Due to the increase of data center equipment, the utilization rate of the equipment room and rack and cabinet space is getting continuously lower, thus, limiting the storage space required for multiple monitors and keyboards. In order to alleviate this pressure, KVM switches gradually become the ideal choice for data center administrators.

Do you know what a KVM switch is and how the KVM switch is used? In this article, we will focus on addressing these two points.

What is a KVM Switch?

A KVM switch is the key device of the current data center supervision server. It can help data center administrators to easily access and remotely manage thousands of computers through a set of keyboards, videos, and mice.

The use of Keyboard Video Mouse (KVM) switches in the data center effectively avoids the clutter caused by many keyboards, monitors and mice, thereby reducing energy consumption, saving space in racks and equipment rooms and effectively helping data center managers.

Furthermore, it helps to streamline workflow and increase productivity. KVM Switches are often used in home office, small and medium-sized enterprises, laboratories, local area networks, and other computer or server environments.

The Difference Between a KVM Switch and a VGA KVM

The essential difference between a KVM switch and a VGA KVM switch is that a KVM switch shares a set of display monitors and a mouse and keyboard, while a VGA KVM switch only shares a single display monitor.

The Difference Between a KVM Switch and an Optical Terminal

The KVM optical terminal is composed of a KVM transmitter and a KVM receiver and is mainly used for signal transmission in a multimedia application system. The KVM switch is mainly used to monitor and manage multiple computers and multiple servers. They are very different by nature.

The Difference between a KVM Switch and a KVM Virtual Machine

 A KVM switch is a hardware switching device and the KVM virtual machine is a virtual machine, commonly used under the Linux system. It is short for Kernel-based Virtual Machine and is an open source system virtualization module.

 How to Install KVM Switches

The KVM switch can be used to remotely manage the computer if used correctly. As it relates to installation, let's take a 6-port Cat5 KVM switch as an example to explain how to use the KVM switch.

1. For the sake of safety, first make sure that the console of the KVM switch is grounded;
2. Connect the KVM connector to the host;
3. Connect the female port of the power cord to the KVM power socket and the male port to the 220v AC power socket;
4. With the power turned on, you can remotely control the KVM switch via IP.
5. At the same time, an external keyboard, mouse, and display can be connected to the KVM switch.

KVM switch usage precautions

1. Do not directly power off. To prevent the internal motherboard and display from being burned out, you should first press the power switch on the display. When the monitor power indicator turns from green to red and then goes out, close the display panel.
2. Do not use the KVM switch for a long time without interruption. When not in use, power off the machine correctly.
3. Ensure to use it in the environment allowed by the KVM switch; pay attention to dust, moisture, heat and fall prevention.
4. The KVM switch should not be placed in places prone to fire, chemicals, and direct sunlight to avoid accidents.
5. Do not try to repair the KVM switch; repair should be handled only by professional maintenance personnel.
6. Do not open the cover without authorization to prevent electric shock.

KVM Switch Control Computer / Server Solution

The KVM switch is an all-in-one design that allows you to control multiple computers from the KVM console locally and remotely with a single keyboard, monitor and mouse. This is a convenient and economic liberation solution, especially when you can't store many monitors and keyboards.

Usually, An LCD KVM switch can control 2-32 computers. If you want to control more computers, you need to use a VAG KVM switch to control the computer in a cascade mode using a cat5 Ethernet cable and a special KVM cable kit. This will facilitate controlling up to 256 computers.

The KVM switch is divided into two types: the ones with display and keyboard and the ones without. For the KVM switch that is with display and keyboard, we can use buttons, hotkeys, OSD menu and the mouse on the KVM switch control to switch from controlling one computer to another.

However, for the KVM switch that is without display and keyboard, we can control the computer directly via buttons, OSD menus, and mouse on the KVM switch front panel.

Conclusion

KVM switches have become one of the most popular devices in today's data centers with the advantages of space and cost savings, energy efficiency and economy. Thanks to the use of the KVM switch, the server can be accessed at any time without geographical restrictions. It is believed that in the future, a KVM switch will become one of the necessary devices in the data center.