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Contents 
Aten
Avocent
Belkin
HP
Peppercon
Raritan
Specifications
Sample Scenario
Editor's Choice
About RMIT |
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The new generation of keyboard, video, and mouse (KVM) switches allows admins to tinker with their systems remotely over an IP connection. We look at six IP KVM packages.
Most system administrators would be familiar with KVM switches; they're an important but not terribly exciting part of the plumbing in just about any server room. So what what exactly is an IP KVM switch?
Well, remote access is becoming an important part of many businesses, and sometimes admins need to access their servers even when they're not physically in the server room. An IP KVM switch allows the admin to access their servers remotely over any IP connection -- even from home, if necessary.
This can be achieved in two distinct ways: the first is simply to attach a "black box" with an IP port to an existing KVM switch, and the second is to build the IP functionality into the KVM switch itself.
The IP black box generally includes one or more serial ports and one or more KVM ports, and it is through the KVM port that the black box connects to any KVM switch.
In essence, your keyboard and mouse commands are sent via IP to the black box which then passes the commands through KVM port to the KVM switch as if the switch were controlled by the local keyboard operator. The video feed from the PC being controlled is passed back through the KVM switch to the black box and then via IP to the remote operator's PC for display.
Obviously the black box must first compress the video data before pumping it over the IP network, and each vendor usually offers several levels of compression with compromises between the image quality and the bandwidth consumed. Typically the serial ports can be used to remotely access and/or control LAN switches and powerboards so for example a hung PC can be powered down and up again.
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