KVM Sharing over CAT5 cables?

[Kelemvor]

Normally with KVM switches and stuff you just have the big cable that combines a video, mouse, and keyboard cable all molded together. But I know that there are also KVM systems that use CAT5 cable instead.

Cat5 is much cheaper and easier to run so I'm wonderign if anyone has used one of these things before and how it worked.

We're rearranging our stuff at home and I might have all the computer in one spot and just use that type of system to get over to my desk to control them.

I'm not sure how expensive they are or anythign else so any general info would be great.

And on a side note, is KV Ma brand name or just the technology for sharing. I guess if it's a brand name I don't need KVM, just need to be able to share one keyboard with a couple computers.

Thanks.

 

[GrammatonJP]

Depending on what model you get. Mine has a hard console into the kvm + a remote IP kvm. Remote IP kvm needs to use a special console software or a web browser interface. I use avocent..

Cheapest 1 port ip kvm i found was around 300.. I got a 16 port one for 700 on ebay.. each of the pc needs these special ip interface, they're around 30 bucks each.

Regular kvm degrades with length.. these cat5 ones I been using, I had one over about 60 ft away w/o problem.

 

[Kelemvor]

Well. That sounds a bit expensive just to use at home so I'll probably forego that. But we are looking for someting similar at work. That would be for switching but just for reomote access to a single PC from a keyboard/mouse/monitor at a different location that's pretty far away.

hmmm.

 

[GrammatonJP]

for 1 pc not for servers ? pretty expensive..

http://www.avocent.com/web/en.nsf/Content/DSRSummary

thats the one i use for my servers...

 

[Kelemvor]

Yeah. This is jsut one PC that is in a remote location in our building that needs to be controlled from a different area. I think we need a KVM Extender basically.