The 16 Port KVM Switch

A 16 port KVM switch is a plug-and-play IT equipment that will let you access 16 servers or computers using only one set of peripherals - namely a keyboard (K), a video monitor (V) and a mouse (M). The KVM switch therefore lets you manage your servers as if you're at the rack (where your servers are held). Through a KVM switch, you can boot you servers, run maintenance procedures, check server logs, and do all kinds of administrative stuff from the comfort of your office - or in the case of a 16 port KVM over IP switches - from anywhere in the world where you have internet connection.

This appliance-based solution is the simpler option for data center administration when you have up to 16 servers. In fact, Rather than having to configure the whole IT infrastructure like what you have to do when using a server-type solution, all you need to do when you use a KVM switch is connect the right cables to the correct ports. The 16 port KVM switch is a complete package - the software you need for server control and access is already installed and configured in the KVM appliance.

Expanding Use

The 16 port KVM switch, strictly speaking, has 16 ports or channels to which 16 servers or computers can be connected. Nevertheless, you don't need to buy a new KVM switch whenever you add computers or servers to your IT infrastructure. A 16 port KVM switch will let you scale up your operations quite easily.

KVM switches may actually be stacked or cascaded for expansion purposes. In other words, a 16 port KVM switch may be used to manage and access so much more than merely 16 servers or computers. A Raritan 16-port Master Console II KVM appliance, for instance, can be cascaded to let you manage up to 1024 servers or computers. There are even Raritan KVM switches that will let you manage 10,000 servers!

To cascade KVM switches, you will have to set up a two-tier KVM infrastructure. One of your KVM switches will be your master or base KVM appliance. Connect other KVM switches on the ports meant for computers or servers. A 16 port KVM switch can directly accommodate 16 computers or servers; in a two-tier setup, however, the 16 ports will be used to connect a mix of KVM switches and computers/servers. The KVM switches that are connected to the master KVM switch are the so-called slave switches. The slave switches ports' will accommodate the actual computers or servers that you need to manage using one keyboard, video and mouse.

By: Jim Olivero

Wikipedia is known to have extensive articles on 16 Port KVM. As for a 16 Post KVM supplier, you may like to give Raritan a look see. This company has established itself as a major supplier of 16 Port KVM. Give them a visit.

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