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Single-User KVM Switch Solutions
In the early 1980's as the computer industry grew, many server
rooms and data centers were faced with the problem of having
dozens and even hundreds of monitors, keyboards, and mice, taking
up valuable rack space, and adding unnecessary heat disbursement
issues. They also created server management problems for larger
data centers in which technicians had to physically walk to each
server they needed to work on.
Who created the 1st KVM switch (Keyboard Video Mouse Switch) is
disputed. Actually the very 1st switches would more approximately
be called KV switches. As both graphical environments and mice
were not common in the early 1980's, the 1st switches only
supported keyboard & video switching. The first switching units
were very basic A/B type push button switches, grew to hot-key
controllable switches, and later added OSD's (On Screen
Displays). Addressing some of
these issues, these KVM switching products allow a single user to
access multiple CPUs from a single monitor, keyboard, and mouse.
In addition to improving server manageability, heat disbursement
issues, and the space savings, there was a huge cost savings from
not having to purchase a separate monitor, keyboard and mouse for
each CPU. Single user KVM Switches are widely used today and can be found in
almost every data center. The best of these products have
intelligent on-screen firmware, are software independent, and
allow you to connect multi-platform CPUs - such as IBM PC and
Compatible, Apple Macintosh, Sun, Silicon Graphics, IBM RS/6000,
DEC Alpha, HP 9000.
Multi-User KVM Switch Solutions
Single User KVM switches could handle dozens of Servers with a
single monitor, keyboard, and mouse. However, handling large
amount of servers with these KVM switches is cumbersome at best,
and impractical if more than one user requires simultaneous
access.
The KVM industry (see "KVM Switch Vendors" for
additional historical information about each KVM vendor), addressed this need
by creating KVM switches geared to being enterprise wide
solutions, which allow data center managers to set up a NOC or
Control Room where their technical people can remotely access any
or all of the servers/devices in their server farms. In addition
to no longer having to walk and locate a server you need to work
on, they allow managers to restrict unnecessary physical access to
sensitive equipment. These Multi-User KVM switches have security
features which allow you to setup up who can login and access a
user station. These KVM switches can be configured be either
partially-blocked or allow you to have non-blocked access to every
connected server/device.
Though the Multi-User KVM switch solutions shown on our pages are
all dependable products manufactured from KVM Switch Industry's
leaders, all have different capabilities and features. The KVM
Switch products and solutions you select should be tailored for
you specific environment and usage needs.
Datacenter Solutions: Server Racks, Remote Power, Rack Cooling, Monitoring and KVM over IP, is not just what 42U specializes in - it's what we do!
Click here for a Free
KVM Switch / KVM over IP Project Evaluation
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