Unified Remote Management Interface for Multi-Server KVM Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Network administrators face inefficiencies in managing multiple server computers, requiring individual authentication and separate KVM sessions, which is time-consuming and cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for remote management that allows a user to view and manage multiple server KVM sessions from a single common graphical interface, using shared IPMI credentials for authentication, enabling simultaneous display of graphical user consoles and remote management functionalities across multiple servers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If individual authentication is required for each server, then security is improved, but time consumption and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual authentication processes into a single centralized authentication mechanism. The common graphical interface consolidates access to multiple servers, allowing administrators to authenticate once and gain access to multiple server consoles simultaneously, thereby reducing authentication time while maintaining security through centralized credential verification
Solution Approach 2:
The authentication system is designed with universal credentials that can authenticate across multiple server types and platforms. The common graphical interface provides multi-functional access points that work with different server configurations, allowing a single set of credentials to provide widespread access without compromising individual server security policies
2Ease of operation
If separate KVM sessions are launched for each server, then individual server control is improved, but device complexity and operational burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate KVM sessions into a single unified graphical interface that displays and controls multiple server consoles simultaneously. This consolidation reduces the number of separate applications and windows the administrator must manage, while each server console within the interface maintains its individual control capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The unified graphical interface segments the display into multiple independent console windows, each representing a separate server. This segmentation allows individual server control within the context of a unified interface, enabling administrators to focus on specific servers while maintaining awareness of the overall system state
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate applications are used to manage servers, then specific server functionality is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The common graphical interface is designed as a universal platform that can manage multiple types of servers (physical, virtual, cloud-based) through a single application. It provides versatile server management capabilities including console access, file transfer, and system control, eliminating the need to launch different applications for different server types or functions
Data Source
AI summary
A computer system. In one embodiment, the computer system includes a remote management computer with a user input device and a display device, a plurality of target computers communicatively connected to the remote management computer over a communications link, and a computer-executable remote management application. Each target computer includes a baseboard management controller (BMC) executing a keyboard, video, and mouse (KVM) redirection application and storing remote management data. The remote management application causes the remote management computer to perform functions that include receiving user authentication data for a user to remotely access particular target computers, sending a request for remote management data to each of the particular target computers, receiving remote management data from each of the particular target computers in response to the request, and causing the display device to simultaneously display the graphical user console for each one of the particular target computers in a common graphical interface.