1U LCD/Keyboard/Trackpad Recommendation

[ericnix]

I'm looking for a recommendation for a 1U monitor/keyboard/trackpad combo (preferably a double slide, but not an absolute requirement) that has a switch and can connect to a pfSense router as well as a Mac mini (either HDMI or DVI, I can use an adapter). Not really concerned about screen size -- 17" would be ideal, but 15" will do.

 

[sfx2000]

Check eBay for Dell 1U KMM's - from Dell fresh, they're not cheap, but more that a few in the used market...

Might consider an older laptop however - run VNC on it and connect to the boxes from there - the pfSense machine, you're good with an ssh or serial terminal to the console..

 

[System Error Message]

it is possible to use an older laptop as part of a kvm but it is complicated which may require various devices for the display input (like a capture card) and an output for the keyboard and mouse (serial to usb?)

 

[sfx2000]

In-band - should always have at least SSH available if not a secure VNC connection.

Many rack-based servers also have ILOM/ALOM - basically a service processor that can be talked to via Telnet/SSH/VNC or a Web-Based applet

And then there's the console - the RS232 port, which again, in the rack, many servers will have the console port parked out towards the aisle side where it's accessible - and there - we have "crash carts" - which is typically an old laptop (think Dell 610 or similar Thinkpad) with a comm port and a cable if nothing else works...

We refused the KMM's - HP/Dell/IBM have them, as they're very expensive for what they do - nice to have one in a rack, that being said - and that's why I suggested eBay - as many data centers at the moment are in extreme turnover, so there's a lot of interesting gear out there...

(FWIW - one can get all Mr. Robot and use a RaspPI with a USB-Serial connector on one-side, and an ethernet connector on the other, just don't mess with the climate control and wreck the backups)