A word to other System Administrators out there.
I have a dozen Belkin OmniView PRO3 KVM Switches, and I was hoping to convert these to be KVM over IP devices, so that we could access more devices remotely from home, and possibly get rid of our Serial Console devices.
Belkin ships their PRO3 switches with a flyer which says I can buy an add on to convert the Switches to a KVM over IP device, using the OmniView IP* 5101K – KVM/IP Device (Part # F1DP101M). In fact, Belkin’s knowledgebase says that these devices should work fine together. But apparently this is a lie.
According to Belkin support, these products have several compatability issues. I didn’t press on those specific issues (it’s difficult to have a conversation over IM with someone who has poor English skills). Here is an excerpt from my chat:
ME : Hello, I have an OmniView PRO3. Are there any add-on products to convert this switch into a KVM over IP switch? The KVM switch came with a flyer that says I should ask for the F1DP101M, but Belkin support told that this doesn’t work with the OmniView PRO3.
ME : Hello?
BelkinSE: We are extremely sorry to inform you that F1DA116Q when used with F1DP101M has some compatibility issues and we do not recommend it.
BelkinSE: But F1DP101M works well with SMB KVMs
ME : Ok, are there any IP over KVM solutions for the PRO3 KVM?
BelkinSE: Unfortunately no.
ME : Too bad.
ME : Your website says that the F1DP101M will work with the PRO3 switches. See http://www.belkin.com/support/article/?lid=en&pid=F1DA108Z&aid=14348&scid=0
BelkinSE: That’s correct but when tested under lab there were some complexity involved in configuration and we do not recommend using F1DP101M with PRO3 KVMs
ME : Hm. Ok. I guess I won’t buy one.
ME : You need to fix the website, because it is misleading.
BelkinSE: Well we are extremely sorry for that information on the website
BelkinSE: But we will definitely take that in consideration and fix that issue on the website.
ME : Thank you for the information. Good bye.