Re: KVM question

["Jerry Feldman-2" <user=4@nabble.blu.org>]

 On Thu, 8 May 2008 19:52:53 -0400 
"Matt Shields" <[hidden email]> wrote: 

> On Thu, May 8, 2008 at 4:28 PM, Jerry Feldman <[hidden email]> wrote: 
> > We still have not made our decision, but we are currently considering 3 
> >  KVM solutions. All the KVM solutions require remote LAN access and 16 
> >  ports. Also add a rack mounted console (1U).  All require cables at 
> >  just under $100 per cable. All system support Linux and Windows remote 
> >  users. 
> > 
> >  I am considering 4 brands: 
> >  1. Aten. JABR's company bought an Aten KH1516I for about $800.  Aten 
> >  also has some consoles at different resolutions from about $1200 FOR A 
> >  15IN 1024X768. 
> > 
> >  2. Rose Electronics UltraView Remote 2. We have been quoted $2300. Rose 
> >  also has a monitor/kbd for about the same price range as Aten. 
> > 
> >  3. Avocent. The DSR2030 is about $4000, but does have a remote CD 
> >  capability. 
> > 
> >  4. APC. About $3000. 
> > 
> >  Our needs are to control 9 or 10 Linux servers, all probably running 
> >  RHEL 4. One of our servers is a tower, but the others are rack 
> >  mountable, and we will be buying a rack. I've got about 40U worth of 
> >  servers, and I will need a KVM (1U), a local console(1U), and a 
> >  switch(1U). Hopefully one of the servers will migrate over to 
> >  Marlborough and become a BLU server so I do have room in the rack. 
> >  The Avocent remote CD capability is interesting in that we are in a 
> >  Regus office (HQ company) where we don't have a key to the server room. 
> >  We normally have to get someone to open it every time we go in, so in 
> >  the worst case, when installing an OS, we would have to get someone to 
> >  open the door every time we mount a CD. But, is that worth the premium 
> >  price. Currently, it appears that we would probably order the Rose 
> >  units because that is what we have in our other data centers. I've 
> >  already got feedback from Avocent users, but I am looking for feedback 
> >  primarily on Aten as that is the  most cost effective solution.