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Appendix D: FAQs
303
General Questions
What is the KX II?
The KX II is a second generation digital KVM (keyboard/video/ mouse)
switch that enables one, two, four or eight IT administrators to access
and control 8, 16, 32 or 64 servers over the network with BIOS-level
functionality. The KX II is completely hardware and operating system
independent. Users can troubleshoot and reconfigure servers even when
servers are down.
At the rack, the KX II provides the same functionality, convenience,
space savings, and cost savings as traditional KVM switches. However,
the KX II also integrates the industry's highest-performing KVM-over-IP
technology, allowing multiple administrators to access server KVM
consoles from any networked workstation.
How does the KX II differ from remote control software?
When using the KX II remotely, the interface, at first glance, may seem
similar to remote control software such as pcAnywhere
™
, Windows
Terminal Services/Remote Desktop
®
, VNC, and so forth. However,
because the KX II is not a software but a hardware solution, it's much
more powerful. Specifically:
OS- and hardware-independent - The KX II can be used to manage
servers running many popular operating systems, including Intel
®
,
Sun
™
, PowerPC running Windows
®
, Linux
®
, Solaris
™
, etc.
State-Independent/Agentless - The KX II does not require the
managed server's operating system to be up and running, nor does it
require any special software to be installed on the managed server.
Out-of-Band - Even if the managed server's own network connection
is unavailable, it can still be managed through the KX II.
BIOS-Level Access - Even if the server is hung at boot up, requires
booting to safe mode or requires system BIOS parameters to be
altered, the KX II still works flawlessly to enable these configurations
to be made.
How do the new features of the KX II compare to the KX I?
The KX II has many new and exciting features, including virtual media,
Absolute Mouse Synchronization
™
, dual power, dual gigabit Ethernet,
common web-based user interfaces, next generation local port, and
more.
How do I migrate from the Dominion KX I to KX II?
In general, customers can continue to use their existing switches for
many years. As their data centers expand, customers can purchase and
use the new KX II models. Raritan's centralized management unit,
CommandCenter Secure Gateway, and the Multi-Platform Client (MPC)
both support KX I and KX II switches seamlessly.