32 MANAGEMENT
April 2016
Access and control starts with right KVM
Part of running an efficient workflow is having access and control . With the right keyboard , video and mouse ( KVM ) solution in place , tasks can be run smoothly . But how can broadcasters make sure they are choosing the best KVMs for their workflows ? Millette Manalo-Burgos asks three KVM providers for guidance .
What are the things that broadcasters need to take note of before deciding to invest in KVM solutions ? Can you suggest some ways for them to narrow down their KVM needs ?
Simon Clew , director for Adder Technology : There are three overarching aspects to any KVM installation — cost , quality and fit for purpose . Obviously , the requirements for a gallery installation for a TV studio ( where one of the main requirements is the speed of switching between feeds and / or applications ) will be different to the primary requirements of a post-production studio , where switching is less important , compared to resolution and frame rate .
For manufacturers and integrators , the most important aspect to understand is the nature of the installation and the customer ’ s expected objectives from deploying KVM . We typically ask questions , such as : how many computers does the customer currently need access to and where would they like to position them ? Are they looking for straightforward KVM extension or switching ? Or are they looking to relocate their computers outside of the studio or building ?
According to Adder Technology ’ s Simon Clew , there are three overarching aspects to any KVM installation — cost , quality and fit for purpose .
IHSE ’ s Terence Teng says a broadcast system designer should work closely with the KVM vendor ’ s pre-sales support team as the expertise available from suppliers can be invaluable in designing the most efficient and costeffective solution and enhancing the overall solution .
Terence Teng , managing director of IHSE Asia-Pacific : It is important to consider that a KVM matrix switch is effectively a switch that connects sources to displays , in a similar fashion to the video router used for video streams , but working with computer signals .
It will translate between different video signal types — DVI , HDMI , DisplayPort , and so on , but is not intended to scale between different resolutions and aspect ratios . So system designers should bear this in mind when specifying systems — ideally standardise on a single format and homogenous infrastructure to avoid the need for resolution changes , and the associated cost and complication that entails .
The second important consideration is that of the type of USB to be managed within the system . Extender devices should be selected to correspond to the appropriate USB format .
Cabling infrastructure is another important consideration . KVM systems can operate over copper and fibre cables , allowing designers the flexibility and opportunity to take advantage of the different characteristics and capabilities of each type . Matrix switches can accommodate both cabling technologies in a single system , giving enormous flexibility in application . System designers should design their systems appropriately to take advantage of these benefits .
Jochen Bauer , marketing director for Guntermann & Drunck : When planning a KVM system , the most relevant factor broadcasters need to consider is the general system architecture : will they have one overall installation or is it going to be multiple ‘ islands ’ for different workflow tasks that should be interconnected .
Then , of course , it ’ s about the system size : how many computers and how many workplaces ( access points ) will be needed , and is it just one video signal per system or multiple . Also , would there be further signals such as USB or SDI to be distributed ?
The next important factor is the cable infrastructure . Where standard CAT cabling is easier to install and cheaper , the big advantage of fibre optics is the much higher bandwidth . Especially with highresolution video applications , the latter offers better quality . Nevertheless , a good KVM system should be able to operate without significant latency even via CAT cables .
Nowadays , the question whether an installation should be based on digital or analogue video signals is rather obsolete . Of course , an installation is dependent on the kind of video signals . But the question is more about the bandwidth and less about the form factor of the interface . Whether it ’ s DisplayPort , HDMI or DVI shouldn ’ t matter ; usually even analogue VGA signals can be integrated into a high-quality KVM system .
Most of the above-mentioned parameters usually are given and typically we find rather heterogeneous environments with a big mix of different cabling , different video resolutions , video standards and operating systems . But the great thing is that a good KVM system should be able to adapt to all these parameters and turn out into a smooth and homogeneous user interface .
Jochen Bauer of Guntermann & Drunck advises that when planning a KVM system , broadcasters need to consider the general system architecture : will they have one overall installation or is it going to be multiple ‘ islands ’ for different workflow tasks that should be interconnected ?
Once broadcasters have compiled their shortlisted requirements , what features should they look for in KVM solutions ?
Adder Technology ’ s Clew : There are four critical aspects that need to be considered once the customer has defined their requirements and objectives — switching , extension , security and the user interface .
The ability to switch between machines is critical in some applications within broadcast , such as the live environment . It provides controllers with a single point of operation but with the flexibility to move positions as well as the security of redundant and failover operations . The requirement here is for sub-second switching , because anything more than that can have a negative impact on operations in an already pressured environment .
When it comes to extension , organisations are able to locate machines away from the workspace , removing excess heat and noise from the room . The computers can be located on a different floor or in a different building entirely , and are often housed in a central server room with controlled access and environmental management , which boosts both machine performance and security . Users are able to access multiple machines from a single workstation with one mouse and keyboard . It ’ s critical in this type of application to ensure there is no latency or loss of quality .
We are also seeing security becoming more and more important in this sector . And it covers everything from how a user logs into a system , to physical access , USB peripheral management , and how user names and passwords are stored — in a management system or active directory , for example . We also need to look at what information or data is encrypted and whether there is a requirement for that .
Finally , the actual user interface is important , particularly as organisations look to make the lives of the users that much easier .
Having a user interface that can be set up to meet the needs of specific users is important , particularly in environments — such as live production — where people are switching between machines they can ’ t physically see and where they need to work silently and solve any problem quickly .
IHSE Asia-Pacific ’ s Teng : Quite simply , system designers should identify the appropriate device , and combination of devices , that delivers a solution that exactly meets their requirements : a system that matches their proposed workflow and delivers the functionality and performance they need .
A highly efficient way of achieving this is for the broadcast system designer to work closely with the KVM vendor ’ s pre-sales support team to develop the solution . The expertise available from suppliers can be invaluable in designing the most efficient and cost-effective solution and enhancing the overall solution .
Guntermann & Drunck ’ s Bauer : Besides the ‘ hard ’ factors for the infrastructure , all the additional features for operation make a massive difference to the systems .
Beginning with features for an easy installation such as automated port- and device-detection that enable a plug-and-play set-up , continued via intuitive set-up utilities with on-screen displays and Web interfaces , up to sophisticated operating features for a superb user interface : only such capable software features make a good hardware work properly — and make it disappear in the background just in the way it should . Because KVM is supposed to be an enabler technology , in a best way doing its work without being recognised even by the user .