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<TITLE>The Answer Guy 50: KVM Switches: All are NOT Created Equal</TITLE>
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<H4>"The Linux Gazette...<I>making Linux just a little more fun!</I>"</H4>
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<H1><A NAME="answer">
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<H4>By James T. Dennis,
<a href="mailto:linux-questions-only@ssc.com">linux-questions-only@ssc.com</a><BR>
LinuxCare,
<A HREF="http://www.linuxcare.com/">http://www.linuxcare.com/</A>
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<H3 align="left"><img src="../../gx/dennis/qbubble.gif"
height="50" width="60" alt="(?) " border="0"
>KVM Switches: All are NOT Created Equal</H3>
<p><strong>From Michael Slaven on Fri, 24 Dec 1999
</strong></p>
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KVM Switches: All are NOT Created Equal
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:: -->
<P><STRONG>
Jim-
</STRONG></P>
<P><STRONG>
Here's the story...
</STRONG></P>
<P><STRONG>
Raritan Computer manufactures bulletproof KVM switches. We have recently
begun to get positive feedback from the Linux community because our switches
do NOT occasionally allow keyboard/mouse lock-ups like our competitors. We
use a dedicated emulation chip for EACH computer connected to the switch.
</STRONG></P>
<P><STRONG>
Unfortunately, most of the public perceives occasional lock-ups as normal
for KVM switches and this is definitely not the case.
</STRONG></P>
<P><STRONG>
This said, getting that message out to the Linux community is not easy. I'm
interested in:
</STRONG></P>
<p><strong><ol>
<li> How you have your office set up ( how many computers)
<li> If you have the need for a KVM switch
<li> If so, I'd be willing to "lend" you one for 30-40 to test and evaluate.
</ol></strong></p>
<P><STRONG>
All I would ask in return is that if someone asks you about KVM switches,
you at least can tell them that all switches are not created equal.
</STRONG></P>
<P><STRONG>
Let me know what you think.
<br>Thanks for your time.
</STRONG></P>
<P><STRONG>
Michael Slaven
<br>OEM Manager
<br>Raritan Computer Inc.
<A HREF="http://www.raritan.com"
>http://www.raritan.com</A>
</STRONG></P>
<BLOCKQUOTE><IMG SRC="../../gx/dennis/bbub.gif" ALT="(!)"
HEIGHT="28" WIDTH="50" BORDER="0"
>
Well, I don't think I'll be considered a corporate shill
for simply including your message as it was written to me.
</BLOCKQUOTE>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
I'll have to admit that I haven't purchased any Raritans,
though I've seen them in some of the offices of my
customers, etc. Of course I'm aware that there are
differences among different types of KVM switches.
</BLOCKQUOTE>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
It's always been my opinion that the biggest gain is from
using any of the "active" (electronic) switches. Using
the mechanical A-B switch boxes will occasionally cause
the failure of a chip on your motherboard (effectively
meaning you'll have to replace about 1 motherboard in
20 per year of daily use).
</BLOCKQUOTE>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
Hopefully the future of USB will solve this problem for
keyboards and mice (I'm not aware of any problems
with mechanical switching of monitors). On the one
hand I think USB is overly complicated and expensive.
On the other hand, it will will hopefully save future
generations of computer users from fussing with the
sorts of DTE/DCE, CTS/RTS, DSR/DTR problems that we
old fogeys have had to fight with RS-232.
</BLOCKQUOTE>
<p><em>[ I've occasionally seen monitors get weird color effects when
switching, but so far, every such case has turned out to be
solved when the video cord was reseated or replaced. There
hasn't been any evidence that it was somehow any fault of the
switch. I've never used a Raritan; most were Belkins and
ProTec. -- Heather ]</em></p>
<BLOCKQUOTE>
Anyway, if you put up some white papers and actually
describe some of the failure modes (capacititive
discharge?) and how your components and designs are
better for protecting computers than those used by
your competitors, you'll probably gain some more
converts. (My personal needs have been too modest
--- and Raritan has been too expensive --- for me so far).
</BLOCKQUOTE>
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<H5 align="center"><a href="http://www.linuxgazette.com/copying.html"
>Copyright &copy;</a> 2000, James T. Dennis
<BR>Published in <I>The Linux Gazette</I> Issue 50 February 2000</H5>
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