Avocent Single port KVM over IP switch - Manual (Page 7)

Single port KVM over IP switch
7
2. Introduction
Thank you for purchasing IP-KVM switch. IP-KVM switch can save your MONEY, TIME, SPACE,
EQUIPMENT and POWER. IP-KVM switch defines a new class of remote KVM access devices.
IP-KVM switch combines digital remote KVM access via IP networks with comprehensive and
integrated system management.
IP-KVM switch provides convenient, remote KVM access and control via LAN or Internet. It captures,
digitizes, and compresses video signal and transmits it with keyboard and mouse signals to and from
a remote computer. IP-KVM switch provides a non-intrusive solution for remote access and control.
Remote access and control software runs on its embedded processors only but not on mission-critical
servers, so that there is no interference with server operation or impact on network performance.
Furthermore, IP-KVM switch offers additional remote power management with the help of optional
available device.
IP-KVM switch supports consoles consisting of PS/2 style keyboards and mouse and HDDB 15 video
output. IP-KVM switch will automatically detect the current video mode of the console, however
manual fine-tuning is recommended to receive the best video quality. IP-KVM switch will accept video
streams up to 110 MHz dot clock. This results in a screen resolution of 1280x1024 pixels with a frame
rate of 60 Hz.
2.1. When the server is up and running
IP-KVM switch gives you a full control over the remote server. The Management Console allows you
to access the remote server’s graphics, keyboard and mouse and to send special commands to the
server. You can also perform periodic maintenance of the server. Using the Console Redirection
Service, you are able to do the following:
I.
Reboot the system
II. Watch the boot process.
III. Boot the system from a separate partition to load the diagnostic environment.
IV. Run special diagnostic programs.
2.2. When the server is dead
Obviously, fixing hardware defects is not possible through a remote management device.
Nevertheless IP-KVM switch gives the administrator valuable information about the type of a hardware
failure. Serious hardware failures can be categorized into five different categories with different
chances to happen:
I.
Hard disk failure 50%
II. Power cable detached, power supply failure 28%
III. CPU, Controller, main board failure 10%
IV. CPU fan failure 8%
V. RAM failure 4%
Using IP-KVM switch, administrators can determine which kind of serious hardware failure has
occurred (See table 2-1).