The KVM line of devices from IOGEAR allow administrators to share a single Keyboard/Video/Mouse console among multiple machines. The IOGEAR line offers support for the sharing of multiple types of computers--including Windows, Mac, Sun, and Linux--and additionally allows for the sharing of audio (speakers/microphone) and USB peripheral devices.

Features noted by the vendor include:

- Support for the special keys on both Mac and Sun keyboards

- Support for video resolution of up to 3840 x 2400

- "Autoscan" capabilities, allowing you to monitor each machine for a specific amount of time

- Menu driven interface allowing for the access of target computers via an administrator-defined name. Target machines can also be selected via front panel switches or hot keys

- On screen display protected via passwords

- Both console and computer devices are hot swappable

- Firmware upgradeable through flash ROM

The device range is available in 2, 4, or 8 port versions; with separate entries supporting PS/2, USB, or dual (both USB and PS/2 supported on the same device) keyboard/mouse connections. All can be utilized on the desktop; the 8 port offerings are also rack-mountable (1U). The vendor notes that with the 8 port switches, total capacity can be expanded for control of up to 512 computers (via 3 levels of cascading).

Later entries in the IOGEAR KVM line feature support for DVI Video connections and "independent switching" support allowing for the switching from one machine to another without interrupting the audio and peripherals plugged into the USB ports (a print job to a shared printer, for example, could be initiated on one machine, with control then transfered to a different machine before the print job was finished). The newest entries, in particular, include the GCS1802 (2 port) and GCS1804 (4 port), both with support for 2.1 stereo sound; and the GCS1204 (4 port) additionally ratchets up the video support to 3840 x 2400 resolutions.

The new switches are available with base prices of $199.95 (GCS1802), $299.95 (GCS1804), and $499.95 (GCS1804).

Note that not all features described above may be available in all IOGEAR KVM switches. Visit the IOGEAR Web site for further information.

product submission by EITPlanet Staff

E-Mail this page to a colleague
send info about IOGEAR KVM

Suggest a link
for the IOGEAR KVM fact sheet