Simultaneous support for analog VGA and digital DVI, HDMI, and DisplayPort video interfaces helps manage wider range of IT equipment
Raritan today announced that its Dominion® KX II KVM-over-IP switches are the first to support multiple video interface standards simultaneously; enabling IT administrators to access and control an even wider range of servers, PCs, workstations, video cards, and other devices in data centers, labs and branch offices.
Unlike other enterprise KVM-over-IP switches that only support analog VGA-video, the Dominion KX II supports both analog (VGA) and digital video (DVI, HDMI, and DisplayPort) through a single KVM-over-IP switch. Supporting multiple video interfaces will become increasingly important as the industry moves away from VGA towards new digital video interfaces. Major manufacturers -- such as Intel, AMD, Dell, Lenovo and Apple -- are expected to begin phasing out support for VGA and DVI-I, and replacing them with newer technologies, such as DisplayPort and HDMI.
Along with today's introduction of the Dominion KX II Release 2.5, new CIMs (Computer Interface Modules) -- which connect servers' keyboard, video and mouse ports to a Dominion KX II switch -- were introduced for DVI, HDMI, and DisplayPort video technologies. Raritan's Dominion KX II solution eliminates the need for expensive and, sometimes unreliable, digital-to-analog adapters needed in competitive KVM switches. Moreover, Raritan's solution eliminates the cost of cabling and power required with adapters.
"Our customers now have the flexibility of managing from one console all their servers and devices, whether they have DVI, HDMI or DisplayPort video interfaces; and, without the expense or encumbrance of digital-to-analog adapters," said Richard Dominach, Senior Product Manager at Raritan. "The enterprise-class Dominion KX II continues to set the bar high for simplifying the management of heterogeneous IT infrastructures and in protecting equipment investments."
The new CIMs can be used with existing Dominion KX II models and with Raritan's CommandCenter® Secure Gateway appliance. All that is required is a firmware upgrade.
Release 2.5 of Dominion KX II also provides support for servers with Dual Video Cards. This is important for applications that require the use of an extended remote desktop via dual monitors.