This example of a successful case will provide you with an explanation of centralized control. Through the use the high-grade Altusen Matrix KVM switches, standard 8 Port KVM switches and related KVM modules, all KVM related products are inter-connected to create the infrastructure for a super large server room.

I. Analysis of Requirements

The key issues in designing the infrastructure for the large server room of a certain major corporation in Hunan China were to consolidate the company's massive number of servers into one facility and create a centralized network monitoring and control center. The control consoles were located completely outside the server room to avoid the chaos of haphazard cabling within the server room. This also reduced the volume of access to the server room, maintaining equipment and data security. There were a total of 360 servers within the server room located in 3 different locations. There were 9 control consoles for 9 network administrators to perform their monitoring operations. 6 of the network administrators were responsible for managing the IDC server room, while the remaining 3 operated the development server room.

1. IDC Server Room: 304 servers
2. Development Server Room: 56 servers
3. Network Operation Center: 9 control consoles

II. Products

Below are the ATEN KVM switch related products;

1. ALTUSEN KM0432 Matrix KVM Switch

2. CS-9138 8 Port KVM Switch

3. KVM Computer-side Module
• KA9120(PS/2 Interface)

4. KVM Console-side Module
• KA9222(PS/2 Interface)
• KA9272(USB interface)

5. Selective Usage: Remote Server Room Control Device CN-6000 KVM on the NET

III. System Description

IDC Server Room Setup:

This particular corporation had 304 servers in their IDC server room. The first 38 CS-9138 units were installed within the server room, with each CS-9138 connected to 8 servers. Through the computer-side module KA9120 and CAT5 network cabling, each CS-9138 is linked to a KM0432 (each KM0432 can link to 32 CS-9138 units). This completed the IDC server room setup.

In the Network Operation Center, how do 6 network administrators control the servers inside the IDC server room? First, the network administrators' monitors, keyboards and mice were connected to the console-side module (KA9222, KA9272). CAT5 network cable was then used to link the KA9222/KA9272 consoles to the KM0432 units inside the server room. This enabled the network administrators within the Network Operation Center to connect through the KM0432 to the CS-9138, allowing them to control each of the 304 servers in the server room.

The setup used for the development server room was similar to the IDC setup. 56 servers were connected to 7 CS-9138 units, and these in turn used computer-side modules KA9120 and CAT5 networking cable to link up the CS-9138 and the KM0432. The other 3 network administrators in the Network Operation Center also used the console stations (KA9222/KA9272) and CAT5 networking cable to facilitate the control of servers within the development server room.

Once the setup of each of the above server rooms was completed, these gave the 9 network administrators in the Network Operation Center the ability to control each and every one of their servers within the IDC and development server rooms. The problem of distance between the two server rooms and the Network Operation Center was also taken into consideration as well. By using console-side/computer-side modules and CAT5 network cables, the distance between the Network Operation Center control consoles and the KVM switches in the server rooms could be extended to 150 meters, simplifying space planning. An additional benefit was that no matter how long the cabling distance was, the same DIP configuration could be retained. Recently the network administrators have even begun using the remote server room control device CN-6000 to manage the servers within the server room over the LAN/WAN/Internet.

IV. System Advantages

1. Centralized control, establishing good order and efficiency:
In this project the control of the IDC server room, development server room and Network Operation Center were centralized and independently managed, making the status of all servers obvious at a glance. Network administrators no longer needed to sort through a disorganized server room to find a malfunctioning server. The connections between all the servers, KVM switches and control consoles are now plain to see, making it easier and faster to troubleshoot issues.

2. Effectively reduce costs:
The organized layout allowed maximum utilization of server racks, peripheral equipment and building volume, with a particularly noticeable effect on costs; with the computer-side/console-side modules and CAT5 network cables, the distance between each component in the overall system could be extended up to 150 meters, simplifying space layout and hardware management.

3. Improved system security:
All control consoles are protected by a three-level password control scheme -- these being the Super Administrator, Administrator and User. All network administrators log into the servers through the Network Operation Center, reducing the number of people going in and out of the server room. There was no need to access the servers from another location or through other control consoles either, improving the security of the system.

4. Excellent expandability:
For the KVM switches currently in use, the KM0432 still has leftover computer-side connection ports and console-side connection ports. These connection ports are available for additional servers and control consoles in the future. Even if a several hundred servers are added as long as the proper KVM switches are installed there is no need to modify the basic connection scheme between the servers and consoles outlined above. This avoids unnecessary replacement of hardware due to server room expansion.