KVM Switches
Last Updated: 30 Dec 2003
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*** PLEASE NOTE: Link(s), If Provided, May Be Wrapped ***
Here are the most common choices for electronic KVM
(Keyboard/Video/Mouse) switches:
HOME/SOHO
• Avocent ................ http://www.avocent.com/
• Belkin ................. http://www.belkin.com/
• D-Link ................. http://www.d-link.com/
• LinkSys ................ http://www.linksys.com
DATACENTER
• Avocent ................ http://www.avocent.com/
• BlackBox ............... http://www.blackbox.com/
• Raritan ................ http://www.raritan.com/
• Rose ................... http://www.roseelectronics.com/
• Peppercon .............. http://www.peppercon.com/kvmswitches.html
MISCELLANEOUS
• http://directory.google.com/Top/Computers/Hardware/Peripherals/Switching_Devices/
REVIEWS & ARTICLES
• http://www.win2000mag.com/Articles/Index.cfm?ArticleID=9072
PERSONAL NOTES
• Whatever you do, don't get a mechanical switch.
• Most of the larger Server vendors (Compaq, IBM, HP)
have OEM'd a switchbox from one of the manufacturers
listed above.
• Avocent = Cybex + Apex
• IMO, Avocent makes the BEST KVMs from tiny 2-port
models for Home and Small Office, to the high-end
matrixed configurations that allow you to control
thousands of machines from a single console -- all
over IP. Definitely my favorite vendor, and I've
deployed them for more organizations than all of
the other vendors combined (often replacing Belkin
and Raritan).
• On the low end, LinkSys also makes some good KVMs.
So does D-Link.
• Based on many years of feeble products, I can't
stand Belkin KVMs. They've gotten better in recent
years such that you don't need to set the focus on
each machine before rebooting them, but I still
favor Avocent (formerly Cybex)
• I don't really like Raritan's either. They used to
have really bulky, expensive products that caused
monitors to burn out. Over the last 7 years, I have
replaced their products with products from Cybex
whenever possible... Like Belkin, they've gotten
better recently, but not enough for me to look to
them as a primary solution.
• No matter which vendor you choose, IP over KVM
technology is expensive, compared to standard KVM
pricing.
