Present-day server rooms have a large number of units running together so installing a monitor for every system is really impractical (wasting money as well as space), so KVM switches are a necessity, the IP based ATEN CS1708i and CS1716i units looking like a nice option to directly control up to 16 systems.

Packing an almost identical feature set,   the main difference between the CS1708i and CS1716i is the number of computers they can directly control since the CS1708i connects with up to eight systems while its more advanced "brother" has the ability to manage up to 16 computers.

This number can be however increased, since both units allow daisy chaining systems, the total number of connected servers coming in at 128 and 256, respectively.

In order to do so this, KVM switches use both USB and PS/2 connectivity and provide users with an array of monitoring and control tools such as the Panel Array Mode, that can selectively monitor attached servers simultaneously in a grid array or the Mouse DynaSync feature that automatically synchronizes the local and remote mouse pointer movements for perfect alignment regardless of the server's mouse acceleration settings.

"Our new KVM on the NET switches offer network administrators an easy-to-use management tool to access and monitor both local and remote servers," explained Sampson Yang, CEO of ATEN.  

"We went a step further by adding value-add features such as Panel Array Mode and Message Board to give administrators even more flexibility."

Security is also covered since both switches support a wide number of security protocols, including 128-bit SSL encryption for the Web, and RC4 128-bit encryption for secure keyboard, mouse and video data transmission.

Features aside, this two KVM switches are also competitively priced, the CS1708i coming in at $849.95, while the CS1716i can be had for only $100 more, coming in at $949.95.  

We are just a few, but there are many of you, Softpedia users, out there. That's why we thought it would be a good idea to create an email address for you to help us a little in finding gadgets we missed. Interesting links are bound to be posted with recognition going mainly to those who submit. The address is .