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Graphical Console Access (KVM)
When Keyboard Video and Mouse control is mentioned the first impression is the traditional switch box which allowed one user to have access to two computers.
Enterprise site management of KVM consoles is now a highly sophisticated tool.
The are two fundamental approaches:
- Traditional analogue switches
- IP digital switches
The traditional analogue switch has many benefits when the operator is in the close vicinity and simply requires high performance KVM access to any host from a single point or where local access might be required.
When remote access is required the issue of the architecture arises. Traditional KVM vendors offer a gateway from analogue KVM switches to TCP/IP. This is useful where a single user wishes to access a site and connect to an individual host. One such device is required for each remote user.
The internal architecture of the traditional KVM switching solution then becomes a factor. The design factor that determines the necessary architecture is known as blocking. In a traditional analogue switch there are a limited number of access paths. Only one user is supported per access path regardless of the number of hosts that are being served or users that are connected to the system and have potential access to all ports. The determinant of the design is therefore whether there are more remote users requiring concurrent access than available paths.
What differentiates one IP-based KVM solution from another?
While KVM access over IP clearly offers significant operational and economic benefits over both software-based remote control tools and conventional KVM switching, there are also important distinctions to be drawn between various types of IP-based KVM solutions. These distinctions are critical for ensuring that organizations gain the full benefits of IP-based KVM without locking themselves into a solution that can't grow or change with their evolving needs and/or exposing themselves to unacceptable risk.
IP-based KVM Solution vs. Remote KVM Switch Control
Some KVM switching manufacturers mimic IP-based KVM architecture by enabling remote control of a conventional analog KVM switch. That is, they provide IP-based access to a KVM switch that connects to managed resources devices via conventional analog links. Network administrators should therefore exercise caution in selecting an IP-based solution and make sure that the benefits of IP connectivity extend through both sides of the remote management equation.
IP-based KVM switching provides access to more devices with less cabling hassles. IP networking technology allows a single cable run to support multiple servers in a "bus" configuration - enabling virtually unlimited scalability.
We offer the best of each of these options so you can design your KVM network with the very best architecture for your particular system.
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