The Everything Setup

My desktop setup is built around a simple idea: two computers, one workspace, shared peripherals.

It combines a desktop PC running Linux and Windows with a Windows work laptop. A KVM switch connects both machines to the same monitors and peripherals, allowing me to switch between environments without rearranging cables or duplicating equipment.

The setup also integrates dedicated networking, an external audio interface and an electric guitar rig.

1. Compute and networking

The desktop PC and work laptop are the two primary hosts.

The desktop connects directly to an Ethernet switch, while the KVM also has a network connection. The switch uplinks to the router, providing network connectivity to the workspace.

flowchart TB
    ISP["Network Provider"] <--> ROUTER["Router"]

    ROUTER <--> SWITCH["8-Port Ethernet Switch"]

    subgraph HOSTS["COMPUTE HOSTS"]
        direction LR
        PC["Desktop PC<br/>Linux / Windows"]
        LAPTOP["Work Laptop<br/>Windows"]
    end

    SWITCH <--> PC
    SWITCH <--> KVM["KVM Switch"]
    LAPTOP <--> KVM

    classDef host fill:#dce9ff,stroke:#3465a4,color:#172b4d
    classDef network fill:#e4fcd6,stroke:#7a7a43,color:#163316
    classDef switch fill:#fff0c2,stroke:#b58a20,color:#493600

    class PC,LAPTOP host
    class ROUTER,ISP network
    class SWITCH,KVM switch

2. KVM, video and shared peripherals

The KVM is the central component of the workspace.

It handles USB and video switching between the desktop and laptop. Both computers share two monitors and the same set of peripherals:

Keyboard and mouse
Webcam and headset
Stream Deck
Behringer UMC204HD audio interface

The desktop uses dedicated DisplayPort and HDMI connections. The laptop connects through USB-C with DisplayPort Alt Mode.

flowchart TB
    subgraph HOSTS["COMPUTERS"]
        direction LR
        PC["Desktop PC"]
        LAPTOP["Work Laptop"]
    end

    subgraph KVM["KVM SWITCH"]
        direction TB

        VIDEO["Video Switch"]
        USB["USB Switch"]

        PC -->|"DisplayPort + HDMI"| VIDEO
        LAPTOP -->|"USB-C / DP Alt Mode"| VIDEO

        PC <-->|"USB"| USB
        LAPTOP <-->|"USB-C"| USB
    end

    VIDEO --> MON1["Monitor 1"]
    VIDEO --> MON2["Monitor 2"]

    USB <--> PERIPHERALS["Shared USB Peripherals"]

    classDef host fill:#dce9ff,stroke:#3465a4,color:#172b4d
    classDef switch fill:#fff0c2,stroke:#b58a20,color:#493600
    classDef display fill:#e2f0f5,stroke:#45869e,color:#163c4b
    classDef peripheral fill:#dff3e4,stroke:#418653,color:#173e24

    class PC,LAPTOP host
    class VIDEO,USB switch
    class MON1,MON2 display
    class PERIPHERALS peripheral

3. Audio and guitar signal chain

Audio is handled by a Behringer UMC204HD USB audio interface.

The electric guitar connects to an effects pedal chain. The processed instrument signal is then routed to both the guitar amplifier and the audio interface.

The interface handles analog-to-digital conversion and connects to the active computer over USB. This allows the guitar signal to be used in computer-based audio workflows while retaining the traditional amplifier setup.

flowchart LR
    GUITAR["Electric Guitar"]
    PEDALS["Effects Pedals"]

    AMP["Guitar Amplifier"]

    subgraph UMC["BEHRINGER UMC204HD"]
        direction TB

        INPUT["Analog Inputs"]
        ADC["USB Audio Conversion"]
        OUTPUT["Analog Outputs"]
        USB["USB-B Connection"]

        INPUT --> ADC
        ADC --> OUTPUT
        ADC <--> USB
    end

    PC["Active Computer"]

    GUITAR -->|"1/4 inch TS"| PEDALS

    PEDALS -->|"Processed signal"| AMP
    PEDALS -->|"Direct instrument signal"| INPUT

    USB <-->|"USB"| PC

    classDef audio fill:#f2e1ff,stroke:#8753aa,color:#43235c
    classDef host fill:#dce9ff,stroke:#3465a4,color:#172b4d

    class GUITAR,PEDALS,AMP,INPUT,ADC,OUTPUT,USB audio
    class PC host

4. Complete architecture

The focused diagrams provide a closer look at individual subsystems. The following diagram brings everything together, documenting the complete physical connectivity of the workspace.

flowchart TB

    %% =====================================================
    %% COMPUTE HOSTS
    %% =====================================================

    subgraph HOSTS["COMPUTE HOSTS"]
        direction LR

        subgraph PC["DESKTOP PC"]
            direction TB

            PC_USB["USB Ports"]
            PC_RJ45["ETH"]

            subgraph GPU["Desktop GPU"]
                direction LR

                PC_HDMI["GPU HDMI"]
                PC_DP1["GPU DisplayPort 1"]
                PC_DP2["GPU DisplayPort 2"]
                PC_DP3["GPU DisplayPort 3"]
            end

            subgraph OS["Operating Systems"]
                direction LR
                LINUX["Linux"]
                WINDOWS["Windows"]
            end

            PC_MB["Motherboard"]
            PC_PCIE["PCIe"]

            PC_PCIE <--> PC_HDMI & PC_DP1 & PC_DP2 & PC_DP3
            PC_USB & PC_RJ45 & PC_PCIE <--> PC_MB
            PC_MB <--> LINUX & WINDOWS
        end

        subgraph LAPTOP["WORK LAPTOP"]
            direction TB

            LAP_USB["USB-C Port<br>DP Alt Mode"]
            LAP_USB_A["USB-A Ports"]
            LAP_AUDIO["Onboard Audio"]

            LAP_MB["Motherboard"]

            LAP_WINDOWS["Windows"]

            LAP_USB & LAP_USB_A & LAP_AUDIO <--> LAP_MB
            LAP_MB <--> LAP_WINDOWS
        end
    end

    %% =====================================================
    %% NETWORKING
    %% =====================================================

    subgraph NETWORK_SWITCH["SWITCH"]
        direction LR

        SW_RJ45_1["ETH1"]
        SW_RJ45_2["ETH2"]
        SW_RJ45_3["ETH3"]
        SW_RJ45_4["ETH4"]
        SW_RJ45_5["ETH5"]
        SW_RJ45_6["ETH6"]
        SW_RJ45_7["ETH7"]
        SW_RJ45_8["ETH8"]

        SW_SWBOARD["Switch"]

        SW_RJ45_1 & SW_RJ45_2 & SW_RJ45_3 & SW_RJ45_4 & SW_RJ45_5 & SW_RJ45_6 & SW_RJ45_7 & SW_RJ45_8 <--> SW_SWBOARD
    end

    subgraph NETWORK_ROUTER["ROUTER"]
        direction LR

        RT_RJ45_1["ETH1"]
        RT_RJ45_2["ETH2"]
        RT_RJ45_3["ETH3"]
        RT_RJ45_4["ETH4"]

        RT_SWBOARD["Switch"]

        RT_RJ45_1 & RT_RJ45_2 & RT_RJ45_3 & RT_RJ45_4 <--> RT_SWBOARD
    end

    RT_RJ45_1 <--> NETWORK_PROVIDER["Network Provider"]
    RT_RJ45_2 <--> SW_RJ45_8
    SW_RJ45_1 <--> PC_RJ45
    SW_RJ45_2 <--> KVM_RJ45


    %% =====================================================
    %% KVM
    %% =====================================================

    subgraph KVM["KVM SWITCH"]
        direction TB

        KVM_RJ45["ETH"]

        subgraph KVM_HOSTS["HOST CONNECTIONS"]
            direction LR

            KVM_PC_USB["PC USB Upstream"]
            KVM_LAP_USB["Laptop USB Upstream"]
        end

        subgraph KVM_VIDEO["VIDEO CONNECTIONS"]
            direction LR

            KVM_DP1["DP Input 1"]
            KVM_HDMI1["HDMI Input 1"]

            KVM_MON1["Monitor Output 1"]
            KVM_MON2["Monitor Output 2"]

            KVM_VIDEO_SWBOARD["Video Switch"]

            KVM_DP1 & KVM_HDMI1 --> KVM_VIDEO_SWBOARD
            KVM_VIDEO_SWBOARD --> KVM_MON1 & KVM_MON2
        end

        subgraph KVM_USB["USB PERIPHERAL CONNECTIONS"]
            direction LR

            KVM_USB1["USB Port 1"]
            KVM_USB2["USB Port 2"]
            KVM_USB3["USB Port 3"]
            KVM_USB4["USB Port 4"]
            KVM_USB5["USB Port 5"]
            KVM_USB6["USB Port 6"]

            KVM_USB_SWBOARD["USB Switch"]

            KVM_USB1 & KVM_USB2 & KVM_USB3 & KVM_USB4 & KVM_USB5 & KVM_USB6 --> KVM_USB_SWBOARD
        end

        KVM_SWBOARD["Main Switch"]

        KVM_SWBOARD --> KVM_PC_USB
        KVM_SWBOARD --> KVM_LAP_USB

        KVM_VIDEO_SWBOARD & KVM_USB_SWBOARD & KVM_RJ45 --> KVM_SWBOARD
    end

    %% =====================================================
    %% VIDEO CONNECTIONS
    %% =====================================================

    PC_DP1 -->|"DisplayPort"| KVM_DP1
    PC_HDMI -->|"HDMI"| KVM_HDMI1

    KVM_MON1 -->|"HDMI"| MON1
    KVM_MON2 -->|"HDMI"| MON2

    subgraph DISPLAYS["DISPLAYS"]
        direction LR

        MON1["Monitor 1<br/>HDMI Input"]
        MON2["Monitor 2<br/>HDMI Input"]
    end

    %% =====================================================
    %% HOST USB CONNECTIONS
    %% =====================================================

    PC_USB <-->|"USB"| KVM_PC_USB
    LAP_USB <-->|"USB-C<br/>DP Alt Mode"| KVM_LAP_USB

    %% =====================================================
    %% SHARED PERIPHERALS
    %% =====================================================

    subgraph PERIPHERALS["SHARED PERIPHERALS"]
        direction TB

        subgraph KEYBOARD["KEYBOARD"]
            direction LR
            PS2["PS/2 Keyboard Connector"]
            PS2_ADAPTER["PS/2 to USB Adapter"]
            PS2 --> PS2_ADAPTER
        end

        MOUSE["USB Mouse<br/>USB Connector"]
        WEBCAM["USB Webcam<br/>USB Connector"]
        HEADSET["USB Headset<br/>USB Connector"]
        STREAM_DECK["STREAM DECK"]
    end

    PS2_ADAPTER --> KVM_USB1
    MOUSE --> KVM_USB2
    WEBCAM --> KVM_USB3
    HEADSET --> KVM_USB4
    STREAM_DECK --> KVM_USB5
    UMC_USB --> KVM_USB6

    %% =====================================================
    %% GUITAR AND AUDIO
    %% =====================================================

    subgraph GUITAR_RIG["GUITAR RIG"]
        direction LR

        GUITAR["Electric Guitar<br/>1/4 inch TS Output"]
        PEDALS["Effects Pedals<br/>Input / Output"]
        AMP["Guitar Amplifier"]

        GUITAR -->|"1/4 inch TS"| PEDALS
        PEDALS -->|"1/4 inch TS"| AMP
    end

    subgraph AUDIO_INTERFACE["BEHRINGER UMC204HD"]
        direction TB

        subgraph AUDIO_INPUTS["ANALOG INPUTS"]
            direction LR

            UMC_IN1["Input 1<br/>Combo XLR / 1/4 inch"]
            UMC_IN2["Input 2<br/>Combo XLR / 1/4 inch"]
        end

        subgraph AUDIO_USB["DIGITAL CONNECTION"]
            direction TB

            UMC_USB["USB-B Port"]
            UMC_ADC["USB Audio Conversion"]
        end

        subgraph AUDIO_OUTPUTS["ANALOG OUTPUTS"]
            direction LR

            UMC_OUT1["Main Output 1<br/>1/4 inch TRS"]
            UMC_OUT2["Main Output 2<br/>1/4 inch TRS"]
            UMC_HP["Headphone Output<br/>1/4 inch TRS"]
        end

        UMC_IN1 --> UMC_ADC
        UMC_IN2 --> UMC_ADC
        UMC_ADC --> UMC_USB
        UMC_ADC --> UMC_OUT1
        UMC_ADC --> UMC_OUT2
        UMC_ADC --> UMC_HP
    end

    PEDALS -->|"1/4 inch TS<br/>Direct instrument signal"| UMC_IN1

    %% =====================================================
    %% STYLING
    %% =====================================================

    classDef host fill:#dce9ff,stroke:#3465a4,color:#172b4d
    classDef switch fill:#fff0c2,stroke:#b58a20,color:#493600
    classDef peripheral fill:#dff3e4,stroke:#418653,color:#173e24
    classDef audio fill:#f2e1ff,stroke:#8753aa,color:#43235c
    classDef display fill:#e2f0f5,stroke:#45869e,color:#163c4b
    classDef software fill:#fce4d6,stroke:#c47a43,color:#603316
    classDef network_switch fill:#e4fcd6,stroke:#c47a7a,color:#606016
    classDef network_router fill:#d6fcd6,stroke:#7a7a43,color:#163316

    class PC_PCIE,LAP_WINDOWS,LAP_MB,PC_MB,PC_USB,PC_DP1,PC_DP2,PC_DP3,PC_HDMI,PC_AUDIO,LINUX,WINDOWS,NVME,LAP_USB,LAP_DP,LAP_USB_A,LAP_AUDIO,PC_RJ45 host
    class KVM_USB_UPSTREAM,KVM_SWBOARD,KVM_USB_SWBOARD,KVM_VIDEO_SWBOARD,KVM_PC_USB,KVM_LAP_USB,KVM_DP1,KVM_DP2,KVM_HDMI1,KVM_HDMI2,KVM_MON1,KVM_MON2,KVM_USB1,KVM_USB2,KVM_USB3,KVM_USB4,KVM_USB5,KVM_USB6,AUDIO_USB_SWITCH,AUDIO_PC,AUDIO_LAP,KVM_RJ45 switch
    class PS2,PS2_ADAPTER,KB_USB,MOUSE,WEBCAM,HEADSET,STREAM_DECK peripheral
    class UMC_IN1,UMC_IN2,UMC_USB,UMC_ADC,UMC_OUT1,UMC_OUT2,UMC_HP,GUITAR,PEDALS,AMP,SPEAKERS,HEADPHONES audio
    class MON1,MON2 display
    class SD_BUTTONS,BASH,TASKS software
    class SW_SWBOARD,SW_RJ45_1,SW_RJ45_2,SW_RJ45_3,SW_RJ45_4,SW_RJ45_5,SW_RJ45_6,SW_RJ45_7,SW_RJ45_8 network_switch
    class RT_SWBOARD,RT_RJ45_1,RT_RJ45_2,RT_RJ45_3,RT_RJ45_4,NETWORK_PROVIDER network_router