Things you must pay attention to: (1) IP KVM should not use client software - good switches uses VNC and can work via WEB. The same with authentication. (2) If you connect IP KVM to normal KVM, check if they are well compatible in suich things as: - monitor recognition on KVM; - switching ports on KVM; (3) If you use multiple servers, check that IP KVM can keep all your screen resolutions and frequences. I saw a case when everything worked, but IP KVM could not recognize still screen and generated huge traffic all the time. The same with frequencees - we have one Compaq KVM which refuse to work with IP KVM. (4) Pay attention to mouse syncronisation. It is tricky and bad IP KVM can require turning mouse acceleration off. Good IP KVM should know mouse acceleration rules in Windows and Linuxes. (5) If you can use embedded IP KVM card such as DELL : DRAC-IV or Compaq - RIB card, use them - IP KVM do not provides server reboot function and rarely can provide virtual CD or virtual floppy. We use IP KVM (do nopt remember vendor; cheap one, price was about $600) connected to 3 16 port KVMs (chained together), and it is good add-on to other tools. But it do not replace normal console in all cases - mouse sncronisation, slow refresh makes long work on it annoying. DRAC-IV card , on other hand, replaces consokle in 95% cases (5% rely to _DRAC-IV crashh; DRAC-IV lost keybvoard; etc cases). For the new project, I'd better take everything from one brand vendor (even if they OEM this things in most cases), just to be sure that KVM's are compatible. For cheap project, there are many cheap IP KVM's on the market, but TEST IT IN YOUR ENVIRONMENT! ----- Original Message ----- From: "Eric A. Hall" <ehall@ehsco.com> To: "Drew Weaver" <drew.weaver@thenap.com> Cc: <nanog@merit.edu> Sent: Monday, August 22, 2005 9:56 AM Subject: Re: KVM over IP suggestions?
On 8/22/2005 11:15 AM, Drew Weaver wrote:
Howdy, I'm looking for a way to give our remote users access to their servers, perhaps a KVM-IP solution.
Any suggestions would be helpful.
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-- Eric A. Hall http://www.ehsco.com/ Internet Core Protocols http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/coreprot/