, and then through my KVM switches, to my ArcaOS set-ups, only to be disappointed with the fact that the keyboard did not to seem to be recognized by either the KVMs or the system, under ArcaOS, although it functioned correctly in the Windows set-up (Windows 7 Pro) when directly connected on the computer I was using for test purposes.

I had little time to troubleshoot the problem, so I was forced to use another keyboard I then purchased for use with my KVM switchs, which worked, but was certainly not the same in either style nor quality.

Returning to the problem two days ago, I finally found a solution on a couple of forums where people had reported the same problems with Corsair keyboards and KVM switches, and a link to a blog by a Simon Fredsted:

https:/simonfredsted.com/1775

It seems that Simon found that some Corsair keyboards won't work in some computer's BIOS due to gaming optimizations -- any keys you press before booting an OS will not be recognized. The same is true for access through KVM switches.

The K70 has an option which is called "BIOS mode" which may be enabled by pressing the "WinLock" key (on the K70 this is located at the top left of the keyboard as a specialty key with a Lock symbol on it) for five seconds, when the keyboard is powered, and then holding down the F1 key (so both keys are pressed) for an additional 5 seconds.

After that release the WINLOCK key - the keyboard LED's go off then back on, and the Scroll Lock LED on the keyboard should blink continuously. After a second, release the F1 key.

Using that procedure the K70 keyboard is now recognized when I boot up ArcaOS, including the colour keyboard display which I had enabled.

From Simons blog, using BIOS mode limits some of the gaming optimizations inherent to the keyboard. To turn off BIOS mode when using them under Windows, he indicates that you simply perform the procedure again - the blinking Scroll Lock LED should turn off.

I've tested exiting and re enabling BIOS mode, as well as turning the KVM off and then on (the K70 seems to retain BIOS mode until it is disabled as above, possibly because of the keyboard onboard memory)

I have not as yet tried using the keyboard directly connected to one computer, or using it for gaming purposes under windows, but thought this tip might be useful for others here who were using this model or others in the Corsair line and trying to access ArcaOS.

Best to all and a fine day to you!

Mark

Martin Iturbide:
Thanks for sharing Mark. Welcome back.

Is this the keyboard? Looks nice.

Can it be possible for you to post the Hardware USB ID of the keyboard so I can add it to the OS2World wiki?
Also if you can post the hardware report of the USB device using lsusb (I have an article on how to generate that report here)

Is this the manual of you keyboard?
https://www.corsair.com/corsairmedia/sys_master/productcontent/K70_RGB_MK2_LP_QSG.pdf

Regards

Mark Szkolnicki:
Heh Martin!

Long time no talk.

| Is this the keyboard? Looks nice.

It is the keyboard, with the gaming caps attached (optional, and I don't use them), but the pictures really don't do it justice.

I've attached a picture of mine, fully lit in a dark room - quite striking, as well as extremely functional.

It actually has a wave of changing colours slowly rolling from left to right across the keyboard in the current configuration - other modes are available.

| Can it be possible for you to post the Hardware USB ID of the keyboard so I can add it to the OS2World wiki?
| Also if you can post the hardware report of the USB device using lsusb (I have an article on how to generate that report here)

Will have a look tomorrow and see

| Is this the manual of you keyboard?
| https://www.corsair.com/corsairmedia/sys_master/productcontent/K70_RGB_MK2_LP_QSG.pdf

Yup, thats the one, Martin

Best!

M






Martin Iturbide:
Hi Mark

I just created this wiki page for the keyboard.

Maybe the same technique can work for the "Corsair K55 RGB Gaming Keyboard" that was reported as not working, but I don't remember who report it to ask him to try it out.

Regards

Mark Szkolnicki:
Maybe the same technique can work for the "Corsair K55 RGB Gaming Keyboard" that was reported as not working, but I don't remember who report it to ask him to try it out.


Very possible Martin, assuming the K55 has a "BIOS mode" switch function. This link may help in the Corsair forum as its directly related to BIOS mode and the K55 (although WINLOCK-F1 is indicated as not working as the key combination):

https://forum.corsair.com/forums/topic/170805-k55-rgb-pro-xt-bios-mode/

I myself got the idea from a post on the following web link:

https://superuser.com/questions/1558951/why-dont-gaming-keyboards-typically-work-with-kvm-switches

The writer was enquiring about not connecting through a KVM switch with a Corsair K95, and that's where I ran across the link to Simon Fredsteds blog. Simon was illustrating enabling BIOS Mode on a Corsair K63 Keyboard, so it would probably work as well. The WINLOCK key on that keyboard is on the right top side of the board, but it was the keyboard he used to come up with the instructions given, so the procedure is the same.

It seems most of the current Corsair keyboards have the WINLOCK switch at the top of the keyboard, but there also seems to be some models that have a BIOS Mode switch at the back of the keyboard beside the connector cable, according to some accounts.

The K70 keyboards also have a USB passthrough connector on the back of the keyboard and an auxiliary cable with a USB-A connector which may be connected to the host computer to enable it. Originally I read some posts about the K70 possibly requiring additional power from a cell phone charger which could be attached to this cable, if used on a KVM. I never tried that - having BIOS mode work for me, I never pursued the other possibility.

Best!

M

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