Overview

HP Server Console Switches are key components for rack mount implementations (a console represents one keyboard, video monitor, and mouse (KVM) attached to a server). The family of HP Server Console Switches allows multiple servers in a rack to be accessed and managed by one keyboard, monitor, and mouse. By using a console, as many as 128 computers running different operating systems can be managed. The 16-port Server Console Switch features an On-Screen Display (OSD) interface, which has intuitive menus for accessing each attached computer. Servers can be identified by a user-defined name or sequentially by number, enabling easy access to connected servers.

HP Server Console Switches can be connected in a tiered fashion, to increase server access from eight servers to as many as 128 servers (256 servers if tiering to a HP IP Console Switch). Switching between computers is accomplished by typing a switching command at the keyboard, or by using the mouse to interact with the graphic interface of the selected computer via the OSD.
The HP Server Console Switch family of products is available in 8- and 16-Port versions. The 16-port Server Console Switch offers dual console support, allowing the flexibility of controlling switch configurations from more than one location, or by more than one user. Standard rack mounting of the HP Server Console Switch will take up 1U (1.75) of front panel rack space. However, the Switch can also be mounted in a "zero U" profile by mounting in the side rails of the rack, or behind the HP 1U Keyboard Drawer or the 1U TFT5600 Keyboard/monitor drawer.