Accessories

A KVM (Keyboard, Video, and Mouse) Switch is a device that allows you to control multiple computers from a single keyboard, video monitor and mouse console. This can be particularly beneficial when there is insufficient room for multiple monitors and keyboards, such as in a server room rack or on a small desktop.

They are frequently used in data centers where multiple servers are placed in a single rack with a single keyboard, monitor and mouse. A KVM Switch then allows data center personnel to connect to any server in the rack.

How does a KVM Switch work?

Computers that you want to control are connected to the KVM Switch using Cat5 cabling or special KVM cable kits. A keyboard, monitor and mouse console are then connected to the KVM Switch, or in some cases the console is built in to the KVM Switch. Control is switched from one computer to another by the use of a button, On-Screen Display (OSD) controls, or hot keys on the keyboard, with the KVM routing signals between the computers and the keyboard, mouse and monitor console.

KVM Switches differ in the number of computers they can control, ranging from two up to 32 computers. Enterprise-level KVM Switches can also be daisy-chained or cascaded to allow even greater numbers of computers (over 500) to be controlled from a single keyboard, monitor and mouse console.

At Tekmart Africa, we stock most of these multi-brand accessories that are needed to combine with these different switches.