* ATEN's KM0832 CAT5 Matrix switch
In the essential and never overlooked category of data center gear, comes the keyboard video mouse switch.
A lot of vendors make KVM switches – among them Avocent, Raritan and ATEN. Many are used in small server environments to control multiple servers. Others, like ATEN’s new KM0832 CAT5 Matrix switch, are designed for mid to large data center environments.
The CAT5 Matrix switch – part of ATEN’s ALTUSEN family of KVM switches – is a 32-port, 8-console switch that allows as many as eight concurrent administrators to access up to 32 attached servers. By daisy-chaining and cascading Matrix switches, administrators can control more than 8,000 computers.
The CAT5 Matrix switch features a detachable front pane, which lets users mount the switch near the back of the rack.
The switch is 1U high and features a Category 5 unshielded twisted pair (UTP) port that connects to the company’s CN5000 IP-based control unit. The control unit provides remote access to servers.
Other features of the CAT5 Matrix switch are support for PS2, USB, Sun and serial connections and three-level password security for super admins, admins and users. The switch can control servers up to 500 feet away.
The switch is expected to be available by the end of June, starting between $5,000 and $5,500.
