By itself, Raritan Computer's Paragon is an excellent KVM switch with impressive features. With the company's TeleReach network control platform, Paragon provides a solid solution for local and network switch control.

Paragon scores big with its easy setup and impressive use of Category 5 cabling, which lets it stretch the KVM-to-server distance and user-to-KVM distance to a 1,000-foot combined length. More components are involved to achieve the longer, non-networked distances, however. Aside from potentially being additional points of failure, the pieces are well-designed, with modular connections. Paragon comprises the Matrix Switching Unit (UMT8), up to eight user stations (UST1) and a maximum of 32 CIMs (computer interface modules). Because of the incredible out-of-the-box flexibility provided by the combination of Paragon's user and server ports, we were hard-pressed to find realistic limitations to the system configuration. We appreciated the ability to instantly -- and drastically -- reduce the bulky cable array that typically underpins a busy server room.

Connectivity begins at the server, with a CIM module providing a Cat 5 RJ-45 to a standard KVM connector conversion. Working back, Cat 5 wiring extends up to its maximum length (using in-place horizontal cable if available) and plugs into the UMT8. User mouse, keyboard and monitor connect to the UMT8 through the user station module and connected Cat 5 wiring to complete the user-to-server connection. The possible 1,000-foot range lets those environments that need long-range KVM connectivity set up racks and cabinets over a large physical area, without performance degradation and expensive third-party add-on components. By comparison, the Rose UltraMatrix and Rackit Paradigm switches rely on external "accessory" boxes to meet extended-range direct connections, and performance suffers in both cases as a result.

We first tested the Paragon's functionality as a local system. But after assembling Raritan's very slick modular components, we hit a small pothole at system start-up. With the user station connected to a Sony Trinitron monitor, we could not see any servers, despite the on-screen display telling us they were present. Moving the video connection to an upper-end NEC LCD monitor brought no change. Raritan sent us a new UMT8, but the "bad" unit came to life on other monitors, including a no-frills, older Samsung SyncMaster. After verifying the original combinations still wouldn't work and trying an adjustment or two suggested by tech support, we shrugged, substituted the new UMT8 and pressed on.

The Paragon features Raritan's On-Screen User Interface (OSUI), which was a breeze to work with. A well-thought-out combination of colors indicating different statuses for channels and users makes for easy recognition of system goings-on. We configured user profiles and groups of servers with combinations of the switch's three security levels. The system can be per-user password-protected or provisioned for multiple groups of servers and users to be flexibly restricted. In addition, individual users can be granted or denied administrative rights to the switch.

During our tests, we successfully set different server groupings, associated names and other typical information with little difficulty. Hot-key interaction proved simple and effective, and contributed to Raritan's having one of the best "feels" of the traditional-type KVM interfaces we tested.

The CIMs were flawless at providing keep-alive signaling when the Cat 5 connection was interrupted, and the indicators and soft keys on the UMT8 were effective for local control. The maximum 1,600x1,200 video resolution was no trouble for the Paragon, even at hundreds of feet between server and switch. There were a couple of occasions when we needed to take direct control of the PC to reset the scan rate, but they were usually during nontypical use when we were trying to induce malfunction.

Raritan's TeleReach unit is the Windows 2000-based interface that provides network and serial control to the Paragon. Rack-mountable and computer-based, the unit was a snap to set up. TeleReach differs from Avocent's DS1800 in that only a single user can connect through TeleReach at any given time, while the DS1800 allows virtually unlimited users to access it over the network simultaneously. TeleReach's interface is similar to that of the DS1800, as well as to that of the Key-View II we tested with Rackit's Paradigm (they are all Windows-based programs), but TeleReach also is tasked with providing a conduit to Paragon's OSUI.

Included software and documentation are generous and clearly written. Setup between the Paragon and TeleReach was simple, and the 10/100-Mbps network connection on the TeleReach came to life easily both on DHCP and with a static IP address. Once the required NetSupport Control Software was loaded on a remote PC, we found the TeleReach and attached KVM configuration without trouble. Although the digitized maximum 1,024x768 PC video quality was more than adequate, it was obvious through the sometimes jerky mouse control and screen updates that we no longer were directly connected to servers.

Serial control of the TeleReach was as smooth as possible through a 56-Kbps modem with dial-up networking, which provided a nice backup point of access when our test network went down. TeleReach provides a variety of additional security features, including typical Windows 2000 login password protection, remote-access user security profiles, dial-back settings and 56-bit DES encryption.

In comparison with the Rose and Rackit offerings we tested, Paragon as a local system has a progressive feel and accomplishes the long-sought goal of managing KVM cables by virtually eliminating them in favor of common Cat 5 wiring. With the extended distances possible with the Paragon, along with a respectable 8-by-32 port starting density, Raritan has hit on an excellent KVM product. At its largest configuration, a combination of Paragon switches will accommodate 32 users and 2,048 computers. Combined with TeleReach, Paragon makes network and serial control possible for any single authorized user at a time, regardless of geographical proximity to the switch.

Paragon, Raritan Computer, (800) 724-8090, (732) 764-8886; fax (732) 764-8887. www.raritan.com or sales@raritan.com.