-----Original Message----- From: owner-nanog@merit.edu [mailto:owner-nanog@merit.edu] On Behalf Of Kevin Sent: Monday, August 22, 2005 10:27 PM To: nanog@merit.edu Subject: Re: KVM over IP suggestions?

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We have a non-IP switch from Raritan and saw presentations on their IP KVM products. Seemed pretty impressive. One problem you may want to focus on is screen resolution since the video output must be converted to IP packets with a lower refresh rate. We're planning to buy a few of these switches for remote monitoring.

The "IP Reach" video compression is bearable for installation and recovery. Video quality is degraded, but unless you really cannot stand moire patterns, it'll take an hour or so staring at the display before your headache becomes unbearable.

I have experience with Raritan's "Paragon IP Reach" products, and they do work, but are expensive for such a low port density. Also it has been very difficult to work with tech support to make the Paragon product with a RADIUS server for OTP access control.

The newer "Dominion" line may be better; I've heard some complaints about their serial console products, nothing either way about KVM.

We've tested Raritan's integrated KVM over IP + serial products for a while, but were less than impressed with their interface tools. Both the standalone client and the ActiveX client were prone to crashing, sometimes taking the raritan device with it. We've since junked the servers for which we needed the KVM over IP for in favor of HPs with advanced ilo or IBMs with remote supervisor cards, if which I'd recommend HPs offering any day. // nick