Local port browser interface
The present invention relates to KVM switches that contain both remote and local ports and provide a user of the local port with a similar WEB based interface experience as that experienced by the remote user.
1. A keyboard, video and mouse (KVM) switch system, comprising:
a plurality of target interface ports, each of said target interface ports coupling said KVM switch system to a respective target device;
a network interface module coupling said KVM switch system to a plurality of remote user client systems via a communications network, said remote user client systems each running a web browser application;
a local port coupling said KVM switch system to a video display device, keyboard and mouse local console, and
a control processor running a web server application for interaction with said web browser applications running on said remote user client systems, wherein:
said control processor further includes a web browser application, said web browser application interacting with said web server application to generate a web page; and
a video display processor for receiving said web page from said control processor and processing said web page into a video signal, and sending said video signal to said video display device of said local console.
2. The KVM switch system of claim 1 , wherein said web page provided to said video display device of said local console provides a local user with functionality and administrative access to a target device.
3. The KVM switch system of claim 1 , wherein a target device comprises a remote server.
4. The KVM switch system of claim 1 , wherein a remote user client system comprises a workstation.
5. The KVM switch system of claim 1 , further comprising a local port video switch coupled between said local port and said video display processor, said local port video switch also being coupled to at least one target interface port for supplying a video signal to said local port from a target device.
6. The KVM switch system of claim 5 , further comprising an analog switch between said local port video switch and said at least one target interface port, wherein said analog switch is coupled to at least a second target interface port for routing video signals from target devices directly to said local port.
7. A method for accessing a first keyboard, video and mouse (KVM) switch system having a plurality of target interface ports, each of said target interface ports coupling said KVM switch system to a respective target device, a network interface module coupling said KVM switch system to a plurality of remote user client systems via a communications network, said remote user client systems each running a web browser application, a local port coupling said KVM switch system to a video display device, keyboard and mouse local console, and a control processor running a web server application for interaction with said web browser applications running on said remote user client systems, comprising the steps of:
running a web browser application on said control processor, said web browser application interacting with said web server application to generate a web page; and
receiving said web page from a video display processor of said KVM switch system, processing said web page into a video signal, and sending said video signal to said video display device of said local console.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising the steps of:
connecting a second KVM switch system to said communications network; and
redirecting said web browser application of said first KVM switch system to a desired URL of said second KVM switch system;
whereby a local user of said first KVM switch system is provided with access to a local console of said second KVM switch system.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein local port data from said second KVM switch system is streamed over the communications network to said first KVM switch system.