KVM Switching vs. Hardware Virtualisation

KVM Switching vs. Remote Desktop Software Solutions: Which Should You Choose?

When it comes to remote server management, many organizations have to choose between physical KVM switching and extension and software-based remote desktop solutions to access and control their assets. While remote desktop software offers a few advantages in terms of cost, it falls short of delivering a reliable, secure and high-performance solution. For organisations who must keep critical services up and running at all times—and who might have hundreds or thousands of servers—physical KVM extenders and switches are often the superior option.

Remote Desktop Software Solutions

Remote desktop software solutions are designed to provide remote computer access. Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) and Virtual Network Computing (VNC) are two popular examples of these types of solutions. They offer a few benefits: no cost to acquire, no hardware to install, no cables to connect and no power supply needed. There are several downsides, however.

Remote desktop software must be installed on each computer that needs to be accessed. It requires a compatible operating system and production network to run, and it will compete for system resources—potentially impacting your productivity. Additionally, remote desktop software lacks BIOS-level access. If your server’s operating system or network is down, you will lose access including the ability to troubleshoot and boot remotely. Other downsides include loss of video quality due to compression, a lag in performance, slow switching speed, lack of support for multiple computers and no available redundancy.

A major weakness of remote desktop software solutions is their security. Software authentication methods are vulnerable to hackers. A breach anywhere in the system can provide access to your entire network and all of your data.

KVM Extension

A potential disadvantage of physical KVM extenders is initial equipment costs. However, these costs can be quickly offset in added efficiency, reliability and security.

Each KVM extender combined with a (KVM-) switch can support up to hundreds of servers and be configured through a centralised network management solution—simplifying configuration and management compared to remote desktop software and saving you time and money. KVM switches and extenders are universally compatible with any operating system. They are suitable for high-bandwidth applications such as HD broadcast, graphics software, CAD and process control. Because KVM switches and extenders don’t require any additional software or drivers, there is no loss of resources and productivity due to competition between applications. KVM-over-IP technology also offers BIOS-level access, so you can boot and troubleshoot remotely. In case of the Black Box Emerald®, it also allows you to manage virtual servers with the same desktop experience as you would expect from a physical PC connection.

With KVM extension and switching solutions, you also get enhanced performance in terms of speed, video quality and ability to control multiple screens. From a security standpoint, a KVM solution does not use a production network and it operates independently of a computer’s operating system, resulting in a smaller security risk. Even the latest KVM-over-IP solutions work “out of band”, meaning the risk of a potential security breach is minimal. Furthermore, the communication between a server/PC and a user station is encrypted for additional security.

The ability to securely access and monitor your network and maintain performance is critical. While software-based remote desktop solutions offer some cost savings up front, these are quickly offset by the advantages of physical KVM equipment.

Key Benefits Of Using KVM Extension And Switching

• Managing Servers "At The Edge Of The Network" Without Hogging Bandwidth
  KVM over IP extenders and switches act as the perfect choice for remote access to physical or virtualised CPUs for real-time applications. This is achieved by only using as much of the available network bandwidth as necessary to get optimal data quality, although typically the transmitter will use considerably less than the maximum available. This is particularly useful for users who are required to deliver 24/7 uptime and real-time access to mission-critical servers 365 days a year.
• Remote Network Access & Troubleshooting
  By addressing network issues from a remote location, you can simply manage issues from your desk, or even save yourself the hassle of traveling to a site in the middle of the night. Use a browser-based connection, even a cell phone or PDA, to reboot or administer a roomful of servers remotely — a real convenience.
• Network Access Control
  KVM over IP extension grants authorised access to specific users to any server simultaneously.
• Global Centralised KVM Management
  KVM over IP in conjunction with a centralised KVM network manager, such as Black Box’s Boxilla, allows for global centralised KVM management. This ultimately helps with consolidating server access and device management via locally or remotely connected KVMoIP devices. This management platform allows interconnecting KVM solutions and accessing them via IP, which makes transitioning to IP based systems less expensive and easier to implement. All of this hardware is then united under a single “umbrella” providing global, yet fully secure, out-of-band control.
• Point-To-Point Signal Extension Over IP
  Enabling users to simultaneously access different computers and virtual machines over the Internet with low latency without sacrificing performance.

Contact Black Box to learn more about our full range of KVM Switching and Extension solutions, including Emerald IP KVM for virtual machines, and Boxilla, an KVM system manager that lets you efficiently monitor and manage your KVM network from anywhere.