Chapter 1
Introduction
Overview
The KM0832 Matrix KVM Switch gives IT administrators advanced control of multiple computers. Operators working at up to 8 keyboard, monitor, mouse (KVM) consoles can independently and simultaneously take direct control of up to 32 computers. Using ATEN advanced video routing technology, users can separately access up to 8,000 KVM ports in cascaded KM0832 at the same time.
The 8 KVM consoles belonging to the first-level KM0832 are able to access all the computers on the installation—those that are directly connected as well as those that are daisy chained and cascaded. The 4 or 2 KVM consoles belonging to each daisy-chained KM0432 or KM0216 Matrix KVM Switch can access the computers that are connected to them on the same daisy-chain level.
The KM0832 allows both PS/2 and USB KVM consoles to control PS/2, USB, Sun, Mac, and serial computers. The KM0832 uses Cat 5 cables to send and receive signals up to 300 meters between console modules and KVM adapter cables (CPU modules), while Auto Signal Compensation (ASC) helps maintain high video resolution. In addition, use of RJ-45 connectors saves precious IT real estate by allowing a full 8 user ports and 32 KVM ports to reside in a single 1U housing.
Setup is fast and easy—plugging cables into their appropriate ports is all that is entailed. Because the KM0832 intercepts keyboard and mouse input directly, there is no software to configure, so there is no need to get involved in complex installation routines or be concerned with incompatibility problems.
The Web-based KM0832 Administrator Utility allows users to configure the KVM installation, account settings, and user access from anywhere, anytime. Access to any computer is easily accomplished either by means of a powerful menu-driven On Screen Display (OSD) system, or by entering Hotkey combinations from the keyboard. A convenient Auto Scan feature also permits automatic scanning and monitoring of the activities of all computers running on the installation one-by-one.