ATEN UC10KM PS/2 to USB Converter
Overview
The ATEN UC10KM is a compact PS/2-to-USB peripheral converter designed to keep legacy PS/2 mouse inputs operational on modern USB-only systems — without pulling a controller card, swapping hardware, or touching driver packages. If you're managing a rack environment where older PS/2 peripherals are still in rotation alongside current USB infrastructure, the UC10KM bridges that gap cleanly. It draws power directly from the USB port, keeping the installation footprint minimal. Cross-platform support for Windows, Mac, and Linux means the UC10KM slots into mixed OS environments without compatibility research on every deployment.
Key Features
- Bus-Powered via USB: The UC10KM draws all operating power from the host USB port — no wall adapter, no separate power brick. In rack or desktop environments where cable management already requires discipline, eliminating one more power run matters. Plug it in and it works.
- 12 Mbps USB 1.1 Data Rate: USB 1.1 Full-Speed at 12 Mbps is more than sufficient for mouse HID traffic, which peaks well under 1 Mbps under normal use. You're not bottlenecked by the interface — the protocol is matched to the use case.
- 90 cm Cable Length: The 90 cm (approximately 35-inch) cable gives enough reach to comfortably bridge the gap between a rack-mounted KVM or controller and a PS/2 mouse without forcing awkward routing. Long enough for most 1U/2U rack deployments, short enough to avoid excess cable drape.
- PS/2 Mouse Port — 6-Pin Mini-DIN Female (Green): The green-coded 6-pin Mini-DIN female connector is the standard PS/2 mouse interface. Color coding follows the PC99 specification convention, so if you're working in a dense rack with multiple legacy peripherals, there's no guessing which connector goes where.
- Cross-Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux: Verified platform support across all three major OS families means this converter works whether you're running Windows Server racks, Linux compute nodes, or macOS workstations. No per-OS driver hunting required for basic HID mouse function.
- 0–80% RH Non-Condensing Humidity Tolerance: Rated for up to 80% relative humidity (non-condensing), the UC10KM is appropriate for controlled datacenter and server room environments where humidity can vary with HVAC cycling. It's not rated for harsh outdoor or high-condensation settings — keep it in climate-controlled enclosures.
Integration & Compatibility
The UC10KM integrates into any environment where a USB host port is available and a PS/2 mouse input is required. It is USB 1.1 compatible and will operate correctly on USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 hosts due to backward compatibility built into the USB specification. This converter addresses a common rack integration problem: newer servers and KVM switches that have dropped PS/2 ports entirely while older peripherals — particularly PS/2 mice — remain in service. Rather than replacing functioning peripherals or sourcing adapters from unverified channels, the UC10KM provides a direct, bus-powered solution from a known KVM and peripheral connectivity manufacturer. It pairs logically with ATEN KVM switches and peripheral management products in environments running mixed-generation console hardware. If you're evaluating KVM switches for a server room refresh, verify whether your existing PS/2 peripherals need a converter like the UC10KM or whether a KVM with native PS/2 ports better fits the longer-term plan. For teams managing server room and rack infrastructure, this converter represents a low-cost way to extend the service life of PS/2 peripherals without a full console refresh. Consider pairing it with a rack accessory kit if you're building out a new console shelf.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does the UC10KM require any driver installation on Windows, Mac, or Linux?
A: No. The UC10KM is bus-powered and relies on standard USB HID (Human Interface Device) class drivers that are built into Windows, Mac, and Linux. No separate driver package is needed for basic mouse functionality.
Q: Does the UC10KM work with USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 host ports, or only USB 1.1?
A: The UC10KM is USB 1.1 compatible and will operate correctly on USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 host ports. USB is backward compatible, so newer host ports support USB 1.1 devices without issue.
Q: Can the UC10KM convert a PS/2 keyboard as well as a PS/2 mouse?
A: Based on available specifications, the UC10KM includes one PS/2 mouse port (6-pin Mini-DIN, green). Keyboard conversion capability is not confirmed in the published specifications for this model — verify with the manufacturer if keyboard PS/2 conversion is a requirement.
Q: How long is the cable on the UC10KM?
A: The cable is 90 cm (approximately 35 inches), which is sufficient for most 1U or 2U rack console deployments. If additional reach is needed, a PS/2 extension cable on the legacy side may be required.
Q: Is the UC10KM suitable for use in a server room or datacenter?
A: Yes, within standard operating conditions. The UC10KM is rated for 0–80% relative humidity (non-condensing), which covers typical controlled datacenter environments. It is not rated for outdoor or high-condensation settings.
The UC10KM comes up frequently in rack refresh projects where someone's doing a KVM or console consolidation and realizes the new switch has dropped PS/2 entirely. The 90 cm bus-powered cable is the right form factor for that scenario — you're not fighting a wall wart or a long cable run, just a clean plug-in adapter that gets a legacy PS/2 mouse talking to a USB host in seconds.
Technical Highlights:
- Bus-powered operation: Draws power entirely from the USB host port — no additional power source required. Eliminates one variable in rack power planning and keeps the install to a single cable connection.
- USB 1.1 at 12 Mbps: Full-Speed USB 1.1 is the correct protocol tier for HID mouse traffic. There's no performance reason to need USB 2.0 or higher for a pointing device — and USB 1.1 compatibility guarantees it works on virtually every host port manufactured in the last two decades.
- Cross-platform on Windows, Mac, and Linux: No driver package to manage across OS variants — the UC10KM relies on native HID class support baked into all three platforms. That matters in mixed-OS rack environments where you can't standardize on a single OS driver workflow.
Deployment Considerations:
- The 90 cm cable is the right length for console shelf or 1U rack KVM deployments, but if the PS/2 device is floor-mounted or at a distance, plan for a PS/2 extension cable on the legacy device side — the USB end plugs into the host, not the other way around.
- The published specification lists one PS/2 mouse port only. If your deployment requires PS/2 keyboard conversion as well, confirm the UC10KM covers that before ordering — or evaluate a model in the ATEN line that explicitly covers both PS/2 keyboard and mouse.
Best fit: rack console environments running legacy PS/2 mice alongside modern USB-only KVM switches or servers, where a bus-powered, no-driver adapter is the fastest path to restoring full console function without a peripheral replacement cycle.
