Michael B Allen ioplex@gmail.com wrote:
This is interesting. But can you switch consoles remotely using special keystokes? Or do you need to physically walk over and switch the conventional non-IP unit?
It wouldn't be much good for remote access if you had to walk there :)
That part isn't a function of the iPEPS, it's a function of your KVM switch. So yes, I was thinking about models that do it with a particular key stroke. I've used the D-Link DKVM-8E as a decent low cost unit, although it has the tendancy to get confused during a full power outage of your data center, requiring a hard reset. Because the DKVM-8E takes power from both its own power brick and from the keyboard connectors, you can't reset it by using a remote power distribution unit; you have to have someone present in the data center press a button. Given my druthers, I'd use a different unit that didn't exhibit this behavior, but I find it's not too onerous (I've had two cases in the last 18 months that required this on-site intervention, and even then the servers are fine; I just can't reach the consoles.)
On the DKVM-8E, you use two scroll-lock presses about a half-second apart to access the KVM menu; this works well with the iPEPS. If you're working remotely, that half-second pause seems to be necessary. If you're locally connected (iPEPS-DA model only), then the pause is less important.
This being for UNIX machines, I wouldn't get a KVM that uses the control key for switching the KVM.
And yes, I appreciate others' comments that for the price range that you're better off with an integrated ALOM/DRAC/etc, but the iPEPS is quite nice for those situations where, for whatever reason, an integrated remote console is not available to you.
Devin