[CentOS] Affordable KVM over IP switch

Wed Mar 23 02:31:08 UTC 2011
Devin Reade <gdr at gno.org>

Michael B Allen <ioplex at 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
-- 
	Everyone has a photographic memory.  Some don't have film.
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