Dlink DKVM-8E review

An 8-port KVM (keyboard, video and mouse) switch, the D-Link DKVM-8E is an affordable solution for companies looking to manage up to eight servers from a single console.

No software is required and multiple switches can be daisy-chained to control up to 64 servers if required.

The D-Link switch is a very compact device that ships with an external power supply, although it can also pick up its power from the server keyboard interfaces so this is only really needed when daisy-chaining.

Rack mounting brackets are also included, and a starter pack of three cables - one for daisy-chaining and the other two for server attachment.

Additional cables cost £12.75 (£10.85 ex VAT) and although there's only one length on offer (1.8m), that shouldn't be a problem with most rack-mount setups.

Likewise you can only get PS/2 connectors, but then most servers still come with PS/2 ports so that shouldn't be a problem either.

The cables are all attached at the rear with, on the front, a simple display to show the bank and port number being managed.

Buttons alongside allow for manual selection in addition to which you can use keyboard hot-keys or an on-screen display (OSD) to select the target servers.

The OSD menu is very straightforward, with the computer to be controlled selected from a list. A degree of customisation is also possible.

For example, we were able to give each port a user-friendly name and configure a password before the switch could be used.

Maximum supported screen resolution is 1,920 x 1,440, which is more than adequate for most servers, and you can hot-plug without the need to restart the switch or reset the mouse as on some other budget products we've used.

Moreover, performance is excellent with quick switching between different resolutions and refresh rates. Documentation is adequate and we encountered no problems at all using this very affordable yet workmanlike 8-port KVM product.

Like this story? Spread the news by clicking below:

 del.icio.us     Digg this     reddit!