KVM over IP suggestions?

Tue Aug 23 09:50:55 UTC 2005

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-nanog at merit.edu [mailto:owner-nanog at merit.edu] On 
> Behalf Of Kevin
> Sent: Monday, August 22, 2005 10:27 PM
> To: nanog at merit.edu
> Subject: Re: KVM over IP suggestions?
>
> > We have a non-IP switch from Raritan and saw presentations on their
> > IP KVM products. Seemed pretty impressive. One problem you may want
> > to focus on is screen resolution since the video output must be
> > converted to IP packets with a lower refresh rate. We're planning
> > to buy a few of these switches for remote monitoring.
> 
> The "IP Reach" video compression is bearable for installation and
> recovery.  Video quality is degraded, but unless you really cannot
> stand moire patterns, it'll take an hour or so staring at the display
> before your headache becomes unbearable.
> 
> I have experience with Raritan's "Paragon IP Reach" products, and they
> do work, but are expensive for such a low port density.  Also it has
> been very difficult to work with tech support to make the Paragon
> product with a RADIUS server for OTP access control.
> 
> The newer "Dominion" line may be better;  I've heard some complaints
> about their serial console products, nothing either way about KVM.

We've tested Raritan's integrated KVM over IP + serial products for a
while, but were less than impressed with their interface tools. Both the
standalone client and the ActiveX client were prone to crashing,
sometimes taking the raritan device with it. We've since junked the
servers for which we needed the KVM over IP for in favor of HPs with
advanced ilo or IBMs with remote supervisor cards, if which I'd
recommend HPs offering any day.

// nick