Affordable IP KVMs?

[Bob Martin]

We came up with an alternative solution to the IP KVM. Good, old 
fashioned, terminal servers.

We have an old Livingston PM2E, and our servers are set up to use the 
serial console instead of a console. The whole setup was less than $100. 
And as an added bonus, we now have remote access to our TC 1000 and 
switch consoles. (This would work well for a Cisco too, but we use FBSD 
routers instead)

There are 2 "gotcha's". This won't work for NT servers, and unless your 
MB supports truly headless operations, you can't access the machine's 
boot. (Most SuperMicro Server MB's will support headless operation, as 
will a lot of the newer 1U servers)

When combined with a remote power switch, and NIC's with boot ROM's, 
this does create a really cost effective remote solution. I have even 
re-formated and reloaded OS's this way.

As far as IP KVM's go, you're much better off getting a good one. I 
managed some servers for some folks that tried using cheap IP KVM's. 
Lost time, production and trips to the co-lo quickly made a $1200 IP KVM 
more expensive than the $5100 Cyclades that eventually replaced it.

If you're only working with one remote server, a modem and a headless MB 
is the only way to go. If you're box doesn't do headless, Cyclades makes 
a remote management card for about $700 (retail) that will solve the 
problem, and give you remote power cycling as well.

Bob Martin

Gabriel Ambuehl wrote:
> Slightly off topic but I assume some people here would know one thing
> or two about it...
> 
> I'm in the market for some bullet proof remote administration product
> (most likely IP KVM but I'm open to other solutions). 99% of all work
> I can obviously do with ssh but the remaining ones when the server is
> actually DOWN is were fast fixing is required the most. So what do you
> people use for remote access to boxes who don't repond anymore? Any
> pointers to "cheap" IP KVMs (somewhere in the 1000$ range as opposed
> to the 5000$ one at which point it's probably cheaper to get redundant
> servers in first place...)?
> 
> (I know about the serial console and while it certainly has its uses,
> I'm looking for something *really* bullet proof, enabling me to mess
> with BIOS etc as well).
> 
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