ATEN Launches First KVM Switch with IPMI-Enabled Function in the World

ATEN International, leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of advanced connectivity solutions, launches the KH98 of its ALTUSEN™ product line. The 8-Port Health Manager KVM Switch is the market’s first KVM solution to provide IPMI 2.0 (Intelligent Platform Management Interface) functionality. The KH98 allows users to access up to eight directly connected severs, monitor IPMI-enabled hardware on health-related factors such as CPU temperature, voltage, fan speed etc., and remotely maintain the server infrastructure including system reset and power on/off.

KH98 is designed for administrators who need to remotely monitor and manage IPMI-enabled servers and their health status. The KVM switch not only allows users to control up to eight servers from a single PS/2 console (keyboard, video, mouse), but also is extremely expandable as it supports 3-level cascade installations with up to 72 additional KH98 units for controlling and monitoring up to 512 servers. Along with multiple server access, KH98 offers IPMI 2.0 server health monitoring from one workplace via IPMI over LAN.

“With IDC analysts forecasting that the number of servers worldwide will jump by nearly 50% in the next years – from 24 million in 2006 to 35 million in 2010, and stating that a rapidly growing percentage will feature the IPMI standard, products which streamline and enable remote management will be essential for system administrators,” says Kevin Chen, President of ATEN International. “With KH98 we expanded our enterprise-class ALTUSEN™ product line with a professional, future-proved centralized server management solution to meet these challenges.”

With the integrated IPMI technology – the server industry’s standard for troubleshooting and failure prevention – KH98 monitors health-related factors of the connected IPMI enabled servers including CPU temperature, voltage, fan speed, etc. More importantly, KH98 provides maintenance tools such as system reset and power On/Off for IPMI servers. Furthermore, ATEN’s product novelty features the KVM PET (Platform Event Trap) auto switch function. When receiving a PET alert from a problem IPMI server, KH98 will switch to the alert-sending server and display the information, thus providing advanced warning of possible system failures.

For an easy-to-handle and secure centralized server management, KH98 features administrator and user password authorization, and Auto Scan Mode for monitoring user-selected servers. The users can conveniently select desired servers for management via front panel switches, Hotkeys and intuitive OSD (On Screen Display) menus which do not require any additional software installation. The switch is hot-pluggable for adding or removing servers without having to power down the switch, and provides PS/2 mouse emulation for system bootup. KH98 supports an excellent video quality of up to 1920x1440 pixel at 60Hz, DDC, DDC2 and DDC2B.

ATEN’s KH98, the 8-Port Health Manager KVM Switch, is available now. The recommended retail price for this device is £234.10, not including VAT. For more information please contact your local ATEN sales representatives or distributors.