Avocent's DSR1021 KVM switch is specifically designed for IT administrators who need to easily troubleshoot, reboot or even power cycle servers or serial devices in branch offices, avoiding the need for costly on-site service calls. The 8-port DSR1021 KVM expands Avocent's DS Series patented KVM-over-IP technology by including external modem support, so IT administrators can now manage remote devices if the network is down. Along with the bundled DS3View software, the package is a powerful combination, effectively granting IT personnel access to remote sites from any where in the world. Granted, the unit is relatively expensive, but the cost is minor compared to the savings you will make from less travel and more uptime for servers and network-attached devices.

Pros: Advanced remote support features; good software; cable efficient
Cons: Tad pricey; suitable for large corporate or multi-user sites only


There have been several technologies creeping up the IT ladder over the last few years, the biggest being remote support and centralised management of servers. The benefits of remote support speak for itself. Imagine having a company with five sites and each site was 20 miles from each other; without remote support you would have to travel between sites, which from a business point of view costs money and from an IT point is painfully inefficient and demoralising - especially if you simply need to travel to a site to fix a basic fault.

KVM is an acronym for Keyboard, Video and Mouse. In its simplest form the device allows one computer console to switch between servers and control their features using one keyboard, one display (video) and one mouse. Technically it does this by compressing and encrypting the input signals and then sending these to the central unit which has the physical keyboard, video and mouse attached.

There are several types of KVM devices. A single-user KVM is typically aimed at small companies and individuals and allows a single person to access as many computers as possible from a single console, and a multi-user KVM allows multiple people to access as many computers as they need from multiple consoles. Older analogue KVMs operate by having direct cables connected to the KVM switch to the console, which are typically CAT5 or Coax cables to enable users on the LAN to access the device.

Avocent's DSR1021 KVM rack-mountable switch (445x431x279mm, 3.6kg) is an 8-port configurable digital KVM, also known as KVM-over-IP. It allows centralised control of servers and enables IT managers to facilitate operations, activation and maintenance of remote offices. In simple terms, it allows you grant an IT professional a control centre from which to support your company's servers internally and externally, either via a cable connected to the switch via an analogue LAN or remotely via IP (router/dial-up modem).

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