Network KVM shopping

A KVM (keyboard-mouse-video) is a little device that you plug the aforementioned ports into from your server computer. This can either be used as a switch so that one local system controls several machines within local cable-range, or a network system which transports those signals over a distance.

I'd think that by this day and age you'd have another kind of device, one that does all the KVM-like things but that lets you connect to it with VNC. Indeed some preliminary looking at the Mac world makes me think that day is already there for there. (Update: the Adderall box does do this - see the blog comments).

We're shopping, I'll fill in details when I have them.

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Cyclades: IP based KVM/Net looks too pricey - 16 ports minimum.

Raritan: 4-port "branch office" Dominion KVX

Digi: 8 port Digi CM

the other approach is to use a very, very small 1-port network KVM as a front end to a local KVM, which means you have a few more cables to manage but the flexibility to go from 4 to 8 to 16 just by putting in a bigger local KVM.

AMI: MegaRAC K-1 1-port (tiny, 0U). A good MegaRAC K-1 product review
gives the dirt - it's IE only for control, which is not ideal, but they're said to be working on Firefox remote controls. On sale at the AMI site for $449.

ATEN: KVM on the NET - Model #: CN6000- bigger than the AMI. This one has a Java console for Mac/Solaris/Linux, and native client software for Windows. Similar price to the AMI box.

Adderall: see blog comments for their VNC controlled solution.

Comments

[Peter Kaminski]

Ed, some similar units:

http://www.addertec.com/products/remote_ip/adderlink_ip.html
http://www.startech.com/ststore/ItemDetail.cfm?ProductID=SV431DI
http://www.startech.com/ststore/itemdetail.cfm?ProductID=SV1110IPEXT
http://www.rackittechnology.com/shopping/solution.php?pID=1375

[Edward Vielmetti]

Thanks Pete.

The Adderlink from Addertec *is* managable remotely through VNC. There's a review at http://www.techworld.com/networking/reviews/index.cfm?productID=196&reviewid=191 . The review doesn't note whether the VNC sessions can be run under SSH.

[Edward Vielmetti]

One more review of the Adderlink: http://www2.crn.vnunet.com/Products/Hardware/1159464

[Peter Kaminski]

The Adderlink can use VNC4's 128 bit AES encryption and 2048 bit RSA public/private key authentication:

http://www.realvnc.com/products/KVM-via-IP/

It can also support up to 4 remote clients simultaneously, a nifty feature.

A stockist in the UK has one of the units up for live demo:

http://www.kvmswitchdirect.co.uk/acatalog/kvm-over-ip.htm

You'll need to use a Personal edition (available soon) or Enterprise edition viewer to try the encryption. The Enterprise edition viewers are free -- RealVNC only charge per VNC server.

[davidnunez]

Before you spend a cent, check out Free/Open Software solutions:

Synergy:
Poor Man's Unix KVM:

I use both of these in my home office setup... I have 3 side-by-side monitors and 5 or 6 machines (depending on how you count). (SuSE, FreeBSD, Win2K, and OS X). Synergy is particularly useful because as I scroll my mouse from one monitor (say, the Windows box) to the very edge, the mouse magically scrolls onto the next monitor, which may be running a different OS (on a completely different box). Configuration is a snap, as well.

Once you get past 2 machines, the cost of a hardware solution dramatically increases. (Even a 2-port KVM can be pretty expensive).

I used to have a physical KVM, and I'll never go back.

[davidnunez]

Whoops. Here are the links:

Synergy: http://synergy2.sourceforge.net/
Poor Man's Unix KVM: http://www.syrlug.org/contrib/unix_kvm.html

[KVM Switch Guy]

There are, of course lots of different solutions, but the biggest reason to go with a hardware solution is for stability. If a service hangs, then there is no access. Running VNC or any other software solution will not give you access to the BIOS either. In addition, every software that is installed slows the computer down.

For the $50 or so, I would always go with a hardware solution (http://www.daxten.us/overview.cfm?prodID=56)

Of course for larger server rooms, hardware solutions are the only real solution especially where true remote access is required. Here are some links of remote access KVM products:

http://www.daxten.us/overview.cfm?prodID=37
http://www.daxten.us/overview.cfm?prodID=49
http://www.daxten.us/products.cfm?product_type_id=19

I've also recently started a blog to try and update people on KVM technology.
http://kvm-switch.typepad.com/kvmswitch/

Just one man's opinion.

[Tom Limoncelli]

I just wrote up my experiences with various vendors.

http://www.everythingsysadmin.com/archives/000061.html

[Edward]

Looking at two VNC servers for Win98 (to take control of an ancient Dell that still has some data on it). What came up with an easy search was RealVNC and TightVNC. I'll share any notes if I get results.