Enterprise KVM-over-IP that doesn't suck?

October 6, 2008 7:20 AM

Looking for a good KVM-over-IP solution, specifically one that allows me to use a standard RDP client for access to hosts rather than a proprietary solution.

We currently have an IBM Remote Console Manager (warning: PDF). Advantages: supports up to 256 servers (with only 1U of space required for the KVM), uses CAT5 wiring, supports USB and PS/2. Disadvantages: remote access requires a proprietary application that is TERRIBLE, thus eliminating most of the advantages of a remote KVM solution.

I am looking for a solution that will allow us to use (ideally) RDP (aka Microsoft Remote Desktop) or (less ideally, because of no support for remote storage) VNC to access remote consoles. Extra bonus (a) if the device provides USB mass storage emulation for network access to client-side storage devices and (b) if it allows multiple remote users to connect simultaneously. It really needs to use CAT5 wiring (because I do not want to rewrite the datacenter for it).

I don't know if such a beast exists. The primary goal here is convenient, cross-platform (Windows, OS X, Linux) access without requiring proprietary applications or browser plugins. I'm open to alternative suggestions if you're using something you're especially happy with.

Thanks for your help!

posted by larsks to Computers & Internet (5 answers total)

I haven't run into anything as all-inclusive as what you're looking for in my career. What works in my enterprise is HP's IP Console + Dameware.

We use the IP Console pretty much only to watch a server reboot or change settings in bios...It has a lot more capability like telnet and iLo. A very scalable product, for 10 or 1,000 servers.

Normal day to day use is all done with the Dameware Remote Connect client. It installs as a service remotely (and can be told to uninstall at disconnect which keeps IT Security happy) and can be forced to use RDP or its own more expansive protocol. It will allow you to map remote connections to a local folder of your choosing, acting like a point to point file transfer. I can't speak to if it has a client for *nix we're mainly a Windows shop.
posted by wavering at 7:46 AM on October 6, 2008

I've dealt with some pretty crappy IP KVMs, and the line that I've settled on as being reliable and convenient in a cross-platform environment is the Avocent DSR series.

Problem is, the DSR doesn't fulfill your requirement to use RDP or VNC. It uses a Java applet that loads when you access the device via a web browser which is actually fairly decent at this point; they also have a dedicated remote access application. We do a lot of cross-platform work, and the DSR series is the only one I can find that really does decent mouse synchronization and client access in a mixed-platform environment.
posted by eschatfische at 8:55 AM on October 6, 2008

Best answer: AdderLink which is VNC based AND does have virtual media support over VNC as well (IPePSM)
posted by rus at 9:19 AM on October 6, 2008

Doesn't the Raritan Dominion series offer this? 'Tain't cheap, but pretty solid.
posted by wenestvedt at 11:03 AM on October 6, 2008

Response by poster: Thanks for your thoughts, everyone! Price isn't necessarily a problem here (we're going to be outfitting a new datacenter soon, so this will probably be a fairly minimal addition). I'll probably be taking a look at the Dominion product -- I've had a recommendation for that offline, too.

The AdderLink stuff also looks quite interesting; I'm browsing their site right now.
posted by larsks at 6:40 AM on October 7, 2008