Hello,
Are there any KVM over IP switches that are not thousands of dollars? Ideally a 3-4 port switch for a few hundred seems reasonable to me.
Mike
On Mon, Mar 21, 2011 at 11:15 PM, Michael B Allen ioplex@gmail.com wrote:
Hello,
Are there any KVM over IP switches that are not thousands of dollars? Ideally a 3-4 port switch for a few hundred seems reasonable to me.
Mike
Not that I've seen in the last 10 years. They're pretty darned expensive. That's why Dell's "DRAC" and HP's "Sitescope" utilities add so much cost to the systems.
Are there any KVM over IP switches that are not thousands of dollars? Ideally a 3-4 port switch for a few hundred seems reasonable to me.
Try this 8-port one from LevelOne:
http://global.level1.com/Business-Products/KVM-Switches---Extenders/Rackmoun...
It has an expansion slot which accepts a IP module:
http://download.level1.com/level1/manual/ACC-2000v1.0_UM.pdf
I use the base KVM, without the IP module, and it is very stable. It connects a USB keyboard and a USB mouse to USB and/or PS2 ports on the servers.
It is also cascadable.
I hope this helps.
On Mon, Mar 21, 2011 at 11:45 PM, Miguel Medalha miguelmedalha@sapo.pt wrote:
Are there any KVM over IP switches that are not thousands of dollars? Ideally a 3-4 port switch for a few hundred seems reasonable to me.
Try this 8-port one from LevelOne:
http://global.level1.com/Business-Products/KVM-Switches---Extenders/Rackmoun...
It has an expansion slot which accepts a IP module:
http://download.level1.com/level1/manual/ACC-2000v1.0_UM.pdf
I use the base KVM, without the IP module, and it is very stable. It connects a USB keyboard and a USB mouse to USB and/or PS2 ports on the servers.
It is also cascadable.
I hope this helps.
Which is about $400, not counting cables, which are expensive.
You can pick up a Dell/Avocent 2161DS on eBay for $400-500 USD.
-----Original Message----- From: centos-bounces@centos.org [mailto:centos-bounces@centos.org] On Behalf Of Michael B Allen Sent: Monday, March 21, 2011 11:16 PM To: CentOS Subject: [CentOS] Affordable KVM over IP switch
Hello,
Are there any KVM over IP switches that are not thousands of dollars? Ideally a 3-4 port switch for a few hundred seems reasonable to me.
Mike
On Mon, Mar 21, 2011 at 11:15 PM, Michael B Allen ioplex@gmail.com wrote:
Hello,
Are there any KVM over IP switches that are not thousands of dollars? Ideally a 3-4 port switch for a few hundred seems reasonable to me.
Mike
-- Michael B Allen
You could get a regular KVM, then connect a Lantronix Spider or Spider Duo to the "console" side of the KVM. I have done this locally and it works for the most part. Make sure to get the PS/2 version as the USB version provides a composite keyboard/mouse connection, which is probably not supported by cheaper KVMs.
http://www.lantronix.com/it-management/kvm-over-ip/securelinx-spider.html http://www.lantronix.com/it-management/kvm-over-ip/securelinx-spiderduo.html
Michael B Allen ioplex@gmail.com wrote:
Are there any KVM over IP switches that are not thousands of dollars? Ideally a 3-4 port switch for a few hundred seems reasonable to me.
I can attest that the Adderlink iPEPS and iPEPS-DA are excellent units. They're both in the 500-1000 range. They're intended for a single machine, but as long as your access policies allow for it, putting an electronic KVM switch (~$200) between multiple servers and the iPEPS works well.
You're not going to find much that is usable under that price range. Some of the lower end solutions from other vendors are windows-IE-only. The iPEPS uses encrypted VNC.
On Tue, Mar 22, 2011 at 4:34 PM, Devin Reade gdr@gno.org wrote:
Michael B Allen ioplex@gmail.com wrote:
Are there any KVM over IP switches that are not thousands of dollars? Ideally a 3-4 port switch for a few hundred seems reasonable to me.
I can attest that the Adderlink iPEPS and iPEPS-DA are excellent units. They're both in the 500-1000 range. They're intended for a single machine, but as long as your access policies allow for it, putting an electronic KVM switch (~$200) between multiple servers and the iPEPS works well.
Isn't it cheaper, at this price range to get a motherboard with built-in KVMOIP support? I know many Intel & SuperMicro server boards offer this either on board, or as an added module. Even on the smaller / cheaper SuperMicro boards I could add KVMOIP support for about $40 per server. And, it doesn't takup any more space on the racks and has much less clutter than those spiders
On Tue, Mar 22, 2011 at 10:48 AM, Rudi Ahlers Rudi@softdux.com wrote:
On Tue, Mar 22, 2011 at 4:34 PM, Devin Reade gdr@gno.org wrote:
Michael B Allen ioplex@gmail.com wrote:
Are there any KVM over IP switches that are not thousands of dollars? Ideally a 3-4 port switch for a few hundred seems reasonable to me.
I can attest that the Adderlink iPEPS and iPEPS-DA are excellent units. They're both in the 500-1000 range. They're intended for a single machine, but as long as your access policies allow for it, putting an electronic KVM switch (~$200) between multiple servers and the iPEPS works well.
Isn't it cheaper, at this price range to get a motherboard with built-in KVMOIP support? I know many Intel & SuperMicro server boards offer this either on board, or as an added module. Even on the smaller / cheaper SuperMicro boards I could add KVMOIP support for about $40 per server. And, it doesn't takup any more space on the racks and has much less clutter than those spiders
Note. This is *NOT* CentOS, this is general systems discussion.
That's great until you want to connect another session, or haven't had a chance to configure a new machine and want to do it remotely, or you want to leave your mom's netbook in the rack while you re-install it for her. (This just came up on another list.)
On Tue, Mar 22, 2011 at 5:07 PM, Nico Kadel-Garcia nkadel@gmail.com wrote:
On Tue, Mar 22, 2011 at 10:48 AM, Rudi Ahlers Rudi@softdux.com wrote:
On Tue, Mar 22, 2011 at 4:34 PM, Devin Reade gdr@gno.org wrote:
Michael B Allen ioplex@gmail.com wrote:
Are there any KVM over IP switches that are not thousands of dollars? Ideally a 3-4 port switch for a few hundred seems reasonable to me.
I can attest that the Adderlink iPEPS and iPEPS-DA are excellent units. They're both in the 500-1000 range. They're intended for a single machine, but as long as your access policies allow for it, putting an electronic KVM switch (~$200) between multiple servers and the iPEPS works well.
Isn't it cheaper, at this price range to get a motherboard with built-in KVMOIP support? I know many Intel & SuperMicro server boards offer this either on board, or as an added module. Even on the smaller / cheaper SuperMicro boards I could add KVMOIP support for about $40 per server. And, it doesn't takup any more space on the racks and has much less clutter than those spiders
Note. This is *NOT* CentOS, this is general systems discussion.
That's great until you want to connect another session, or haven't had a chance to configure a new machine and want to do it remotely, or you want to leave your mom's netbook in the rack while you re-install it for her. (This just came up on another list.) _______________________________________________
True.......
Both have their pro's & con's, but in our case we'll always only use rackmount servers which is why I prefer the onboard modules.
On Tue, Mar 22, 2011 at 10:34 AM, Devin Reade gdr@gno.org wrote:
Michael B Allen ioplex@gmail.com wrote:
Are there any KVM over IP switches that are not thousands of dollars? Ideally a 3-4 port switch for a few hundred seems reasonable to me.
I can attest that the Adderlink iPEPS and iPEPS-DA are excellent units. They're both in the 500-1000 range. They're intended for a single machine, but as long as your access policies allow for it, putting an electronic KVM switch (~$200) between multiple servers and the iPEPS works well.
You're not going to find much that is usable under that price range. Some of the lower end solutions from other vendors are windows-IE-only. The iPEPS uses encrypted VNC.
Hi Devin,
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?
Mike
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
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.)
The D-Links are NOT suitable for professional use. I used one of their models and it hanged on me multiple times. Because it is powered by the keyboard/mouse/video connectors, the only way to recover it is to physically disconnect ALL cables and reconnect them again. As long as ONE of the sources of power is connected, the unit won't recover. Someday you quickly need to access a machine only to suddenly discover that you are stuck and can go nowhere. A real PITA!
--On Wednesday, March 23, 2011 03:19:49 AM +0000 Miguel Medalha miguelmedalha@sapo.pt wrote:
The D-Links are NOT suitable for professional use. I used one of their models and it hanged on me multiple times. Because it is powered by the keyboard/mouse/video connectors, the only way to recover it is to physically disconnect ALL cables and reconnect them again.
Ok, I won't argue with that; a "it fails in this scenario" overrides a "it works for me". I will add though, that were it got into the state described above was where I was able to recover it by using the reset button. You might want to try that next time instead of the cable disconnect solution.
But no, it shouldn't happen to begin with, and that power aspect is clearly a design flaw.
If I had a better make/model to recommend, I'd mention it, but I don't. I suspect that they are out there, but I can't say which.
Devin
On Wed, Mar 23, 2011 at 12:22 PM, Devin Reade gdr@gno.org wrote:
--On Wednesday, March 23, 2011 03:19:49 AM +0000 Miguel Medalha miguelmedalha@sapo.pt wrote:
The D-Links are NOT suitable for professional use. I used one of their models and it hanged on me multiple times. Because it is powered by the keyboard/mouse/video connectors, the only way to recover it is to physically disconnect ALL cables and reconnect them again.
Ok, I won't argue with that; a "it fails in this scenario" overrides a "it works for me". I will add though, that were it got into the state described above was where I was able to recover it by using the reset button. You might want to try that next time instead of the cable disconnect solution.
But no, it shouldn't happen to begin with, and that power aspect is clearly a design flaw.
If I had a better make/model to recommend, I'd mention it, but I don't. I suspect that they are out there, but I can't say which.
Devin
I've had good luck with the Dell 71PXP, which is easy to find used for under $100. I also use Aten 2L5502UP cables to convert PS/2 to USB for the servers.
Ryan
Ok, I won't argue with that; a "it fails in this scenario" overrides a "it works for me". I will add though, that were it got into the state described above was where I was able to recover it by using the reset button. You might want to try that next time instead of the cable disconnect solution
My unit does not have a reset switch. I told you it's a PITA :-)
-
Baird, Josh -
Brian Mathis -
Devin Reade -
Michael B Allen -
Miguel Medalha -
Nico Kadel-Garcia -
Rudi Ahlers -
Ryan Wagoner