RE: Experience with Cybex

[James Smith <jsmith () dxstorm com>]

Oops, social faux pas! :) Here are my finds:

Our criteria are the following:
- A KVM switch system.
- Must support PCs, SUNs, and any serial devices.  (We have several
Cisco's and APC's)
- Must be expandable to large number of devices, for investment
protection.  (We have 17 devices to start off with, and who knows where
we'll end up in the future.)
- Must support multiple users.


I started looking at Cybex, since we have a little 4 port Cybex
already.  The 4040 model looked like it would suit our needs.  We need 6
PC connections with PS/2, 3 Sun connections with video, and 8 serial
connections (2 Suns, 4 Ciscos and 2 APCs).  Since there are 17 devices, we
needed two of the 4040 models, with a communications card in between.  

Then, with some help from this list, I identified other competitors.

I looked at Rose Electronics (www.rosel.com).  Their stuff looked good,
but I couldn't find anything on support for serial devices.  I didn't look
at them further after that.

I also looked at Apex (www.apex.com), but again I didn't see anything for
serial support.  (Besides, their press releases said something about just
finishing a merger with Cybex.)

Raritan has a similar offering to Cybex, with their MX4.  We priced out a
similar configuration and the price of the Raritan was the same as the
Cybex.  (About $12,000 CDN).  

The deciding factor was that since we are expanding, and most of our new
systems are Suns and Ciscos with serial ports, we chose the Cybex.





--
James Smith, CCNA
Chief Network/System Administrator
DXSTORM.COM

http://www.dxstorm.com/

DXSTORM Inc.
2395 Speakman Drive, Suite 2200
Mississauga, ON,  L5K 1B3   CANADA
Tel: 905-822-1957 (email preferred)
Fax: 905-822-0680
1-877-DXSTORM (1-877-397-8676)

"Feeling 'connected' with carbon-based dolts holds all the joy of being
handcuffed to a dead zebra - it sounds special, but it can get old
fast." 

  - The Dilbert Principle 
      - Engineers, Scientists, Programmers and Other Odd People


On Fri, 30 Jun 2000, Jamie Rishaw wrote:

> Usually in situations like this when you solicit replies privately from a
> list, you post your findings/reply summary to the list.  :)
>
> I'm interested in what you found out.
>
> -jamie
>
>
> | -----Original Message-----
> | From: James Smith [mailto:jsmith () dxstorm com]
> | Sent: Thursday, June 29, 2000 10:20 PM
> | To: 'nanog () merit edu'
> | Subject: Re: Experience with Cybex
> | 
> | 
> | 
> | Thank you everyone for all the responses about the Cybex 
> | products! :) It
> | been a lot of help in justifying the purchase.
> | 
> | 
> | --
> | James Smith, CCNA
> | Chief Network/System Administrator
> | DXSTORM.COM
> | 
> | http://www.dxstorm.com/
> | 
> | DXSTORM Inc.
> | 2395 Speakman Drive, Suite 2200
> | Mississauga, ON,  L5K 1B3   CANADA
> | Tel: 905-822-1957 (email preferred)
> | Fax: 905-822-0680
> | 1-877-DXSTORM (1-877-397-8676)
> | 
> | "Feeling 'connected' with carbon-based dolts holds all the 
> | joy of being
> | handcuffed to a dead zebra - it sounds special, but it can get old
> | fast." 
> | 
> |   - The Dilbert Principle 
> |       - Engineers, Scientists, Programmers and Other Odd People
> | 
> | 
> | On Wed, 28 Jun 2000, James Smith wrote:
> | 
> | > 
> | > I'm look at purchasing a Cybex KVM switch system (XP4040) and was
> | > wondering if anyone had any good or bad experiences to 
> | share, or opinions
> | > about other similar products.  Is Cybex widely used in NOCs?
> | > 
> | > 
> | > --
> | > James Smith, CCNA
> | > Chief Network/System Administrator
> | > DXSTORM.COM
> | > 
> | > http://www.dxstorm.com/
> | > 
> | > DXSTORM Inc.
> | > 2395 Speakman Drive, Suite 2200
> | > Mississauga, ON,  L5K 1B3   CANADA
> | > Tel: 905-822-1957 (email preferred)
> | > Fax: 905-822-0680
> | > 1-877-DXSTORM (1-877-397-8676)
> | > 
> | > "Feeling 'connected' with carbon-based dolts holds all the 
> | joy of being
> | > handcuffed to a dead zebra - it sounds special, but it can get old
> | > fast." 
> | > 
> | >   - The Dilbert Principle 
> | >       - Engineers, Scientists, Programmers and Other Odd People
> | > 
> | > 
> | > 
> | > 
> | 
> |