KVM (Keyboard, Video, Mouse) switches have long been an essential and invaluable part of data centers and IT operations. They allow organizations to consolidate system consoles and monitors, which makes system management easier.
Until recently, remote management for Unix and Linux required pricey network-connected management cards. But with the merger of KVM giants Cybex and Apex last year, KVM switches have finally moved to the next generation. This was marked by the release of the Avocent DS1800, the first KVM over IP switch.
The DS1800, which fits into a single unit of rack space, supports up to eight keyboard, video, and mouse connections and is attached to the LAN via a 10/100 Ethernet connection. Each of the eight KVM ports can be daisy-chained to existing data center KVM switches, allowing for even greater expandability.
Setting Up
Setup of the DS1800 hardware is quite easy. Simply connect your server’s keyboard, video, and mouse ports to the unit’s management ports using the supplied cables. Then, connect the Ethernet port to your LAN, plug in the power, and you’re almost ready to go. If it’s your first time, you’ll also have to make a serial connection directly to the device to configure its IP address. Luckily, they provide you with a null-modem serial cable, and it takes about a minute to do.
To provide remote authentication for remote consoles, the DS1800 communicates with a daemon program known as DSAUTH that is installed on either a Windows NT/2000 workstation…
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