Remote Access Digital KVM over IP products are a new breed of non-intrusive hardware based solutions which allow you both in-band and out-of-band access to all the servers either connected to your KVM switch, or directly connected to the KVM Over IP switch. Utilizing advanced security and regardless of operating system, these Remote Access KVM Over IP products allow you to remotely control all your servers/CPU’s – including pre-boot functions such as editing CMOS settings and power cycling your servers. All of these Remote Access KVM Over IP products allow you access via your internal LAN/WAN, and some allow connectivity via the Internet or dial in access via ISDN or standard 56K modems.
Considerations when evaluating KVM over IP Switches
As you browse these KVM Switch product pages in deciding which KVM over IP Switch solution is best for your requirements, it will serve you well to carefully consider KVM Switch features such as:
What expansion options (for both your users/administrators and your servers) does this KVM over IP solution offer?
What are the KVM over IP user limitations?
How much bandwidth does this KVM over IP solution require?
What type of cabling / interface modules does the KVM over IP switch require - coax cable, single or dual cat5, fiber optic. Some use more than one, for example cat5 and coax - an important topology consideration when considering cost and ease of installation.
What are it's multi-platform capabilities, and for non-PC environments does the KVM do keyboard mapping or allow you to use your native keyboard?
Does the level of security the KVM over IP switch offers suit your needs?
What redundancy does the KVM offer if one of it's components were to go down? And how will a failure of any of the KVM switches/components affect your servers and your ability to control them?
How is KVM extension handled?
Does the KVM offer both IP and in-band options?
What are the KVM's power cycling options?
And importantly, all KVM's save your rack space and provide some level of remote bios level management, but how easy it is to manage your servers and devices depends on the quality of the KVM over IP management software.
