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KVM Switches: Central Points of Control

January 21, 2002
By Michael J. DeMaria

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How Much Can You Save?


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KVM switches can help save space and money. The physical savings are easy to see. First, stack eight monitors on top of each other. Now compare that with a 1U rack-mount device. Likewise, to effectively use eight, 16 or even 100 different monitors and keyboards, you'd need to purchase specialized desks to support the added weight and size requirements. Assuming a flat-panel monitor weighs 10 pounds, having 100 computers would require your desks to support 1,000 pounds--and that's just for the monitors!

Monetary savings are a bit harder to visualize. Initial KVM-switch costs are a bit high, but they pay for themselves as you add more machines. A decent monitor (CRT or flat panel) can run several hundred dollars. Imagine how much it would cost to buy 100 monitors and keyboards. Another area that garners financial savings and is often overlooked is power consumption. Monitors consume a lot of power, sometimes using more watts than most lightbulbs. And just like lightbulbs, CRTs give off heat. A KVM switch doesn't use much electricity and gives off very little heat. This translates into lower electric bills and less money spent on air conditioning.