Using KVM and VNC technologies in various business areas on the example of Adder products
We often refer to the topic of KVM, or, translating literally, KVM (keyboard, video monitor, mouse), perhaps it is worth clarifying a little what these technologies are used for or can be used for. After all, in addition to the obvious result of their work-the convenience of the system administrator-there are other areas of application in which such solutions are very, very useful. Adder products are chosen for illustration, because they are not only a good example, but also implement advanced technologies and time-tested principles. after all, this company has an impressive experience, it has been represented on the market for more than 25 years.
So, what industries are KVM solutions useful for? The first and obvious one is IT, for remote administration and the most complete access, in fact, direct management of connected systems. The second – the banking and financial system. This includes the compactness of work places, and the ability to place computers in premises that are reliably protected from unauthorized access. The third, also quite obvious , is industrial systems, when it is impossible or too expensive to place a computer at the operator's workplace. The same can be said about the prerequisites of the fourth sphere of application – medical. As a fifth point, you can consider terminals or even just displays in retail outlets, as well as, and this is the sixth industry, in broadcasting and Studio complexes, when installing a PC in the workplace complicates work or is simply inappropriate.
Perhaps you should go through all these areas of KVM use with a more detailed overview to make sure that they are useful and effective.
IT for various business and government activities
Any fairly large enterprise or organization has a complex technical background, in particular, IT infrastructure. If you have server hardware that is usually installed in standard 19-inch racks, the issue of optimal management is quite acute. Speed of access is one of the determining factors of reliability and trouble-free operation, in addition, the cost of the solutions themselves and their support is of great importance. One of the most modern and effective management tools is KVM in various configurations. These are multiport KVM switches, such as, for example, AdderView AV8PRO-DVI or even more capacious AdderView CATx, which we have already written about. You can organize access to them at a considerable distance using the Adder X200 or X100 series KVM extension modules, which contain their own built-in two-port switch and allow you to connect a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and even a stereo audio output via a conventional twisted pair.
This module allows you to place the workplace of the administrator who manages the server equipment at a distance of up to 300 meters from the rack with the equipment or even a greater distance using intermediate hubs.
To connect input and output devices to the Adder X200 and Adder X100, you can use the CATX-USB and CATX-PS2 modules (CATX-USBA and CATX-PS2A with audio support) for the USB and PS/2 mouse and keyboard, respectively.
There are even specialized CATX-SUN for working with Sun Microsystems equipment. The benefits of the application are obvious – there is no need to be in the server room, which has a limited area and its own microclimate, it is easy to switch between servers, it is possible to ensure strict access to equipment. For communication centers that have racks of huge capacity, such solutions are sometimes simply irreplaceable and do not have a reasonable alternative.
CATx series solutions provide high-resolution video signal transmission, up to 1920x1440, separate control of brightness, clarity and geometry directly from the keyboard, and display information transmission using DDC.
The presence of two ports allows you to work with another computer – the administrator's work PC, or even a second group of systems.
There are even special X2-Multiscreen modules to support multi-monitor configurations, up to 4 VGA outputs.
Such KVM switches are also effective for applications that require multiple monitors with a very limited workspace, such as the financial industry, where KVM switch has long replaced desktops on the desktop.
Scope of financial transactions
Anyone who has ever seen the exchange on TV, or has been in the hall of the trading platform, packed with brokers and traders to the eyeballs, probably paid attention to the huge number of screens. To work effectively, you must always have tables and graphs with quotes, various auxiliary and statistical information in front of your eyes, so you can't do without several displays. The second thing that is immediately noticeable in such a hall is the extremely high level of noise-it is created not only by impulsive traders constantly shouting into the phone, but also by working computers, as well as ventilation and air conditioning systems.
It is clear that there is no escaping the use of numerous monitors, but modern led-backlit screens are quite compact in thickness and have very low heat dissipation. But computers at work create noticeable noise, and also heat the air in the common room. If you put them in separate specialized rooms, you can make working conditions more comfortable, place more jobs in the hall and at the same time reduce the background noise level both due to the PCs themselves and due to the lower required power of ventilation systems.
What is important, to take computers outside the common room can also force security requirements. However, traders ' working conditions – high monitor resolutions, multi-monitor configurations, and instantaneous computer response to each click, which are not yet available to virtual machines, will make them refuse to use virtual machines.
Such solutions can be easily built on the basis of VNC consoles Adderview TS4 and the already familiar Adder X2 Multiscreen.
Industry
Industrial computer systems, more precisely, those that are considered specialized, are characterized by increased resistance to aggressive external influences, or Vice versa – minimal impact on the environment, if it must be maintained in a special state and does not tolerate interference.
As a rule, a computer or microcontroller cannot be located far from the equipment with which it works, but the operator does not have to be in an aggressive environment. There are also reverse situations when the controller should be on duty in the shop, and it is more reasonable to take the computer equipment to a room with normal conditions. For both options, KVM extensions are a logical and effective solution.
Industrial extensions of the Adder X series differ from conventional ones due to the specific application. In addition to all the features of other extenders in this line, they have built-in protection against voltage drops. There is both protection against surges that significantly exceed the limits of 5V (the operating voltage of these devices), and smoothing of relatively small peaks, a kind of voltage shock absorber. For industrial systems, this is relevant both due to significant interference in the power supply chain, which inevitably occurs when powerful electrical equipment is operating, and interference in the signal transmission line. Not the least role here is played by the potential difference of the "earth" at the connection point of the console and the connection point of the computer.
An example of a ready-made system is an industrial touch-screen monitor that contains an Adderlink X2-DA-SILVER KVM extension cable in its case.
The KVM device is built into the stand and practically does not increase the size of the monitor.
Various KVM solutions based on Adder products are widely used in the mining, heavy, nuclear, food, engineering, and energy industries. For industrial solutions, an important addition to the standard set of monitors and input devices is the RS-232 port, which is the serial interface of this standard is widely used due to its reliability.
Medical
For medical systems that need to connect displays remotely, support for high-resolution graphics is key. Typical radiological, NMR, or other survey tasks are characterized by video modes with resolutions from 3 to 5 megapixels. Typically, high-definition graphics are output via a DVI video output, which is much more complex than VGA in terms of signal processing and transmission. So, the frequency must be at least 165 MHz, modern Adder solutions with DVI video path support a resolution of 1600x1200 at a refresh rate of 60 Hz, new developments will be compatible with FullHD mode, which is 1920x1080 at a frequency of 60 Hz. However, this is still less than the desired number of megapixels. The problem is solved by using monochrome images, as with traditional x-ray examinations, doctors work with a black-and-white image.
If the equipment has only DVI outputs, one Smartview Multiscreen DVI device is enough to connect the displays.
When the VGA output is used to display the patient's card and additional information, the KVM complex consists of two devices: Adderview GEM is paired with Smartview Multiscreen DVI, and both devices are synchronized via specialized ports.
Conclusions
Of course, this review does not cover the entire variety of applications of KVM switches and KVM extensions, but I think it can give you an idea of the capabilities of these technologies and a direction for your own thoughts. It is important that almost always, when it is necessary to physically separate the workplace from the computer, specially designed devices come to the rescue. In the case of Adder equipment, they are characterized by high reliability and performance. As usual, you have to pay for high quality and fault tolerance, but in most serious applications, these characteristics are the priority, and the cost of any alternative solutions is significantly higher than for mass-produced products such as Adder. As you know, the invention of the Bicycle is a thankless task, universal ready-made KVM modules remain the best choice.
Eugene Volnov
26/10.2010