Recommendations for Server Room KVM Switch?

[Guest Will]

Does anyone have recommendations for server room KVM switches that can

handle 16 or more Windows boxes at 1600x1200 resolution? The Belkin

products for 16 ports are absolutely awful...constantly we have one or two

servers that mysteriously stop being controlled by the switch and we have to

reboot them. The list of names the Belkin shows on the screen for the

systems mysteriously clears itself and you have to spend 10 minutes re

establishing that list. This is happening on both older and newer

generations of the Belkin product. I also don't want one of the many

flimsy IP-based KVM solutions that make a 1600x1200 screen look like a

jagged bitmap.

 

I'm ready for a higher end switch, and my number one criteria is reliability

and quality of the image. What options are out there?

 

A Google search for evaluations turned up very little but spam (price

comparison services). A search on PC Magazine showed no relevant reviews

in the last two years. Would appreciate some pointers.

 

--

Will

[Guest Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Re: Recommendations for Server Room KVM Switch?

 

Will <westes-usc@noemail.nospam> wrote:

> Does anyone have recommendations for server room KVM switches that can

> handle 16 or more Windows boxes at 1600x1200 resolution? The Belkin

> products for 16 ports are absolutely awful...constantly we have one

> or two servers that mysteriously stop being controlled by the switch

> and we have to reboot them. The list of names the Belkin shows on

> the screen for the systems mysteriously clears itself and you have to

> spend 10 minutes re establishing that list. This is happening on

> both older and newer generations of the Belkin product. I also

> don't want one of the many flimsy IP-based KVM solutions that make a

> 1600x1200 screen look like a jagged bitmap.

>

> I'm ready for a higher end switch, and my number one criteria is

> reliability and quality of the image. What options are out there?

>

> A Google search for evaluations turned up very little but spam (price

> comparison services). A search on PC Magazine showed no relevant

> reviews in the last two years. Would appreciate some pointers.

 

This is one area where you really get what you pay for. The cheap and

cheerful SOHO stuff won't cut it. Something like

http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/11451_na/11451_na.html might

work well for you - I use older (and smaller) Compaq KVMs at several client

sites and have been very happy with them.

[Guest Andrew Williams]

RE: Recommendations for Server Room KVM Switch?

 

We've used Raritan KVM switches for years. They are a market leader and I

can't fault them at all - I currently manage 16 servers over IP. The latest

Dominion incarnation will handle your resolution. Check out their web site @

http://www.raritan.com. You can also schedule a demonstration.

 

Hope this helps.

 

"Will" wrote:

> Does anyone have recommendations for server room KVM switches that can

> handle 16 or more Windows boxes at 1600x1200 resolution? The Belkin

> products for 16 ports are absolutely awful...constantly we have one or two

> servers that mysteriously stop being controlled by the switch and we have to

> reboot them. The list of names the Belkin shows on the screen for the

> systems mysteriously clears itself and you have to spend 10 minutes re

> establishing that list. This is happening on both older and newer

> generations of the Belkin product. I also don't want one of the many

> flimsy IP-based KVM solutions that make a 1600x1200 screen look like a

> jagged bitmap.

>

> I'm ready for a higher end switch, and my number one criteria is reliability

> and quality of the image. What options are out there?

>

> A Google search for evaluations turned up very little but spam (price

> comparison services). A search on PC Magazine showed no relevant reviews

> in the last two years. Would appreciate some pointers.

>

> --

> Will

>

>

>

[Guest Brett I. Holcomb]

Re: Recommendations for Server Room KVM Switch?

 

My experience has been that Black Box makes excellent gear - I've used

them for 20+ years and they just work. They don't seem to loose

connections as most others do. I/O gear has been junk. Belkin's

better then I/O Gear but gets confused sometimes. I've never used

Raritan so can't speak to them.

 

 

On Sun, 16 Dec 2007 11:32:00 -0800, Andrew Williams

<AndrewWilliams@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>We've used Raritan KVM switches for years. They are a market leader and I

>can't fault them at all - I currently manage 16 servers over IP. The latest

>Dominion incarnation will handle your resolution. Check out their web site @

>http://www.raritan.com. You can also schedule a demonstration.

>

>Hope this helps.

>

>"Will" wrote:

>

>> Does anyone have recommendations for server room KVM switches that can

>> handle 16 or more Windows boxes at 1600x1200 resolution? The Belkin

>> products for 16 ports are absolutely awful...constantly we have one or two

>> servers that mysteriously stop being controlled by the switch and we have to

>> reboot them. The list of names the Belkin shows on the screen for the

>> systems mysteriously clears itself and you have to spend 10 minutes re

>> establishing that list. This is happening on both older and newer

>> generations of the Belkin product. I also don't want one of the many

>> flimsy IP-based KVM solutions that make a 1600x1200 screen look like a

>> jagged bitmap.

>>

>> I'm ready for a higher end switch, and my number one criteria is reliability

>> and quality of the image. What options are out there?

>>

>> A Google search for evaluations turned up very little but spam (price

>> comparison services). A search on PC Magazine showed no relevant reviews

>> in the last two years. Would appreciate some pointers.

>>

>> --

>> Will

>>

>>

>>

[Guest Will]

Re: Recommendations for Server Room KVM Switch?

 

"Andrew Williams" <AndrewWilliams@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in

message news:4E7E5226-08A8-4A90-A94D-BEBC68DD7406@microsoft.com...

> We've used Raritan KVM switches for years. They are a market leader and I

> can't fault them at all - I currently manage 16 servers over IP. The

> latest

> Dominion incarnation will handle your resolution. Check out their web site

> @

> http://www.raritan.com. You can also schedule a demonstration.

 

Can you clarify how this Raritan product works? I have one of Lantronix

SLK16 16 port switches, and as a pure KVM it is very good. But managing

over IP is absolutely awful. They shrink down a 1600x1200 desktop to a tiny

image over IP in a web browser, and they don't anti-alias it at all. It is

so badly done that the switch is almost unusable over IP.

 

Which model Raritan are you recommending, and does it have a non-IP mode

that lets you manage the keyboard, mouse, video directly from a console?

 

--

Will

> "Will" wrote:

>

>> Does anyone have recommendations for server room KVM switches that can

>> handle 16 or more Windows boxes at 1600x1200 resolution? The Belkin

>> products for 16 ports are absolutely awful...constantly we have one or

>> two

>> servers that mysteriously stop being controlled by the switch and we have

>> to

>> reboot them. The list of names the Belkin shows on the screen for the

>> systems mysteriously clears itself and you have to spend 10 minutes re

>> establishing that list. This is happening on both older and newer

>> generations of the Belkin product. I also don't want one of the many

>> flimsy IP-based KVM solutions that make a 1600x1200 screen look like a

>> jagged bitmap.

>>

>> I'm ready for a higher end switch, and my number one criteria is

>> reliability

>> and quality of the image. What options are out there?

>>

>> A Google search for evaluations turned up very little but spam (price

>> comparison services). A search on PC Magazine showed no relevant

>> reviews

>> in the last two years. Would appreciate some pointers.

>>

>> --

>> Will

[Guest Will]

Re: Recommendations for Server Room KVM Switch?

 

"Brett I. Holcomb" <brettholcomb@bellsouth.net> wrote in message

news:890bm3po7n29km8tfns63grso6ecg6ger8@4ax.com...

> My experience has been that Black Box makes excellent gear - I've used

> them for 20+ years and they just work. They don't seem to loose

> connections as most others do. I/O gear has been junk. Belkin's

> better then I/O Gear but gets confused sometimes. I've never used

> Raritan so can't speak to them.

 

Is there a specific model Black Box 16 port KVM you would recommend?

 

--

Will

 

> On Sun, 16 Dec 2007 11:32:00 -0800, Andrew Williams

> <AndrewWilliams@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>

>>We've used Raritan KVM switches for years. They are a market leader and I

>>can't fault them at all - I currently manage 16 servers over IP. The

>>latest

>>Dominion incarnation will handle your resolution. Check out their web site

>>@

>>http://www.raritan.com. You can also schedule a demonstration.

>>

>>Hope this helps.

>>

>>"Will" wrote:

>>

>>> Does anyone have recommendations for server room KVM switches that can

>>> handle 16 or more Windows boxes at 1600x1200 resolution? The Belkin

>>> products for 16 ports are absolutely awful...constantly we have one or

>>> two

>>> servers that mysteriously stop being controlled by the switch and we

>>> have to

>>> reboot them. The list of names the Belkin shows on the screen for the

>>> systems mysteriously clears itself and you have to spend 10 minutes re

>>> establishing that list. This is happening on both older and newer

>>> generations of the Belkin product. I also don't want one of the many

>>> flimsy IP-based KVM solutions that make a 1600x1200 screen look like a

>>> jagged bitmap.

>>>

>>> I'm ready for a higher end switch, and my number one criteria is

>>> reliability

>>> and quality of the image. What options are out there?

>>>

>>> A Google search for evaluations turned up very little but spam (price

>>> comparison services). A search on PC Magazine showed no relevant

>>> reviews

>>> in the last two years. Would appreciate some pointers.

>>>

>>> --

>>> Will

>>>

>>>

>>>

[Guest Will]

Re: Recommendations for Server Room KVM Switch?

 

"Andrew Williams" <AndrewWilliams@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in

message news:4E7E5226-08A8-4A90-A94D-BEBC68DD7406@microsoft.com...

> We've used Raritan KVM switches for years. They are a market leader and I

> can't fault them at all - I currently manage 16 servers over IP. The

> latest

> Dominion incarnation will handle your resolution. Check out their web site

> @

> http://www.raritan.com. You can also schedule a demonstration.

 

Looked over the Raritan stuff and it looks good. With KX216 or KX232, what

will happen at the console if you run server resolution above their maximum

at 1600x1200? I assume over IP it won't look very good.

 

KX2-216 and KX2-232 support 1600x1200 natively, but I won't be able to find

those used, hence the price will be outrageous.

 

--

Will

 

> "Will" wrote:

>> Does anyone have recommendations for server room KVM switches that can

>> handle 16 or more Windows boxes at 1600x1200 resolution? The Belkin

>> products for 16 ports are absolutely awful...constantly we have one or

>> two

>> servers that mysteriously stop being controlled by the switch and we have

>> to

>> reboot them. The list of names the Belkin shows on the screen for the

>> systems mysteriously clears itself and you have to spend 10 minutes re

>> establishing that list. This is happening on both older and newer

>> generations of the Belkin product. I also don't want one of the many

>> flimsy IP-based KVM solutions that make a 1600x1200 screen look like a

>> jagged bitmap.

>>

>> I'm ready for a higher end switch, and my number one criteria is

>> reliability

>> and quality of the image. What options are out there?

>>

>> A Google search for evaluations turned up very little but spam (price

>> comparison services). A search on PC Magazine showed no relevant

>> reviews

>> in the last two years. Would appreciate some pointers.

>>

>> --

>> Will

[Guest Andrew Williams]

Re: Recommendations for Server Room KVM Switch?

 

I would speak to Raritan and arrange either a trial or speak to one of their

sales guys. The proof will be in the testing in your environment - the high

resolution you want to work at needs testing before before you buy. Raritan

aren't cheap but they are the best i've seen - and the quickest and most

reliable over IP.

 

BTW, i'm curious to know why you need to run at such a high resolution on

your servers.

 

Andrew

 

"Will" wrote:

> "Andrew Williams" <AndrewWilliams@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in

> message news:4E7E5226-08A8-4A90-A94D-BEBC68DD7406@microsoft.com...

> > We've used Raritan KVM switches for years. They are a market leader and I

> > can't fault them at all - I currently manage 16 servers over IP. The

> > latest

> > Dominion incarnation will handle your resolution. Check out their web site

> > @

> > http://www.raritan.com. You can also schedule a demonstration.

>

> Looked over the Raritan stuff and it looks good. With KX216 or KX232, what

> will happen at the console if you run server resolution above their maximum

> at 1600x1200? I assume over IP it won't look very good.

>

> KX2-216 and KX2-232 support 1600x1200 natively, but I won't be able to find

> those used, hence the price will be outrageous.

>

> --

> Will

>

>

> > "Will" wrote:

> >> Does anyone have recommendations for server room KVM switches that can

> >> handle 16 or more Windows boxes at 1600x1200 resolution? The Belkin

> >> products for 16 ports are absolutely awful...constantly we have one or

> >> two

> >> servers that mysteriously stop being controlled by the switch and we have

> >> to

> >> reboot them. The list of names the Belkin shows on the screen for the

> >> systems mysteriously clears itself and you have to spend 10 minutes re

> >> establishing that list. This is happening on both older and newer

> >> generations of the Belkin product. I also don't want one of the many

> >> flimsy IP-based KVM solutions that make a 1600x1200 screen look like a

> >> jagged bitmap.

> >>

> >> I'm ready for a higher end switch, and my number one criteria is

> >> reliability

> >> and quality of the image. What options are out there?

> >>

> >> A Google search for evaluations turned up very little but spam (price

> >> comparison services). A search on PC Magazine showed no relevant

> >> reviews

> >> in the last two years. Would appreciate some pointers.

> >>

> >> --

> >> Will

>

>

>

[Guest Will]

Re: Recommendations for Server Room KVM Switch?

 

"Andrew Williams" <AndrewWilliams@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in

message news:CA2EDB1D-9089-4D30-A959-921591D66349@microsoft.com...

>I would speak to Raritan and arrange either a trial or speak to one of

>their

> sales guys. The proof will be in the testing in your environment - the

> high

> resolution you want to work at needs testing before before you buy.

> Raritan

> aren't cheap but they are the best i've seen - and the quickest and most

> reliable over IP.

>

> BTW, i'm curious to know why you need to run at such a high resolution on

> your servers.

 

It's awfully useful when viewing logs to have some extra vertical space.

 

--

Will

 

 

> "Will" wrote:

>

>> "Andrew Williams" <AndrewWilliams@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in

>> message news:4E7E5226-08A8-4A90-A94D-BEBC68DD7406@microsoft.com...

>> > We've used Raritan KVM switches for years. They are a market leader and

>> > I

>> > can't fault them at all - I currently manage 16 servers over IP. The

>> > latest

>> > Dominion incarnation will handle your resolution. Check out their web

>> > site

>> > @

>> > http://www.raritan.com. You can also schedule a demonstration.

>>

>> Looked over the Raritan stuff and it looks good. With KX216 or KX232,

>> what

>> will happen at the console if you run server resolution above their

>> maximum

>> at 1600x1200? I assume over IP it won't look very good.

>>

>> KX2-216 and KX2-232 support 1600x1200 natively, but I won't be able to

>> find

>> those used, hence the price will be outrageous.

>>

>> --

>> Will

>>

>>

>> > "Will" wrote:

>> >> Does anyone have recommendations for server room KVM switches that can

>> >> handle 16 or more Windows boxes at 1600x1200 resolution? The Belkin

>> >> products for 16 ports are absolutely awful...constantly we have one or

>> >> two

>> >> servers that mysteriously stop being controlled by the switch and we

>> >> have

>> >> to

>> >> reboot them. The list of names the Belkin shows on the screen for

>> >> the

>> >> systems mysteriously clears itself and you have to spend 10 minutes re

>> >> establishing that list. This is happening on both older and newer

>> >> generations of the Belkin product. I also don't want one of the many

>> >> flimsy IP-based KVM solutions that make a 1600x1200 screen look like a

>> >> jagged bitmap.

>> >>

>> >> I'm ready for a higher end switch, and my number one criteria is

>> >> reliability

>> >> and quality of the image. What options are out there?

>> >>

>> >> A Google search for evaluations turned up very little but spam (price

>> >> comparison services). A search on PC Magazine showed no relevant

>> >> reviews

>> >> in the last two years. Would appreciate some pointers.

>> >>

>> >> --

>> >> Will