16-Port USB/PS2 Combo KVM with USB Peripheral Support
The Aten CS1716A is a 16-port USB/PS2 Combo KVM Switch with USB peripheral support. This KVM switch is a control unit that allows access to multiple computers from a single PS/2 or USB console (keyboard, mouse, and monitor). A single CS1716A can control up to 16 computers. As many as 31 additional switches can be daisy-chained to each other, so that up to 512 computers can all be controlled from a single keyboard-monitor-mouse console. Additionally, a front panel USB port is available for each computer to access any peripherals connected to it on a one-at-a-time basis.
Access to any computer connected to the installation is easily accomplished either by manually pressing the front panel pushbutton port LEDs, entering hotkey combinations from the keyboard, or by means of a powerful menu driven multilingual on-screen display (OSD) system. A convenient auto-scan feature also permits automatic scanning and monitoring of the activities of all computers running on the installation on a one at a time basis.
Saves all the space those extra components would take up
By allowing a single console to manage all the attached computers, a CS1716A installation: eliminates the expense of having to purchase a separate keyboard, monitor, and mouse for each computer; saves all the space those extra components would take up; saves on energy costs; and eliminates the inconvenience and wasted effort involved in constantly moving from one computer to another.
Setup is fast and easy; plugging cables into their appropriate ports is all that is entailed. The CS1716A supports both USB and PS/2 connections for the console and computers; and because the CS1716A intercepts keyboard input directly, there is no software to configure, so there is no need to get involved in complex installation routines or be concerned with incompatibility problems.