Link to home
Start Free TrialLog in
Avatar of Bibbs5
Bibbs5

asked on

Too Many Monitors

I have 5 servers in one room.  Is there a device available that will allow me to use just one monitor to maintain all?  How about the same for keyboards?


Thank You
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
Avatar of Barthax
Barthax
Flag of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland image

Link to home
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Start Free Trial
It's called a KVM - you will probably need an 8-port version to accomodate 5 servers: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817107458
As Barthx said, what you are looking for is a KVM switch.  I've had realitively good luck with Avocent prodcuts for smaller configuations (4 systems or less).  I haven't used their larger products, but you might want to take a look at their "SwitchView OSD".
 If they are networked together you could always "Remote desktop" the servers.  Most of today's OSs offer some kind of remote framebuffer that you can manage those servers as if you were there.
Avatar of Bibbs5
Bibbs5

ASKER

How do they work?  
Avatar of Bibbs5

ASKER

The KVMs I mean.  Will I have one designated monitor, keyboard, and mouse to use?
 A KVM is a switch box that you connect the monitor/mouse and keyboard  in one end... and all your computer boxes on the other... and you simply push a button and it redirects the signal to the selected computer box.

  KVM stands for Keyboard, Video, Mouse .. so that's why you call these boxes a KVM switch
You can get versions which send the signals over your network also: KVM over IP.  The only thing necessary at that point is the network connection and relevant KVM boxes at either end (and thus don't even need to be physically near them! :D [add disclaimer here for obvious security concerns] ).
Good KVM switches allow you to change the Server just by using a special key combination, the one i'm using here you press ctrl ctrl twice short after another.
Hi,

Here is a simple KVM switch manual, hope it clarify your question.
http://www.zonetusa.com/ProductDownload/KVM3008.pdf

Regards.
Indeed Barthax was the first to answer.
By the skin of my teeth!  I'd be happy to split with Callandor as the times are identical.