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#4246

2004 IDC

! Dominion  KSX is an integrated KVM-over-IP and serial-over-IP appliance

designed to manage the variety of equipment that is typically found in the server

closets of remote offices and branch offices. It provides all the features

necessary for managing both Windows-based servers and serially controlled

devices in a single, self-contained appliance via a Web browser.

 

P a r a g o n I I

Paragon II, Raritan's analog KVM switch, is modular in design and can be expanded

as the IT infrastructure grows. The Paragon product family has been in the field for

over four years, controlling more than one million servers.

Raritan has a full complement of KVM equipment. With the introduction of

CommandCenter, analog and digital KVM-over-IP solutions provide a high degree of

management control both locally and remotely. Raritan's products can grow as the

server infrastructure expands, and the equipment is both forward- and backward-

compatible, a benefit not available from all KVM vendors.

CH AL L E N G E S

When combined with management hardware and software, KVM and serial console

technology can improve system reliability, manageability, and security, resulting in lower

TCO and less downtime. It is critical that KVM and serial console equipment be part of any

initial design and upgrade plans for networked devices, including client devices and

servers. CIOs must be part of the system design process from the outset so that the

resulting solution is successful. KVM and management hardware should be considered to

be an integral part of the IT infrastructure rather than a nice-to-have add-on technology.

The challenge for KVM manufacturers and suppliers is to educate the marketplace,

communicating with IT executives and CIOs about the long-term benefits of a

complete KVM solution. IT administrators are often more concerned about short-term

solutions, whereas CIOs tend to be concerned with long-term IT planning issues.

KVM equipment has become more sophisticated over the past five years and

provides much more capability than it did in the early phases of its evolution. The

challenge for KVM players is to raise product awareness and to show the benefits of

a KVM solution to CIOs through a cost-benefit analysis.

KVM solution technology has changed over the past few years. Some vendors now

offer KVM-like solutions that are embedded into the motherboard. Vendors with these

offerings could be a threat to traditional KVM players. The challenge for Raritan is to

stay ahead of the technology curve. The company needs to expand its product

offerings through acquisitions. Raritan's acquisition of Peppercon AG portends an

expansion of Raritan's OEM channel and new embedded remote management

systems and subsystems. Competitors such as Avocent have taken the acquisition

approach and been quite successful. The KVM landscape is evolving, and Raritan

must evolve with it. Although Raritan is on the right path for continued success, it

must look outside the KVM-only solution and evolve with the computer marketplace.