ATEN KVM over IP CN800 - Remote control device - mini - 100Mb LAN, RS-232

Product Overview

AI-generated summary

The ATEN KVM over IP CN800 is one of those “works when you need it” boxes—ideal if you’ve got occasional but serious remote access requirements in a UK office or data/IT room, without going full enterprise on switching and management. It’s a good fit for IT teams who want to reboot or troubleshoot servers, network gear, or legacy systems from anywhere, using a browser-based approach plus local console control. At ~£415 ex-VAT, I see it as value when the alternative is expensive downtime, multiple physical visits, or relying on jump hosts that don’t give you true console access.

That said, I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re expecting fast, smooth “daily driver” remote control like normal desktop work. These KVM-over-IP setups are best for admin tasks—booting, BIOS changes, firmware updates, recovery—rather than constant interactive use. Also, if you’re managing dozens of endpoints, you’ll quickly feel the cost and operational overhead of per-system management; in that case, you’d want a more scalable architecture. If you only need one or two remote console access points, though, this is a sensible, pragmatic buy that’ll earn its keep the first time someone can’t log in but you still need to get into the console.