KVM Switch

[farquea]

We have a Dell PowerEdge 180AS KVM Console Switch which appears to be faulty and out of warranty so i am looking for a replacement. I have prices for another Dell 180AS but wondered if anyone could recommend alternative brands that they are using?

 

It would need 8 ethernet ports to connect the servers and to be able to fit into a Rack.

 

any suggestions?

[webman]

We've got an AdderView IP KVM which allows IP access over VNC, and bought ours from KVM Switch Direct about 2 years ago.

 

The only thing to mention really is the modules you need for each server you want to connect are about £40/£45 (Cat5 <-> VGA + PS/2 or USB). A bit more costly maybe, but gives the flexibility of connecting servers that are up to 100m away and over thinner cables than traditional KVM ones.

[SpuffMonkey]

We use Startech - always found them very reliable.

[IanT]

I got one of these last year: Belkin OmniView® SMB 1x16 KVM-over-IP Switch

 

Not really a Belkin fan but does the job very well!

[Duke]

We have a Dell PowerEdge 180AS KVM Console Switch which appears to be faulty and out of warranty so i am looking for a replacement.

 

How far out of warranty? Dell should be able to extend the warranty for you and then replace the device under warranty, however you will be expect to pay for the warranty extension since the original warranty expired rather than from the renew date. This doesn't sound that cost effective but it can work out significantly cheaper than buying new kit if you're otherwise happy with the Dell hardware - I've done something similar with our Dell 16-port KVM which failed.

 

If your reseller can't find a way to extend the warranty then PM me as our could after some messing around with Dell.

 

Chris

[farquea]

well i reckon i'd be looking at around £500 for a replacement so if the warranty extension would be less than that then it might be a good idea.

 

The problem is i dont know exactly who we bought it off, all the server equipment was bought before i worked here and was purchased by Ramesys who were in charge of the I.T at the time and in the past ive tried to track down where we bought stuff from that they purchased on our behalf, but got no where with them , and that was when they were still here (they were told to get lost a few months ago) so that isnt the most tasty of prospects.

[john]

If its Dell, they have very good records on machines details, it maybe slightly out from when you actually got it, but I wouldn't expect it to be be more than say 4 months or so. Maybe worth a call to Dell?

[Duke]

I can't find the quote for the KVM renewal but it originally expired in 2009 and we definitely got it replaced late last year under warranty so it was extended at some point. I've got quotes for 2 year server warranty renewals at about £300 so a KVM should be significantly cheaper. Bear in mind if it had been out of warranty for 18 months and you got a 2 year warranty, they'd replace it but you'd only have another 6 months of that warranty left.

 

I hear lots of horror stories about dealing directly with Dell and some of their resellers, but we use CCS Media and they are absolutely excellent - others here will agree. I'll PM you some contact details and if you provide them the service tag on the KVM they should be able to get the ball rolling. Bear in mind Dell do occasionally 'lose' service tags in their database which will complicate matters...

 

Chris

[luecjennifer]

The one I bought was from smartvm.co.uk, the product is quiet genuine and fairly priced. What really matters is that it should not slow the switching process and definitely not get stuck while working, which is usually common with kvm switches.