HPE Server Console Switches are key components for rack mount implementations (a console represents one keyboard, video monitor, and mouse (KVM) attached to a server). The family of HPE Server Console Switches allows multiple servers in a rack to be accessed and managed by one keyboard, monitor, and mouse. By using a console, as many as 128 computers running different operating systems can be managed. The 8-Port and 16-port Server Console Switches feature an On-Screen Display (OSD) interface, which has intuitive menus for accessing each attached computer. Servers can be identified by a user-defined name or sequentially by number, enabling easy access to connected servers.


HPE Server Console Switches can be connected in a tiered fashion, to increase server access from eight servers to as many as 128 servers. (256 servers if tiering to an HPE IP Console Switch) Switching between computers is accomplished by typing a switching command at the keyboard, or by using the mouse to interact with the graphic interface of the selected computer via the OSD.