November 3, 2000
This document presents the results of the Linux and related OS Compatibility tests, which included the testing of Caldera 2.3, Redhat 7.0, TurboLinux 6.0, SuSE 7.0, BeOS 5, AIX 4.2.3 and FreeBSD 4.0 with the Avocent DS 1800.
AppLabs' Linux compatibility testing of this system showed the Avocent DS 1800 to be compatible with Caldera 2.3, Redhat 7.0, TurboLinux 6.0, SuSE 7.0, BeOS 5, AIX 4.2.3 and FreeBSD 4.0. The Avocent DS 1800 is awarded the Exodus Preformance Lab Linux Compatibility mark.
System Configuration
The following table defines the system configuration tested by AppLabs.
| KVM Hardware Tested |
|
The Avocent DS 1800 is an eight-port, multi-platform, network-based KVM switch. This KVM is, at this time, controlled by
an NT box running the DSView program provided with the KVM. The KVM works well with Linux and other related OSes when they
are controlled through the KVM.
This document covers the setup and testing of the Avocent DS 1800 KVM unit in the context of a Linux environment. The testing
attempts to ensure that the unit will function as advertised when used with the Linux OS.
All testing of the DS 1800was done in a mixed OS environment where the controlling CPU and software was running on a Microsoft
NT 4.0 machine.
|
| Other Hardware |
Video Monitor: ViewSonic 17" color monitor, model GF775
Mouse: Generic 3-button PS/2 mouse
Keyboard: Generic 101-key English keyboard
CPU 1, a TAC 400MHz running Windows NT 4.0 as the controlling CPU.
CPU 2, SGI 330 workstation (RedHat 7.0)
CPU 3, a Compaq DeskPro 350 (FreeBSD 4.0 and then Caldera 2.3)
CPU 4, an SGI 550 workstation (SuSE 7.0)
CPU 5, a Compaq DeskPro 350 (TurboLinux 6.0 and then BeOS)
|
Testing Results
The following table provides the pass/fail result for the hardware as tested in this system by AppLabs.
| INSTALL THROUGH TEST |
| install Linux/BeOS/FreeBSD on one or more CPUs while the CPUs are connected and controlled via the DS 1800. | PASS |
| Notes: Caldera 2.3 would not install through the
KVM due to the method used by Caldera to discover and handle the mouse; no mouse was available. The other five OSes tested
installed through the KVM with no problems.
|
| POWER CYCLE |
| verify the DS 1800 is state-independent of its controlled CPUs. | PASS |
| The DSView software running on the controlling NT
box is sensitive to the sequence used when powering down connected machines. Users should be sure to first close the DSView
window before powering down a particular machine or the software will lockup and require the use of an "End Task" killing of
DSView and may require rebooting of the NT 4.0 box.
|
Switching Commands Tessting
| HOT KEY SWITCHING |
| to verify switching works with Linux keyboard drivers. | N/A |
| Notes: This feature is not available on the DS 1800.
Users can have multiple windows open on the NT box which show various machines.
|
| PS/2 and SERIAL MICE - POINT, CLICK, DRAG |
| verify the functioning of the mouse as the DS1800 unit switches between the various CPUs | PASS |
| Notes: Mouse performed well under heavy switching with no negative effects. The DSView has a scaling feature which makes for very flexible mouse performance and works well with different
window sizes and X resolutions on the remote machines.
|
Monitor Testing
| DISPLAY RESOLUTION TEST |
| verify the stability of cycling through the various CPUs with X
operating on each and at different resolutions | N/A |
| Notes: The DS 1800 as tested did not allow for remote
switching of X resolutions.
|
| MONITOR ON/OFF TEST |
| Verify the stability of the displays on the various CPUs when the KVM monitor is turned off and on during cycling | PASS |
| Notes: The state of the monitor on the NT 4.0 box
did not effect the performance of the controlled machines, regardless of OS.
|
| IDLE TIME TEST |
| Verify the DS 1800 can recover from idle periods without loss of keyboard, monitor or mouse contact. | PASS |
| Notes: The DS 1800 showed no negative effects from being
left idle for a period of over one hour. Longer periods of time showed the connected OSes did not always recover and could not be recovered without restarting the DSView program. |
| REMOTE CONTROL UNIT TEST |
| Verify the Remote Control unit functions as advertised and
remains transparent when installing and operating Linux OS through the unit. | N/A |
| Notes: The DS 1800 does not have this feature. |
Multiple OS Test
| With Microsoft WINDOWS NT 4.0 |
| verify the continued functionality of the connected CPUs and KVM units when running different operating systems on one or more of the connected CPUs | PASS |
| Notes: The NT 4.0 controlling box would occasionally
lock up and require restarting of the program. Occasionally the DSView, when restarted, could not discover the connected OSes/
machines and the NT 4.0 box had to be rebooted in order to regain full functionality of the DS 1800 with DSView.
|
Related Notes
1. The controlled boxes running Linux/BeOS/FreeBSD worked well with the DS 1800 running DSView provided the NT 4.0 machine
running DSView was freshly rebooted and the DSView program was functioning properly.
Legal
AppLabs makes no warranty, either expressed or implied, regarding the information or lack thereof present in this document or in the documents it references.
Avocent DS 1800