Review: Aten KVM Switch Introduces Expansive Enterprise Control

Keyboard-video-mice switches are vital infrastructure within enterprise network control rooms where hundreds—even thousands—of rack-mounted servers are installed. These servers often need maintenance and updates, which require constant access by network administrators. When a large number of servers are installed so close together, it would be impractical, if not impossible, to have a separate keyboard, mouse and display attached to each one.

The new KM0832 CAT5 Matrix KVM Switch is part of Aten's Altusen line of KVM solutions. The 32-port, eight-console KVM switch is an enterprise-class solution designed for medium and large network environments. The KM0832 allows eight administrators to independently control up to 32 servers simultaneously.

The real beauty of the KM0832 is that it's highly scalable to allow for future data center expansion. It has direct CPU connections for up to 32 servers or systems and eight console connections.

Up to seven more KVMs can be daisy-chained via an HPDB-50 female connector on the rear panel. These daisy-chain ports allow multiple KVM units to be ganged together. KVMs are typically linked together in a cascading manner, but the main KVM then loses the use of one CPU port for each cascaded KVM switch. By equipping the KVM switches with daisy-chain ports, none of the CPU ports have to be lost to cascading. With multiple daisy-chained KVMs, more than 8,000 servers can be managed from the eight main console ports.

Older KVMs use special cables that plug into a server's keyboard, video and mouse ports at one end and to the KVM at the other. But more modern KVMs, including the KM0832, allow the use of Ethernet cabling, which enables more functionality and greater distances without requiring special cables. With the addition of Aten's CN5000 IP access unit, the attached servers can be controlled anywhere there is Web access.

Because CAT5 cables don't have keyboard, video or mouse connectors attached, special modules are required to use such cables. In addition to the KVM unit, at least one console module is required. A console module connects a keyboard, mouse and monitor to an Ethernet cable that then runs to the KVM unit, which can be up to 500 feet away from the console module. Console modules come in different styles depending on whether you have PS/2, USB, Mac or Sun peripherals (meaning keyboard, mouse and monitor). The console modules also have a port for connecting a local server or PC.