I always thought the Dell ones were perfectly fine for general use – not too annoying and I appreciated the trackballs they had. Of course, a great solution is an IP-KVM like what Belkin offers so you don’t have to stand there in your server room anyways – work on your machines from your desk or drop a remote console in at a desk.
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Jack Kramer
Computer Systems Specialist
University Relations, Michigan State University
517-884-1231
From: Ehren Benson <[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: Ehren Benson <[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]>
Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:25:05 -0400
To: <[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: [MSUNAG] Rackmount KVM - keyboard/monitor
We have a triplite and as others have said the keyboard is irritating, the normal shift key is split into something else and instead of having caps or whatever other reason you end up hitting shift and if you hit it too many times it switches consoles and makes you want to rip it out of the rack and throw it across the room. Backspace key is the same way... if you reach for the backspace with your pinky and hit it twice it pops up the console switcher because that is scroll lock also...
Ehren J. Benson, MCSE
Windows Systems Administrator
[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]
517-884-5469
-----Original Message-----
From: MSU Network Administrators Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jon Galbreath
Sent: Wednesday, July 30, 2008 12:14 PM
To: [log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MSUNAG] Rackmount KVM - keyboard/monitor
Dell makes a slide out 1U keyboard tray and 17" LCD that I think runs about $1500 last I checked. The KVM switch itself is not included, but I picked up the version with just the keyboard tray and the custom fit keyboard for the new rack I got, and it was only a few hundred dollars, and with all the new Dell servers having front access VGA/USB ports, I just plug it in as needed. Yes, it puts wear on the connectors, but that's what the warranty is for ;-)
Jon
Jon Galbreath
MCSE/Security+
Systems Administrator
International Studies and Programs
Ph: 517-884-2144
[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: MSU Network Administrators Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Dennis Boone
Sent: Wednesday, July 30, 2008 11:22 AM
To: [log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MSUNAG] Rackmount KVM - keyboard/monitor
> We're looking at rack mountable KVMs with slide-out keyboard drawer
> and flip-up monitor (17"- 19") under $2000 price tag. Any
> recommendations of what to get or experience with one to stay away
> from? Tripp-Lite, NetView, etc. Are they good/bad? Thanks in advance.
You're looking for a rack console, or a KVM?
We have one of the Tripp-Lite rack consoles. Keyboard layout is odd in
irritating ways (at least for my unix habits), and mechanically it ends
up stabbing your wrists with the edges of its sheet metal. On the other
hand, it was significantly cheaper than some of the other options.
The Avocent KVM units have serious issues with their java remote video
applets being unreliable under Linux.
The Raritan Dominion units are also a bit quirky, but seem nicer
overall.
Raritan has little boxes which are basically VT100 terminals without the
picture tube -- serial on one side, VGA port on the other -- which you
could plug into nearly any KVM. Probably expensive, but I haven't
checked.
De