Make your own IP KVM?

[CoolRunnings]

I'm looking to see if there's any way to make one of these IP KVM devices relatively inexpensively...
http://www.realvnc.com/products/KVM-over-IP/

Anyone know if such a thing would be possible?

 

[deathwalker]

Man...for $20 why would you bother...but...I dont have a clue.

 

[Joemonkey]

Originally posted by: deathwalker
Man...for $20 why would you bother...but...I dont have a clue.

um... this link shows it at about $1000, where are you getting $20???

and it would be pretty sweet, but i have no idea how to build it.

 

[CoolRunnings]

$20??? Do share! Keyword here: IP... not just a normal KVM.

 

[JackMDS]

You can achieve the same with any Entry Level Wired (or Wireless Router).

The trick is the install the VNC on each computer and assign to VNC a different port on each computer.

By forwarding the port to the specific computer, the Router would know How to Route to the correct computer.

Specific instruction at the end of this page, http://www.ezlan.net/vnc.html

:sun:

 

[EatSpam]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
You can achieve the same with any Entry Level Wired (or Wireless Router).

The trick is the install the VNC on each computer and assign to VNC a different port on each computer.

By forwarding the port to the specific computer, the Router would know How to Route to the correct computer.

Specific instruction at the end of this page, http://www.ezlan.net/vnc.html

:sun:

That won't help if you need to remotely view the console, as in a machine not booting or hung up. Its too bad those IP-KVMs cost so much... remote console would be very useful.

 

[cmetz]

CoolRunnings, it is possible to build your own, just not for what it would cost to buy. If you're using a PC and Windows as a lights-out server, you need an IP KVM, and they cost $$.

 

[ssbpgsr]

http://www.opengear.com/product-okvmpci.html

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: EatSpam

Originally posted by: JackMDS
You can achieve the same with any Entry Level Wired (or Wireless Router).

The trick is the install the VNC on each computer and assign to VNC a different port on each computer.

By forwarding the port to the specific computer, the Router would know How to Route to the correct computer.

Specific instruction at the end of this page, http://www.ezlan.net/vnc.html

:sun:

That won't help if you need to remotely view the console, as in a machine not booting or hung up. Its too bad those IP-KVMs cost so much... remote console would be very useful.

so get a remote board and you're all set!

 

[EatSpam]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: EatSpam

Originally posted by: JackMDS
You can achieve the same with any Entry Level Wired (or Wireless Router).

The trick is the install the VNC on each computer and assign to VNC a different port on each computer.

By forwarding the port to the specific computer, the Router would know How to Route to the correct computer.

Specific instruction at the end of this page, http://www.ezlan.net/vnc.html

:sun:

That won't help if you need to remotely view the console, as in a machine not booting or hung up. Its too bad those IP-KVMs cost so much... remote console would be very useful.

so get a remote board and you're all set!

Any remote boards that aren't, for example, Dell or Compaq specific?

 

[JRock]

Just to throw some prices around...

We use a Raritan Dominion KX232.

(2) remote connections (32) servers = (232)

The device itself was $6000

Each DCIM for each machine connected to it was about $100

$6000 + (32 x 100) = $9200

That price includes a 3 year Warranty

 

[spidey07]

heh, true remote capability doesn't come cheap.

then again rolling a tech doesn't either.

worth their weight in gold IMHO.

 

[JRock]

Originally posted by: spidey07
heh, true remote capability doesn't come cheap.

then again rolling a tech doesn't either.

worth their weight in gold IMHO.

I less time I need to spend in the office or driving to the office for that matter the happier I am. Remote management makes my life 1000x easier. We have 1 central office 8 remote site and 4 other offices outside our company we support. All work on every device, server, pc, switch, router, printer, pbx, etc and be done from the chair I am sitting in as I type this.

:beer:

 

[CoolRunnings]

Originally posted by: ssbpgsr
http://www.opengear.com/product-okvmpci.html

Now that looks like what I'm looking for... All I need is the ability then to remote into that one machine and have it hooked up as the "console" connected to an 8port KVM and I'm set... Now to see if that PCI card is for sale yet...!!!

 

[cmetz]

Remote management = AS2511-RJ

Does anyone else feel that IP KVMs are a very expensive band aid for PCs not doing remote managment right in the first place?

 

[CoolRunnings]

Expensive yes. Bandaid? Not really... Having a central way to control all the machines regardless of OS other other considerations is a big plus. If left to each PC manufacturer, it'd be a nightmare of conflicting standards.

 

[cmetz]

CoolRunnings, in the UNIX world, we have serial consoles. On everything. RS-232. ANSI/EIA standardized. Very simple. Works really well from remote.

My point is that the PC world (hardware vendors + OS vendor "M") have a long long way to go in remote management, and that's why we have to ship a virtual keyboard and video display across a WAN to remotely manage PC servers effectively.

Various PC vendors and third-party products have attempted to do serial management, but they all are so-so solutions. Part of the problem is that there are several different parties to the problem, all of whom don't really understand. If Intel + Dell + Microsoft put their minds to it and bought a few Netras to reverse engineer, they could make this work.

(I use Sun as an example partly in jest, since for many years they had problems with serial consoles, but eventually during the Internet bubble they realized how much money there was in just having boxes that were really remotely manageable... so they learned right quick).

 

[CoolRunnings]

Yes, I see where you are coming from there... I guess I'm just not even thinking about servers but rather home PCs. I repair Windows-based machines for a living and being able to run remote installs and check on virus scans, etc. would be a God-send right now.

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: CoolRunningsWould be a God-send right now.

Well, combine the content of these two links and leave God free fro more important missions.

Link to: How to connect to a Computer/Server through the Internet?

Free Fast and Easy Remote Control, and File Transfer.
Link to: Ultr@VNC - Installation, and Settings

:sun:

 

[CoolRunnings]

Monitoring Windows installs remotely can't be done without an IP KVM or some such similar device.... Things like that are the whole point of having an IP KVM for me.

 

[phisrow]

http://www.realweasel.com/ + machine with serial ports(or modem if you are feeling seriously old school). But no, you aren't going to get away cheaply from this sort of request.

 

[CoolRunnings]

Ouch... I'm starting to think the OpenKVM idea is going to be about the only cheap solution here... I was hoping for a ballpark of around $300-$350.