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Cheap rack monitors or KVM IP (feddit.de)

submitted 9 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Hi everyone! I have a couple of old desktops as servers in my rack. Sometimes , very rarely, I need to use the machines console.

Slide-out rack monitors are incredibly expensive here in Germany, so these are not an option. Next I thought about USB monitors - don these work out of the box with Linux or do the need special drivers? Or would I be better off using KVM over IP? Do you know of other not-so-expensive solutions?

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 9 months ago (1 children)

The way I’ve ended up going is to just use a standard keyboard and monitor with a KVM over IP switch. In the US it’s not hard to find relatively inexpensive ones on the used market, but they do require a module for each computer, which can increase the costs. I’ve had good luck finding the Avocent MPU2016 switches. Worth a look on eBay anyway.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

You’re right, they are not as expensive as I remembered. I’ll try to find one on ebay. How do you access the console - browser with Java applet?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

That model’s got an html5 console available so I don’t have to mess with Java. The one thing I haven’t got it to do is remote power cycle. I make a point to set up wake on LAN for that.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago (1 children)

So, my solution to this is probably a bit more jank than you'd like, but I use one of those portable USB-C monitors that also has an HDMI input (mine is mini HDMI, but I just leave the adapter plugged into it) then I have HDMI cables run from the back of my systems, that I can plug into the portable monitor when I need local access.

When not in use, I can easily just store the portable monitor nearby, and it doesn't take up much space.

I'm running full desktops on my machines though, and also have those dummy HDMI plugs that emulate a monitor so the systems load the desktop properly, so I can use vnc or other remote desktop to access the systems when I'm not home. I plug the dummy HDMI plugs into same HDMI cables I use for my display, using couplers, so I don't run into any weird "dual monitor" weirdness from using both a real display and a dummy plug at the same time.

As far as input, I have a couple of super cheap wireless keyboards with trackpads built in. They don't provide the best typing experience, but they do the job for what I need.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

Good idea IMHO, and I never heard about these HDMI dummies. Might try this.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I got a cheap rack vesa Mount and an old Dell with VGA from goodwill.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

Uses quite a lot of space, that’s why I’d prefer slide-out if it weren’t so expensive.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

That is fair, I have a fully height rack and I dont really want equipment at eye height anyway so I like to keep that area open.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

Get KVM over IP. I have a dell T620 with an idrac system and PiKVM. Being able to turn your servers from your keyboard is so useful. Not sure what you consider expensive but it is definitely worth it. I do have a VGA KVM but a wall monitor installed that worked out of the box. I eventual got the KVM over IP.