KVM is an abbreviation for Keyboard Video Mouse.
KVM switches allow you to operate more than one computer from one user’s keyboard, monitor and mouse.
A KVM Switch is an additional hardware device fitted between your controlling Keyboard, Video and Mouse; hence the commonly used abbreviation KVM. The KVM Switch allows at this point the switching capability to connect to additional computers from this user’s chosen KVM (Keyboard, Video and Mouse).
Almost any number of computers can be accessed and controlled from just a small number at a deskop to many computers such as used in a datacentre or control room spread over a large area. Many KVM Switches will typically have emulation chips to make the computer believe it is always directly connected to a keyboard, video and mouse. This allows the switches to perform easy fast switching between computers without fear of losing the connection.
This then brings us into the area of KVM Extension which allows the control of almost any computer from a distance – almost anywhere – transmitted over UTP, STP, fibre optic cabling or even IP directly in to those local port keyboard, video and mouse. There are many advantages of using this over basic network port access file sharing, particularly the capability of BIOS access.
Today many KVM Switches allow the control and connection of the computers Audio and USB Connections which brings in the users many other devices for control such as touchscreen tablets. The video and control can be kept secure for one person or passed to more screens if required as required for AV broadcast systems. However, as control is still required we would still classify this as a KVM control method.
You can save an enormous amount of space with a KVM switch.
Seeing as the Keyboard, Monitor and Mouse take up most of your desktop, with a KVM switch you can operate all your computers from one area.
Ease of access becomes so useful that there is no need to hop from point to point to use different machines.
In addition to the space saving, you are saving money too: less expensive monitors required and less power being used.
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