KVM Extender Application

Before using a KVM extender, perhaps you should know: What is a KVM extender?

Basics of KVM Extender

Simply put, a KVM extender is a device designed to increase the distance between the keyboard, monitor, and mouse (KVM station) and the computer.

KVM extenders allow remote access to a computer via a CAT.x or fiber cable. The core console extended includes a keyboard (K), monitor (V), and mouse (M), and that's where its name came from. Additional interfaces might include high-speed or super-speed USB for data or device access, and audio I/O for warning sounds. Certain models might even include LAN extension, RS232 extension, or IR extension. In most cases, the KVM extender is for control purposes and applies visual-lossless compression. For the video-quality-sensitive applications, users tend to apply HDBaseT uncompressed KVM extenders which have outstanding picture quality.

Now, with the continuous advancement of technology, KVM extenders play an important role in overcoming the bandwidth limitations of traditional VGA, HDMI, and DVI cables and the distance limitations of PS/2 and USB protocols.

Video Interoperability of KVM Extender

In most cases computer unit and console unit applies the same video interface. However, certain users prefer lockable mechanism of DVI or DisplayPort while most monitors has HDMI video interface. Some of Rextron's KVM extenders have interoperability among DVI/DisplayPort/HDMI models, so that users may apply DVI/DisplayPort interface for the computer unit and HDMI interface for the console unit. This way users may have the best of two worlds by having the lockable mechanism and good compatibility of HDMI.