The abbreviation stands for keyboard, video, and mouse. A KVM switch routes the signals from one set of peripherals to multiple separate machines, allowing an administrator to toggle between them at the push of a button or a keyboard shortcut. In data centers, KVMs eliminate the need for dedicated monitors and keyboards for every physical server in a rack.
Plug the crash cart into the front KVM switch so we can see what the hypervisor is doing.
Virtual KVMs over IP allow remote administrators to access the BIOS of a server exactly as if they were standing in front of the physical rack.
Also heard as
- KVM switch
Related terms
Switch
A network device that connects devices and forwards data packets to their exact destination.
Keyboard
A primary input device consisting of mechanical or membrane switches used to enter alphanumeric data into a computer.
Peripheral device
An external piece of hardware connected to a computer to provide input, output, or storage functions.