APC AP9258 User Manual

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WINDOWS 2000 MAGAZINE • www.win2000mag.com AUGUST 2000 135
[Editors Note: The Buyers Guide summarizes vendor-submitted information. To find
out about future Buyer’s Guide topics or to learn how to include your product in an
upcoming Buyer’s Guide, go to http://www.win2000mag.com/info/lab/index
.cfm?action=buyersguide. To view previous Buyer’s Guides on the Web, go to http://
www.win2000mag.net/channels/products/.]
BUYER’S GUIDE
ILLUSTRATION BY DANIEL GUIDERA
KVM
Switches
Eliminate clutter in server rooms
Keyboard and mouse emulation—–a must-have feature
for most environments—–ensures that all connected de-
vices can boot without the errors that an unplugged key-
board or mouse usually generate. Basic KVM switches
consist of one master keyboard, a video and mouse port,
and two or more sets of ports that let you switch between
systems. Typically, you switch by pressing a button on the
switchbox or a hot-key sequence on the keyboard. Addi-
tional valuable features are onscreen display, scan-
ning, concurrent multiple-user access, multiplatform CPU
support, and audio switching. Some KVM switches use
Category 5 UTP cabling and consist of a master console,
transmitters, and receivers to transmit KVM signals for
remote control capabilities. Each controlled system still
requires KVM cables that run from the back of the system
to the console or transmitter. If you don’t want to manage
a lot of cables, you can choose a box-free solution that
uses an internal PCI card and one cable for each controlled
system. Another feature you might want to consider is
the KVM switch’s ability to pass a high-resolution video
signal without signal degradation.
With so many KVM choices available, you can narrow
your options by deciding how many devices you need to
switch among, how many concurrent users you need to
connect (and the distance of those users from the main
console), and the maximum video resolution you’ll use.
Most devices employ programmable hot keys for switch-
ing, but make sure that the device you select has at least
one key sequence that doesn’t conflict with another func-
tion in your organization. If you need to support many
systems, you’ll most likely need to cascade multiple KVM
switches. In that case, look at how clean the cascading pro-
cess is for both implementation and operation. In addition
to the device’s features, you need to consider form factor,
cable quality, and ease of use.
–Ed Roth
eyboard/video/mouse (KVM) switches are a necessary accessory for server rooms,
lab environments, Help desks, and any place multiple computers exist and space is
limited. Antiquated manual switches have given way to intelligent devices, which
boast new features that increase reliability and productivity.
K
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Summary of Contents

Page 1 - Switches

WINDOWS 2000 MAGAZINE • www.win2000mag.com AUGUST 2000 135[Editor’s Note: The Buyer’s Guide summarizes vendor-submitted information. To findout about

Page 2

KVM SwitchesBUYER’S GUIDECompiled by Sue CooperContact Information Product Name Price DescriptionAPC • 800-788-2208 AP9258 $1064 Eight-port switch; h

Page 3 - LAB REPORTS

LAB REPORTSCybex Computer Products Key-View II $5995 Controls servers by using either a modem, the Internet, or a networkcontinued connection; provide

Page 4

LAB REPORTSMinicom Advanced Systems Video Splitter UTP and $259 Splits standard SVGA signals to as many as four locations throughcontinued USPRL remot

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