Connecting multiple monitors to limited amount of PCs (16 users / 7 Sources)

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sonyxperiageek

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#260034 7-Nov-2019 17:34

What's the best way to connect say 16 different desks with monitors to 7 computer sources located in a server (~ 10-20 meters away) with the ability for each person at one of the 16 monitors to select any one of the 7 computer sources? I had a look at KVM over IP, but once you get the KVM over IP Switch (8 user, 8 port), CIMs for the 7 computer sources and Remote User Stations for the 16 monitors, it is getting pretty expensive. Is there a cheaper way?

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Dynamic

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#2349762 7-Nov-2019 20:28

Is just RDPing from secondhand thin clients to the servers an option worth considering?

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PolicyGuy

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#2349765 7-Nov-2019 20:35

Dynamic: Is just RDPing from secondhand thin clients to the servers an option worth considering?

It depends if the OP wants real, actual console access. If they do, then a KVM matrix switch is probably the only way to go. I've had good success with Black Box Catalog products in the past: www.blackbox.com.au

sonyxperiageek

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#2349766 7-Nov-2019 20:37

They're Linux machines, but the frame rate is too low for vnc unfortunately, but it was considered yes.

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sonyxperiageek

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#2349774 7-Nov-2019 20:50

PolicyGuy:
Dynamic: Is just RDPing from secondhand thin clients to the servers an option worth considering?

It depends if the OP wants real, actual console access. If they do, then a KVM matrix switch is probably the only way to go. I've had good success with Black Box Catalog products in the past: www.blackbox.com.au

Or even just the output of the PC source is fine. Not sure if there's an HDMI matrix at each desk can click a button to switch between different sources? Over IP too maybe?

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#2349798 7-Nov-2019 21:29

Do the servers have out of band management cards like HPE’s iLO or dell’s idrac? Would that be helpful?

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insane

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#2349862 7-Nov-2019 22:18

sonyxperiageek: They're Linux machines, but the frame rate is too low for vnc unfortunately, but it was considered yes.

Is SSH not an option?

If not, the just put in a windows jumphost and buy CALs. Total rip off I know, but the problem will go away and everyone will be happy.

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lxsw20

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#2349885 8-Nov-2019 01:40

You can RDP to linux, which is not the same as VNC. Works OK from my limited exposure to it. Have to say it's a bit of a weird setup you've got going on there. Why not just one powerful linux box and have many users log in to that.

wazzageek

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#2349934 8-Nov-2019 07:01

Have you considered using anything like X over the network? So your application runs on the Linux server, but the local PC becomes a the “display”?

Assuming you have windows desktops, something like MobaXterm could be a useful piece of software (thinking setup ssh keys to each machine, then each machine becomes an icon within mobaxterm, so your users can double click and they are in their application /desktop.

(I’ve leapt to some assumptions here based upon the comment that VNC is too limited by the frame rate.)