It's 2004: What Are The Best Remote KVM Options? 67
Tocano33 writes "Saw a story regarding this quietly residing in the /. Story Retirement Home (tm), but it was from over 2 years ago and wanted to see if anyone had some new insight. We have about a dozen servers in our one rack - not a terribly large setup. However, our admins are not located in the server room and while we can use RDP/SSH/VNC/etc for everyday maintenance, we need to be able to perform offline work and may need to evaluate POST information on bootup, etc. So we're currently looking at KVM options - IP based specifically (ie Raritan Dominion) but we're wondering if there are cheaper options and wanted to know what slashdot readers would recommend."
Dell (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Dell (Score:1, Insightful)
I really, really don't want to sound snobby, but I suspect that if you spell perl that way, you are not qualified to judge the interface's quality.
Do you have direct knowledge of and experience with the API? If so, I sincerely apologize.
Re:Dell (Score:1)
Re:Dell (Score:2)
And yes, you do sound snobby...
RealVNC hardware (Score:5, Informative)
http://www.realvnc.com/products/KVM-via-IP/ [realvnc.com]
Re:RealVNC hardware (Score:2)
It's not $1k per port - it's $1k to IP enable your existing 8/16/32-way KVM.
Most setups already have KVMs in place - this is way cheaper than ditching your existing KVMs for an IP-enabled one, and has quite a few bonus features, judging from the manual.
KVMs mostly suck (Score:2, Interesting)
In general, KVMs suck balls. The manual ones are almost as reliable as the electronic ones. Half the time, depending on your keyboard and motherboard, it will cause your whole computer to lock up, loss of mouse control until you unplug and replug the mouse, etc.
The KVMs we got for our artists to switch between their new G5s and their old G4s... they wouldn't work at al
Re:KVMs mostly suck (Score:1)
We've since swtiched to a new Raritan KVM, which has been awesome. No problems with anything, whatsoever.
Don't use PCs (Score:5, Insightful)
Buy decent hardware. Use a serial console (perhaps hooked up to something like a Cyclades box). Move on.
If you absolutely MUST use a PC, there are workarounds like watchdog cards or those dell boxes that basically have a second monitoring computer in them. Fundamentally, though, they are workarounds for an inadequate design.
(In fairness, the PC design's adequate for its intended use: desktops. Using a PC in the server room is a bit like trying to attach a giant U-Haul trailer to a family car: It doesn't work as well as a truck, but you can't blame the car for that.)
Re:Don't use PCs (Score:5, Informative)
We had those things for something like $4000 from HP, probably other vendors have similar things, but the bottom line is: it's really worth the money. We thought we couldn't afford that, but it already payed for itself in a few months because we didn't have to do anything on the machine since they were set up, plus not having to drive 50km everytime we really need physical access...
Avocent (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Avocent (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Avocent (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Avocent (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Raritan! (Score:4, Insightful)
As for your original question, I imagine that 1600x1200 would probably be possible on any display even if you had to use scroll bars.
easy way (Score:2)
Re:easy way (Score:2)
Can you point me to the nearest shop that sells a 15-mile keyboard, video, and mouse cable, that will stretch all the way across town... and by the way, also one that won't run through people's backyards?
Re:easy way (Score:3, Funny)
Can you point me to the nearest shop that sells a sense of humor?
VNC... (Score:2, Interesting)
As mentionned by lullabud [slashdot.org] in an earlier post [slashdot.org], RealVNC has a 100% hardware solution [realvnc.com] that's fully independant of the machines. But it's the admins can walk to the rack for the occasional reboot, I'd stick to the pedestrian solution. You should never loose an opportunity to perform some physical activity in this line of business...
Robots (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Robots (Score:2)
Re:Robots (Score:2)
Re:Robots (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Girl Robots (Score:2)
Re:Robots (Score:2)
I thought that's what NOC-monkeys were for. (Score:2)
This is a great job for an intern or any other entry-level employee. Don't automate away opportunities for newbies to learn! (At least this can't be outsourced yet!)
I'm happy with our Raritan (Score:3, Informative)
Re:I'm happy with our Raritan (Score:1)
American Megatrends MegaRAC G2/G3 (Score:4, Interesting)
It is a standard half-length PCI card that is a looks like a ATI Rage XL graphics card to the host operating system with a VGA connector on the back of the card in case you really need to hook a monitor up to it.
(you do need to be able to disable the onboard VGA on the server - if it has it)
The real magic is with the cards' mini USB connector - cable it up to any USB port on the server and the card will emulate a USB keyboard, USB mouse and a USB CD-ROM (great for operating system re-installs if you prefer Windows!).
On the internal side, the card has a feature connector that allows 'pass-thru' to the servers' reset and power jumper pins.
Because of the feature connector, the card can perform a proper hardware reset and power-cycle via 'pass-thru' to the server PWR_ON/RESET pins if the server manufacturer actually has bothered to put standard pins on their server board like most OEM motherboards have - the card can survive short power outages with the aid of its' dinky onboard battery that can last 30 minutes without power.
My only bugbear with the G2 is that it has a horrible tendency to fall over if it is 'unprotected' from the Internet - if you can protect it from unwanted traffic by ACLs on an upstream router, I can heartily recommend it.
The G3 is meant to have an onboard firewall but my e-mails to American Megatrends over the last few days have been rudely ignored.
Another thing...
The firmware for both cards is based on uClinux and various other GPL'd softwares... no mention of any source on American Megatrend's website although they do quote the GPL license on their download page.
So to sum up:
High-quality card.
Average firmware.
Manufacturer has piss-poor GPL attitude.
Manufacturer has tendency not to reply to e-mails.
I hope this information is helpful to at least some readers.
Re:American Megatrends MegaRAC G2/G3 (Score:1)
One word (Score:5, Insightful)
Ok, so that wasn't one word, but it should be, "OMFGIBMe-serverbladecenter!!!~1~." They are sweet seriously.
PC Hardware Serial Console card (Score:4, Informative)
Re:PC Hardware Serial Console card (Score:3, Insightful)
HP/Compaq (Score:2)
Re:HP/Compaq (Score:1)
Re:HP/Compaq (Score:2)
We've never bought one of the licenses, so I didn't really know what exactly they say.
Re:HP/Compaq (Score:2)
I have very little desire to remote control a window session over a RIB, but they are great for reboots and troubleshooting during the boot sequence.
Re:HP/Compaq (Score:1)
All rack mount HP servers (The Density Line, DL) now have the remote insight board integrated as a standard feature, believe me, if you have 42 servers in a rack you do not want to be dealing with a KVM.
Compaq/HP Remote Insight is the best out of band Remote management in the market.
Re:HP/Compaq (Score:2)
S0:2345:respawn:/sbin/mgetty -r -s 115200 ttyS0
(after the mingetty line - can't remember if I also had to install mgetty)
I also added the following to the kernel 'append' options in lilo.conf
console=ttyS0,115200
Then you can use ILO's serial console to your hearts content. I also use this with BL10e blade servers.
Better Idea (Score:1)
Nope, no talk of KVM's in 2004. (Score:2, Informative)
Learn to search old stories first, you goon.
Re:Nope, no talk of KVM's in 2004. (Score:1)
Try Avocent KVMs (Score:1)
IPMI (Score:2)
How about IPMI [intel.com]?
The marketing blurb goes something like this:
hey (Score:1)
Digital V6 Kaveman - KVM over IP (Score:1)
Reasonable cost - works with VNC, or a java applet.
I also bought the integrated power control - I can now cobtrol the mouse/keyboard as well as cycle power from just about any web browser.