KVM to connect 16 machines - PS2 or USB - two models to choose from, advise

By NoUserName
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NoUserName

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Hello

It is me again ... now I'd like to ask for another thing related to how to connect to other computers in the internal network.

The internal network as described here:

Right now I am connecting the computers using remotely desktop connection for all computers.

But I am interested to know your feed back and your opinion about using KVMs instead of remotely?

I've found two KVMs one for PS2 only for 150 usd as shown here:

17-107-211-08.jpg

and the other one is PS2 and USB as well for 200 usd which make it a bit expensive then the other one as mentioned here:

4RvKp.png

So please advise for the differences in between the KVMs and remotely desktop connection considering that all I need to do is to check if the recording application is running or not.

So please advise ... also in case you do recommend using KVM ... can I buy the PS2 one and use a converter to connect my USB and save the 50 usd or to buy the one with the usb?

Thanks a lot and too much appreciated.

Proficient

NoUserName

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ps2 will require a reboot once plugged in

For the 1st time connecting it or every time?

I do not mind to do a restart to save the 50 usd , that would be the most expensive restart I'd do in my life ever ... hehehehehehehe

unless you do know more details that i am not aware of.

Also another thing ... does using a converter from ps2 to usb would work with the ps2 kvm or not?

Grand Master

TEX4S

Posted
Posted

PS2 is no longer made, so you're already limiting yourself. You spent all that time on speed of your network - dont cut your own legs off by investing in a dead interface.

Go with a KVM that has multiple video options and USBs-

Proficient

NoUserName

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PS2 is no longer made, so you're already limiting yourself. You spent all that time on speed of your network - dont cut your own legs off by investing in a dead interface.

Go with a KVM that has multiple video options and USBs-

Ok ... I will buy this one.

But to safe my money and myself ... may I ask for a favor?

Please due to my poor knowledge and bad English, may you check its details if it is the right one to do the job or not?

The one I am looking for is to connect 16 computers and manage them with one keyboard, one mouse, one monitor.

So is it really for what I am thinking or not?

The reason I am asking is the picture shown here :

u4ZKR.png

Shows only one keyboard and one mouse ... while the ps2 model contains a mouse and a keyboard for each machine to be connected. This is what is confusing me a bit about it.

Please advise ... I do hope that I expressed it the right way :) .

Also in the feed back section I've found many comments regarding the cables included with the device but I am not sure if they mean to buy extra cables or the cables already included?

Thanks a lot and apologize for any disturbing I made :(

Grand Master

TEX4S

Posted
Posted

Your english is pretty good, I understand exactly what youre saying.

That KVM will handle what you are needing. IF you ever have more than 16 computers, you will need something more, but for this point in time - that will be just fine.

Make sure it is quality, if it isnt - just "cheap" then you will have interference, or fuzzy images on your monitor - its real annoying.

So, buy quality. always.

As far as the cables are concerned, you will most likely have to get some long cables, as the ones that come with monitors will only 5' at best.

If this is going in a rack server, you need longer ones. VGA cables are cheap, buy a dozen 10' VGA cables - you should be good.

Grand Master

TEX4S

Posted
Posted

Have you given any consideration to backing up your stuff ?

If so, Enterprise-level stuff can get really confusing - using something like Crashplan can make it so much easier on you. Have a good friend who is the IT Mgr. @ an oil company (hey- Im in Texas) he uses Crashplan - everything is so easy for him.

I have to use Symantec's Backup Exec 2010 - which can get ridiculously confusing, and is problematic. I wish I could update our system, but we simply dont have the bandwidth.

Proficient

NoUserName

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Your english is pretty good, I understand exactly what youre saying.

Thanks a lot :)

That KVM will handle what you are needing.

I'm totally appreciated your time to review and check it.

IF you ever have more than 16 computers, you will need something more, but for this point in time - that will be just fine.

I've read that there is an extender, but for now I do not think that we may ever need more then 16.

Make sure it is quality, if it isnt - just "cheap" then you will have interference, or fuzzy images on your monitor - its real annoying.

So, buy quality. always.

Actually I do not know about the quality but as far as some reviews I've read there (If I understand it correctly)

aPnjz.png

As far as the cables are concerned, you will most likely have to get some long cables, as the ones that come with monitors will only 5' at best.

Thanks a lot for the tip and I will look for a more long distance one like 6 or 10 meters to well fits the required distance between the rack and place where I have the monitor and keyboard and mouse, but for the distance between the kvm and the 16 machines, I think 3 meters is really enough.

If this is going in a rack server, you need longer ones. VGA cables are cheap, buy a dozen 10' VGA cables - you should be good.

Yes, this is exactly what I will do.

Have you given any consideration to backing up your stuff ?

Actually all I do is copying my recorded files to an external hard drive.

But it seems that I keep need more as we are making a new 2 TB each new month.

If so, Enterprise-level stuff can get really confusing - using something like Crashplan can make it so much easier on you. Have a good friend who is the IT Mgr. @ an oil company (hey- Im in Texas) he uses Crashplan - everything is so easy for him.

Please tell me more about this as I am not sure if I understand your point correctly.

I have to use Symantec's Backup Exec 2010 - which can get ridiculously confusing, and is problematic. I wish I could update our system, but we simply dont have the bandwidth.

Online back up is not an option for us as we do not have a fast connection, but just 2 ADSL lines (4 MB/DL - 1 MB/UL) for each line. This is why I am using external USD drives to copy my data then save these drives in my frigider under a very low cold degree.

Thanks a lot and too much appreciated.

Grand Master

TEX4S

Posted
Posted

Judging by those reviews - it seems the customers are very pleased with it - I'd say you are looking at a very good one. buy it!

For the backup - If you are copying everything over to a 2TB external right now, is it done automatically ? Or does someone need to copy and paste everything - every Friday for instance ?

I have found Acronis makes some great products. Their support is pretty good too. Acronis Backup & Recovery is the business level stuff - you can't use the $50 True Image 2012 (home version) as some might think - True Image doesnt work with Windows Server OS.

However, there are much cheaper choices - you dont have use Acronis & I dont suggest you get Backup Exec - its not good.

Proficient

NoUserName

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Judging by those reviews - it seems the customers are very pleased with it - I'd say you are looking at a very good one. buy it!

Thanks for the confirmation :)

For the backup - If you are copying everything over to a 2TB external right now, is it done automatically ? Or does someone need to copy and paste everything - every Friday for instance ?

No, it is manually as it is new files each day, so nothing to be synchronized or checked ... but just new files each new day.

I have found Acronis makes some great products. Their support is pretty good too. Acronis Backup & Recovery is the business level stuff - you can't use the $50 True Image 2012 (home version) as some might think - True Image doesnt work with Windows Server OS.

We do not use any windows servers but just windows 7 ultimate 64-bit for all encoding computers, and windows xp for all recording computers, as no need for a server at all for us for the time being.

But please if you know any more information about any automatically way to set and forget to do the back to the external USB on a daily base that would be really awesome.

However, there are much cheaper choices - you dont have use Acronis & I dont suggest you get Backup Exec - its not good.

I am not sure if I understand this part correctly ... please may you clear it a little bit more? :(

Thanks a lot and too much appreciated !!!

Proficient

NoUserName

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I searched for the most long distance cable and found those:

So please advise for the best one to be used with the KVM ...

Thanks and too much appreciated :)

so please advise which one I can buy to get the best result as possible.

Grand Master

TEX4S

Posted
Posted

Since you're not using any server OS - snag a copy of Acronis True Image 2012 $40.

post-74610-0-12305600-1333354401_thumb.j

It is so simple, its funny. and works like a champ every time.

As far as the cables: Go with the TrippLite

some people will say - "its a cable it either works or it doesnt - they are all the same - just get a cheap one..."

However, when you buy quality (Tripp Lite is well known) you better your chances that the molding wont break, or the screws or bracket dont break off because of shotty metal used to cut costs. Not to mention having better shielding due to interference, etc...

Map out how much you would need from the farthest distance - to the rack/KVM, then add a few feet.

Good cable mgmt will eat a couple of feet and its better to have too much than not enough.

That being said, dont buy 16x 25' cables (unless you need that much)

Remember - Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance. :laugh:

Proficient

NoUserName

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Since you're not using any server OS - snag a copy of Acronis True Image 2012 $40.

It is so simple, its funny. and works like a champ every time.

Ok, I will check it if it is that easy as you are recommending.

As far as the cables: Go with the TrippLite

some people will say - "its a cable it either works or it doesnt - they are all the same - just get a cheap one..."

However, when you buy quality (Tripp Lite is well known) you better your chances that the molding wont break, or the screws or bracket dont break off because of shotty metal used to cut costs. Not to mention having better shielding due to interference, etc...

Map out how much you would need from the farthest distance - to the rack/KVM, then add a few feet.

Good cable mgmt will eat a couple of feet and its better to have too much than not enough.

That being said, dont buy 16x 25' cables (unless you need that much)

Remember - Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance. :laugh:

I've found three types that are 25 feets.

Please which one to get as I do not know what criteria to choose according to:

Thanks and too much appreciated :)

so please advise which one I can buy to get the best result as possible.

Proficient

ybrett23

Posted
Posted

For the 1st time connecting it or every time?

I do not mind to do a restart to save the 50 usd , that would be the most expensive restart I'd do in my life ever ... hehehehehehehe

unless you do know more details that i am not aware of.

Also another thing ... does using a converter from ps2 to usb would work with the ps2 kvm or not?

every time you remove the ps2 and plug back in it will need a reboot!

seriously, the usb is a much better option, ps2 is dead technology

Proficient

NoUserName

Posted
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every time you remove the ps2 and plug back in it will need a reboot!

seriously, the usb is a much better option, ps2 is dead technology

Ok, I will get the usb one.

Regarding the cables, which one I should get?

Grand Master

TEX4S

Posted
Posted

Ok, I will check it if it is that easy as you are recommending.

I've found three types that are 25 feets.

Please which one to get as I do not know what criteria to choose according to:

Thanks and too much appreciated :)

so please advise which one I can buy to get the best result as possible.

They are 99.99% identical - only difference is one of them said RGB (the proper term for VGA plugs)

I honestly cant tell a difference really - go with the 3rd option :D

Grand Master

Mando

Posted
Posted

bag the USB one, ps2 is not hot pluggable. on our rack @work with 2 blade centres & rack mounrted server chassis, we have a ps2/usb convertor on our PS/2 KVM and its a fooking nightmare, esp for failover when i attempt to switch over to the 2nd input on the AMM I have to reboot the entire chassis for it to register then keyboard/mouse. defeats the entire point of having failover bladecentres (its being replaced this year)

Proficient

NoUserName

Posted
  • Author
Posted

bag the USB one, ps2 is not hot pluggable. on our rack @work with 2 blade centres & rack mounrted server chassis, we have a ps2/usb convertor on our PS/2 KVM and its a fooking nightmare, esp for failover when i attempt to switch over to the 2nd input on the AMM I have to reboot the entire chassis for it to register then keyboard/mouse. defeats the entire point of having failover bladecentres (its being replaced this year)

Ok, I will buy the LINKSKEY LKV-7316 16 Port Rackmount USB + PS/2 KVM Switch - OEM :)

But regarding the cables shall I get

LINKSKEY 6 ft. USB-VGA KVM Combo Cable C-KVM-SU6 - OEM

or

LINKSKEY 6 ft. 3-in-1 USB PS/2 KVM Combo Cable C-KVM-SC6

Also if I want to have the console away from the rack and the kvm ... how long distance is the maximum?

Also what is the best monitor/vga/rgb cable I should use to get the best resolution?

Also can I extend the keyboard or mouse cables or use wireless?

Mentor

Odom Member

Posted
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Posted

If you're looking for opinions, why do you want to switch from Remote Desktop connections to KVM switches?

RDC works just fine to remote into other computers. Why spend more money on a KVM switch? Will you be able to do more with it that you can't or want to do now?

Proficient

NoUserName

Posted
  • Author
Posted

If you're looking for opinions, why do you want to switch from Remote Desktop connections to KVM switches?

RDC works just fine to remote into other computers. Why spend more money on a KVM switch? Will you be able to do more with it that you can't or want to do now?

That is really the question I am asking myself now and discussing it with my co-workers.

But honestly ... the only differences are:

1) not using username and passwords to login and do it directly.

2) be able to install windows without moving the machine from the rack itself.

But comparing the expenses of the kvm and its supplementary cables ... I think it is really not deserve it.

It seems that I was in a situation that only require someone to ask your question of why not to keep it.

Thanks for asking and I will keep the remotely desktop connection ...

Mentor

Odom Member

Posted
  • Member
Posted

Getting asked for username and password is good, that's security. If you don't have to do this anymore, anyone getting a hold on that machine can get anywhere unhindered.

If you have machines in racks, I assume you mean servers. You probably don't have that many, if you're thinking of a 16 KVM switch. You probably also don't re-install them very often. The off times that you do have to re-install Windows, it doesn't really take that long.

If in your case it is a lengthier exercise, you could look into imaging software for quickly building servers. Maybe something like Acronis (the only one that comes to mind, I only know of imaging software for big companies). Surely other neowinians can suggest software for this. It should help you build servers faster.

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