KVMoIP switch recommendations

rackmando · 2nd November 2007

I'm in the market for a KVMoIP switch and wondered if you guys had any suggestions and/or recommendations as to what would be a good choice to go for?

I've seen the Dell 2161DS-2 which seems ok - looks like they resell Avocent's KVM only about half the price? What's with that... do Dell completely butcher it or have I just seen expensive Avocent pricing?

All thoughts welcome.

Karl · 2nd November 2007

HP - Same as the Dell, same as the Avocent, work very well for us, had them a couple of years now.

PeteK · 2nd November 2007

Have you considered a single port KVM over IP uplinked to a compaq standard KVM. You can daisy chain the compaq KVMs so if you get 9 of them you can do 1 to 8 providing 64 ports with a single port KVM over IP. You can get the compaq rack KVMs on fleabay for 50 quid upwards and extract a new firmware from hp.com and job done.

Works well for us when you don't need to give the customer access to the kit.

rackmando · 2nd November 2007

It sounds a cheap (if dirty) way of doing it, but simultaneous digital sessions (i.e. oIP) is a consideration; 64 ports would be a lot for a 1 session limit even if it was single-user access?

PeteK · 2nd November 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by rackmando

It sounds a cheap (if dirty) way of doing it, but simultaneous digital sessions (i.e. oIP) is a consideration; 64 ports would be a lot for a 1 session limit even if it was single-user access?

You can actually password protect each server on the compaq KVMs and we do have a couple of trusted customers who we have granted access to it but we only use it for pc dedi servers for digging stupid users out of the poo, e.g. re-imaging it when they destroy it etc. The larger ones all have RIB cards in anyhow on a separate management lan so we (and the customers) dont need it.

rackmando · 2nd November 2007

Yes, but am I right in thinking that you can only have one IP session at a time? Or does the single port KVMoIP you're using allow you to have multiple sessions; so when you terminate to several servers it doesn't cause any problems with any kind of concurrency needs?

PeteK · 2nd November 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by rackmando

Yes, but am I right in thinking that you can only have one IP session at a time? Or does the single port KVMoIP you're using allow you to have multiple sessions; so when you terminate to several servers it doesn't cause any problems with any kind of concurrency needs?

no only one IP session at a time shared across up to 64 servers.

LeaUK · 2nd November 2007

some info...Micro RVMoIP or remote access card for ATX?

I ended up with Dell's DRAC4 card - works an absolute treat, however will probably be testing the SuperMicro's version shortly.

Lea

aXeR · 2nd November 2007

I have a spare Dell 2161DS if your interested?

rackmando · 2nd November 2007

Is that different to the 2161DS-2? i.e. an old version? If so, know what the difference is?

How come you're selling... i.e. what's wrong with it :P

aXeR · 2nd November 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by rackmando

Is that different to the 2161DS-2? i.e. an old version? If so, know what the difference is?

How come you're selling... i.e. what's wrong with it :P

I don’t know the differences I'm afraid, you’re going to have to refer to google on that one :P

Reason I got some spare is because I bought one from USA and assumed it got lost in transit so bought another, 2months later I got a customs charge card through to pay for the original one and hence I have two now

UKDSL · 5th November 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by rackmando

Is that different to the 2161DS-2? i.e. an old version? If so, know what the difference is?

How come you're selling... i.e. what's wrong with it :P

Only difference I have noticed is the 2161DS-2 has USB ports on the front.

CrystalVPS · 7th November 2007

Our 2161DS's have been brilliant, got 3 in total and up to 32 servers per switch, they do take more but we've just not used them yet. Impressive distance too, had a 2161DS in one side of BS1 and it worked on a server the other side of BS1. Having used the DS and DS-2, from a user point of view they're identical and use the same software

UKDSL · 7th November 2007

Does anyone know if there is Vista client software available?

Karl · 7th November 2007

Don't think so - although there's no reason why it shouldn't be. The installer fails on Vista, but the software does work (I did an upgrade from XP to Vista, and had the software installed already) - Or at least that's the case with HP.