Top Five Upgrade Considerations to bring your KVM Switch
products to the Latest Technologies
by 42U
Upgrade your current KVM architecture and clean up your server
room! Below are a few ways you can update your
Data
Center environment.
1. Upgrade to CAT5
CAT5 KVM
switches dramatically reduce desktop and server rack cable clutter
and allow users and computers to be situated farther apart than
they could be using standard
KVM cables. CAT5 switches also scale much larger on both
the user and system sides, providing additional flexibility
as your organization grows.
The major difference between standard and CAT5 based KVM
switches is the cable interface that connects the computers
to the KVM switch. CAT5 KVM switches use adapters called
dongles. Dongles dissect and amplify analog keyboard, mouse,
and monitor signals for transmission over CAT5 using RJ-45 connections.
Users then utilize a
CAT5 cable
to connect the dongle to a port on the KVM switch. The maximum
length that the CAT5 cable runs varies by manufacturer; higher-end
analog CAT5 KVM switches allow a user and a server to be up
to 1,000 feet apart. This distance is affected by resolution
and environmental factors, such as electromagnetic interference.
Suggestions:
Distance limitations regarding how far users and computers can
be extended vary by manufacturer. Take into account how far
computers will be placed away from the switch and their maximum
resolution before deciding on a CAT5 KVM switch. Also, note
that while CAT5 switches generally do not support audio, audio
is supported by certain models, such as the broadcast-focused
AMX from
Avocent.
2. Add Remote Management
Remote
management solutions allow you flexibility when managing
or troubleshooting servers and devices. The latest solutions
provide bios-level access to all attached servers and network
applications from any location worldwide with an internet connection.
This allows for greater efficiency in Data Center management
and a reduction in server downtime. At the same time, remote
management provides you with the ability to easily scale systems
to accommodate increases in staff and server count, manage user
permissions, and secure profiles from a single location/interface
with no geographical constraints.
Remote server management
also allows for centralized Data Center control, as all
Data Center devices can be viewed from one screen. Remote management
can be accomplished through the use of
digital
KVM switches or front-end IP products.
Suggestions:
Administrators need to consider the appropriate level of access
and centralization they need, as well as the level of appropriate
redundancy. Internal modem support for fail-safe back-up is
standard on some front-end IP management devices. Low-end IP
switches will not offer this feature, which will leave users
with network issues without a connection. Internal or external
modem support will offer true IP redundancy.
3. Add Remote Power Control
Remote power
management solutions provide administrators with the ability
to cycle power to non-responsive systems and cold boot problem
systems from any location, leading to a reduction in server
downtime and significantly reducing losses due to outage. Through
the use of intelligent power management solutions, administrators
can reboot servers at remote locations via a web interface and
proactively monitor power consumption and status, thus reducing
the amount of service calls and tickets for power-related issues
or server reboots. Remote power management solutions are also
used to manage servers at branch locations where there is no
IT staff, offering cost-efficient "lights-out" operation at
those sites.
Suggestions:
Administrators should consider whether they want to use standalone
remote power management solutions or integrate remote power
control with existing KVM over IP solutions. For example,
Server Technology's
suite of products, including its line of
Sentry
switched CDU products, are standalone solutions that can also
be effectively integrated with
KVM over IP
products.
In addition, if more than 16 remote controllable outlets
are needed, consider total Amperage of the combined attached
servers. Calculate power consumption rate first before investing
in a high-port density power strip to ensure that the internal
circuitry can handle the load.
4. Convert Existing KVM Architecture to a Digital Solution
Consider upgrading and aggregating access to your multiple KVM
switches to one main KVM management solution. Managing separate
KVM environments is costly and time-consuming. Digital solutions
can help make Data Center management more efficient and effective.
Suggestions:
Minicom's KVM.net
system allows you to leverage your existing KVM investment and
provides secure, centralized KVM access to servers. Minicom's
PX single-server front-end IP devices provide non-blocking access
to servers and can be integrated with the
KVM.net
system. You can connect a PX to each of your mission-critical
servers to turn the KVM.net system into a fully secure, digital,
non-blocking solution and use it as a front end to your existing
analog KVM switches, giving you a singe interface for management.
5. Start Over
On your current low-end KVM switch, are you losing keyboards
and mice on the return trip back to Port 1 from Port 4? Have
you RMA'd the same switch three times to no avail? If so, you
need to retire the old, low-end KVM switch and start over. Rebooting
your systems and an entire 16-port solution is not worth the
time and hassle. Upgrade the quality of your low-port density
unit to give you the reliability you need at a price you can
afford.
Suggestions:
Plan for port expansion now since you have the opportunity to
buy a new KVM solution. If, for example, 16 ports were not enough,
now is the perfect time to expand your KVM architecture. Expanding
to fit your current and future needs will be a lot easier than
cascading multiple unlike KVM manufacturers down the road.
About 42U
42U focuses on providing Facilities and Data Center Managers
with objective and trusted independent information on
Data Center Power and
Data Center Cooling best practices along with
KVM over IP
and Remote Power
lights out management to help them reduce their organization's
power consumption. Our Data
Center Management website has helped millions of IT professionals
globally who search for best practices and technologies to help
them make their computer environment more efficient.
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported
License.
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