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It's 2004: What Are The Best Remote KVM Options?
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."
This is a problem that has been solved by every hardware platform out there -except- the PC.
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.)
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We use avocent where I work. Its great. The remote software allows you to view the console and have all the functionality. So, when you have to reboot into the bios or diagnostics to view an error message, you can just load up a program instead of driving 30 miles. Definetly would recommend it, saves time.
...it has a great PERL interface...
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.
You run your servers at 1600x1200? Let me guess: Windows Server 2003? The high res allows you to better manage all of your GUI interfaces?
As for your original question, I imagine that 1600x1200 would probably be possible on any display even if you had to use scroll bars.
Just curious, but what would frequent use be? I can see occasionally needing to get into bios settings or see pre-boot messages, but why would you need to do that frequently and not have to be on-site anyway?
What's a sig?
Ok, so that wasn't one word, but it should be, "OMFGIBMe-serverbladecenter!!!~1~." They are sweet seriously.
Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati
Everyone should check out that site for the artwork, even if they don't care about the product.