kvm over ip

[msti]

Hi!
I am looking for a kvm switch to install at the dc so that i will be able to control the servers there. What are the industry standard brands/models for this purpose?

Thanks,
Mike

[tom]

How many servers do you want to manage? Nowdays some of the companies provide built in kvm solution with mother board. We have servers from HP and they provide their service throu ILO.

Thanks,
Tom

[msti]

Less than 10 servers. I am looking for a standalone hardware.
Is there something similar with ILO for dell servers?

[tom]

OmniView 8-Port PS/2 / VGA / RJ-11 / RJ45 or check 42u.com. They have good switches.
I would say dell might have smilar solution as HP. Please contact them, if there is any solution, please let me know as well.

[msti]

Thanks for the info!

This is what I found about dell:
http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/power/en/ps2q02_bell

[whitey]

Dell has DRAC cards which are pretty slick. That is what we use for all of our remote managment needs.

[Keith]

I am also quite fond of the DRAC cards. A good feature is the Virtual CD and Floppy. You can mount an ISO over the DRAC and actually install an OS from your workstation or run a diagnostic tool from CD over the network. Another good feature is also the fact that the DRAC is powered regardless of whether the server is on or not. You can turn the server off and on via the DRAC.

The other good thing is that since it is integrated in to the system, you do not have to use a SIP dongle to connect to the KVM ports on the back of the servers. The SIP cards create a serious mess when it comes to cable management. I am actually beginning to relocate SIP controllers to the front of the racks in their own conduit so prevent air flow blockage to these pods that are twice the size than they should be!

Here is a picture to show the issues with KVM Over IP and how I had to rectify the cabling nightmare with them.

http://www.datacentertalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=47&d=1175145476

[mr_brain]

Check out Lantronix Spider. Works in nearly all browser with Java. KVM Management - Remote KVM - SecureLinx Spider - Lantronix (http://www.lantronix.com/it-management/kvm-over-ip/securelinx-spider.html)

[cernst]

Avocent makes IP-KVM switches. they also make the switches for HP and Dell.

Lantronix has a solution as well as Raritan make decent units.

[Alexandre]

Ass for me Planet KVMs are good too.

[Neoeclectic]

The only issue I have with KVM/IP switches is because of the additional cables needed. I'm very much a fan of keeping things simple and we more or less strictly use ILO's, LOM's, or whatever the flavour is according to the manufacturer.

I'm especially not a fan of Avocent. We used to use their CPS and DSR switches which is extremely old and out of support now, but I've seen some of their newer systems that aren't too far off from those. It requires entirely too much work and resources to want to network a large scale data center.

[Schumie]

The Avocent OEM Dell's have proven workable for me over the years.

The Java application is a bit slow to load, but once you're connected to the servers seems to work pretty well at a relatively good price point.

If you have to connect a large number of servers to, the PEM's are great.

[Neoeclectic]

I have a different experience with Avocent equipment. Their equipment is cumbersome, requires additional setup that is unecessary, and the application end is poor in performance and generally not robust in features (unless you want to spend the mega bucks and get all the bells and whistles).

[whcdavid]

I personally use ILO and LOM and really good.