FYI KVM

[Keith Lofstrom]

Dwaine Castle writes:
> I've asked several KVM vendors if they support Fedora.  So, far I've only
> received one response.  A bit terse, but very clear.
>
> Hi,
> The KVM3004 does not support Fedora.
> Thanks
>
> Zonet USA Tech Support
> email: zonet_tech at zonetusa.com
> Zonet USA Corp

How odd.  I am looking at Fedora Core 2 through a Zonet KVM3004 at this
very moment, on the screen next to this one. 

[NumLock][NumLock]2  Now I am looking at Redhat 7.3 .
[NumLock][NumLock]3  Now I am looking at Solaris 9 on an UltraSparc 2.
                     (connected through an interface converter). 
[NumLock][NumLock]4  Now I am looking at Windoze NT (erase, erase!)
[NumLock][NumLock]1  Back to Fedora Core 2.

I suppose what they mean by "not support" is, "if you try to balance
a stack of Fedora Core 2 Install CDs on top of the curved Zonet case,
they will slide off".  Alternately, they may be referring to the
difficulty of uploading a distro to run on the KVM hardware itself. 
Or possibly, just possibly, Zonet has a blithering idiot answering
email who cannot read the KVM3004 box, which states quite clearly
that it works with Linux (and how could it not?). For a picture of
the back of the box, see http://www.keithl.com/kvm3004.jpg .

Dwaine, thank you for contacting Zonet for us.  I'm glad that there
are people on this list who have the gumption to do research.  Now,
however, you must contact Zonet management and let them know that
their competitors are hacking their email, or their employee roster.

---

All kidding aside, the Zonet KVM3004 works just fine.  It comes with
cables (though you may want some longer ones), the resolution is good,
and it is inexpensive.  I can boot computer A while using computer B,
and A will get the necessary info to set up keyboard, display, and 
PS/2 mouse.  My only (minor) complaint is form factor;  it would be
nice to have all those cables running out the back of the case rather
than off the sides, but that would be more expensive to build.

Keith

-- 
Keith Lofstrom           keithl at ieee.org         Voice (503)-520-1993
KLIC --- Keith Lofstrom Integrated Circuits --- "Your Ideas in Silicon"
Design Contracting in Bipolar and CMOS - Analog, Digital, and Scan ICs