I've been looking for something like this for a while, and yesterday I discovered tons of used enterprise-grade KVM-over-IP switches and related gear for sale relatively cheap on ebay. Most of it is used Avocent hardware that is 10 years old, give or take. I do not know much about it since I had not heard of this brand before yesterday. Does anyone here have experience with this brand?
After a little research I settled on an Avocent DSR1031 switch, which has 8 KVM ports and may be a bit newer than most of the 4 and 16 port models in the same price range. It is still ancient compared to all my other computers and related gear, but I could find nothing newer for anywhere near the same price. I skipped the cheapest listings that were in all-caps, screaming at me that they did nothing more than a basic power-on test, and bought a $140 listing that gave me more confidence. I also found a bundle of 7 compatible USB/VGA adapters for another $140. Lastly, I ran out of web power switch ports in my 'server room' a while ago so I threw in another one of those, also for $140. All together this should give me remote access to the keyboard/mouse/monitor of up to 7 computers. I have 4 computers I'd like to hook up to it already, so if it works as advertised it will be money well spent.
I'll report back in a week or two when this stuff all arrives, but in the meantime I am curious if anyone else around here has experience with it.
After a little research I settled on an Avocent DSR1031 switch, which has 8 KVM ports and may be a bit newer than most of the 4 and 16 port models in the same price range. It is still ancient compared to all my other computers and related gear, but I could find nothing newer for anywhere near the same price. I skipped the cheapest listings that were in all-caps, screaming at me that they did nothing more than a basic power-on test, and bought a $140 listing that gave me more confidence. I also found a bundle of 7 compatible USB/VGA adapters for another $140. Lastly, I ran out of web power switch ports in my 'server room' a while ago so I threw in another one of those, also for $140. All together this should give me remote access to the keyboard/mouse/monitor of up to 7 computers. I have 4 computers I'd like to hook up to it already, so if it works as advertised it will be money well spent.
I'll report back in a week or two when this stuff all arrives, but in the meantime I am curious if anyone else around here has experience with it.