This is a more traditional KVM than the
Aten Slideaway monster we reviewed last week, but it shared some common themes with its bigger brother, and has a few extra notable features. Unfortunately though, it lacks our favorite feature.
The CS-1758 is fundamentally a USB-based KVM -- in that the inputs for keyboard and mouse are USB only -- however on the terminal side it will output either USB or PS2 connections, based on the cable you use. Like the Aten Slideaway KVM, it uses the redundant ground wires in the VGA cable to send the keyboard and mouse signals, minimizing cable clutter. It will send either a USB signal or PS2 signals down the redundant wires.
If you decide to use the USB option, you will be pleasantly surprised to hear that the switch acts like a USB hub for the keyboard and mouse, sending the signals through only one USB cable. This will not only save you a USB port at the terminal, but it tidies up cabling further. If you have any Sun or Mac boxes in your array, keep in mind that you can only control them through USB.
All this would mean a more streamlined connection interface, except the CS-1758 also has the provision to send, receive and switch audio through additional 3.5mm sockets. The supplied cables have headphone and microphone plugs protruding from both ends, as there aren’t enough free ground wires in the hijacked VGA lead to integrate the keyboard and mouse signals along with the audio signals into a single cable interconnect. This compromise provides the signal without running the audio cables down the sides of the custom VGA lead, and is an additional extra that you may or may not need, although who’s ever turned down flexibility?
On the expandability front, the CS-1758 can cascade through three levels of switches, bringing the maximum number of controllable terminals to a monstrous 512. Instead of using a dedicated daisy-chaining cable, the included VGA/USB leads are used to connect the switches together, using a port on one switch but replacing them with 8 fresh ports on another. To expand to 512 ports, you’ll need 73 CS-1758 units. It’s an industry wide feature that many will baulk at, but nonetheless it’s nice to know that expandability is an option.
If you move beyond single switch control and into the more complex realm of 9 terminal and up control, the OSD reveals its real power. Instead of using the switches on the front of the unit for port selection (which you can still do for ports 1-8), the CS-1758’s OSD sorts through terminals on the array according to a list of favorites, connectivity status or both. You can also scroll through and select them from an OSD list, scan through them at definable intervals and name the ports. The OSD is accessed by pressing scroll lock twice, and is fundamentally the same as the Aten Slideaway, but with fewer options.
Our favorite feature of the Aten Slideaway, the broadcast function, is missing from the CS-1758. Broadcast sends your keystrokes to every PC on the array at the same time, and although it requires some courage to use, if you are meticulous in setting up your terminals it can save immeasurable amounts of administration time.
Although the CS-1758 doesn’t have the build quality of the Aten Slideaway, it can be rack mounted if you attach the supplied rails. It comes with interlocking feet attached as standard, which keeps multiple units manageable if they’re sitting on a desk. You’ll need to spend a little time with a Phillips head screwdriver attaching the mounts before you add the unit(s) to your stack of 19” equipment.
The CS-1758 fits the lower segment of professional KVM market well, and has the potential to evolve into an extremely complex piece of kit in accordance with your needs. It isn’t the most advanced KVM solution in the marketplace, and it would be nice if it had broadcast capabilities, but if you don’t need matrix switching (multiple operators through a single switch) or other diabolically complex solutions, it should be a fairly high priority item on your shopping list.