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Are there any KVM's that aren't terrible? (lemmy.today)

submitted 2 days ago by CaptSpify@lemmy.today to c/linux@linux.community

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We've tried ~4 web-interface KVM's, and they are all terrible. The interfaces are all buggy and slow. Frequent disconnects, constantly require reboots, etc.

Has anyone used KVM's that are worthwhile?

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[–] sloppy_diffuser@sh.itjust.works 4 points 2 days ago (3 children)

I assume you mean Keyboard Video Mouse (KVM) Switch and not Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM)?

I just use SSH...

Our sysadmin swears by Dell's iDRAC, which I don't think is technically a KVM and may only work for Dell PowerEdge Servers. I think I used it once to get into the BIOS remotely.

Most data centers I've been in have a floating monitor and peripherals.

I've used Tripp-Lite terminal servers, who sells KVMs, but I cannot comment if they are any good.

[–] CaptSpify@lemmy.today 2 points 2 days ago

Yeah, SSH is definitly our goto, but we also need to be able to mess with BIOS, and other pre-OS stuff remotely from time to time. Thanks for the link, I'll check it out.

[–] lud@lemm.ee 4 points 2 days ago

Dell DRAC similar systems like HPE ILO and IPMI are so called light out management or out of band management tools. They are used to administer servers even when the host OS is broken, non existent or shutdown. Most have a KVM functionality. They can also be used for a bunch or other stuff like alerting, setting up hardware raid, changing bios settings, automatically updating firmware, logging of various telemetry,

It's a very, very useful tool but it's not really meant to be used as a daily replacement to SSH, RDP, or similar tools.

And yeah while monitor and keyboard carts (aka crash carts) are common in data centers. They are very undesirable compared to lights out management, since you have to be physically on location in a very noisy and frankly hostile environment to use it.

[–] ExtremeDullard@lemmy.sdf.org 4 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Dell’s iDRAC, which I don’t think is technically a KVM

I used Dell iDRAC for years in a previous job and it's great. It's basically Dell's implementation of IPMI.

It totally is a KVM: it's literally a small separate computer sitting inside the server. It even has its own NIC. But it does a lot of other things because it's more tightly integrated with the main system than a KVM is.