KVM Switch kernel panics under Mac OS X 10.4.x

A handful of MacFixIt readers have recently reported an issue where USB-based KVM (Keyboard, Video and Mouse) switchers cause kernel panics when a transfer is attempted under Mac OS X 10.4.x.

These kernel panics are usually accompanied by an error in the System Log similar to the following:

• AppleUSBOHCI[0x1efb800]::CreateGeneralTransfer - trying to queue to a stalled pipe

Users reporting this issue indicate that it is persistent behavior in all iterations of Mac OS X 10.4.x, including the most recently released Mac OS X 10.4.2.

If you are experiencing this issue, you may also find (using the Activity Monitor, located in Applications/Utilities) that the process kernel_task exhibits inordinately high processor usage.

We've yet to discover a viable workaround for this issue other than discontinuing use of the KVM switch.

If you are experiencing a similar issue, please drop us a line at late-breakers@macfixit.com. Please note the model of KVM switch you are using, as well as when the kernel panic occurs.

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