ATEN KH1508AI 8-Port CAT5 IP KVM Switch
Overview
The KH1508AI is an 8-port CAT5-based IP KVM switch that lets a single administrator manage up to 8 servers locally and remotely over IP — no dedicated crash cart, no physical presence required at the rack. Daisy-chain up to 16 units to scale coverage to 128 nodes from a single IP address, which makes this a practical fit for mid-size server rooms where port density needs to grow without rewiring. Port selection via OSD, hotkey, or front-panel pushbutton keeps access fast whether you're at the console or connecting over a browser session. Remote video tops out at 1920×1200 @ 60 Hz on the FHD version — enough resolution to work comfortably in a remote desktop or terminal session without squinting at truncated text.
Compatibility
Connects to servers and workstations via PS/2 or USB keyboard and mouse interfaces — covers legacy PS/2-only hardware as well as current USB-only systems without adapters for either. The KVM switch family pairs directly with ATEN KVM adapter cables (KA-series) for CAT5 runs to each target server; compatible adapter selection depends on the target server's interface (PS/2, USB, or Sun). Daisy-chain is supported to other KH1508AI or KH1516AI units using standard CAT5/5e/6 — the ATEN KVM line uses a consistent daisy-chain bus across this series. The built-in LUC (Laptop USB Console) port accepts a USB Mini-B cable for direct local access from a laptop without a separate KVM console, useful during initial rack commissioning. Network connectivity is 10/100 Mbps on non-FHD units and 100/1000 Mbps on FHD units — plan your switch port allocation accordingly if you need fast remote video refresh on the FHD variant.
Installation Notes
Designed for rack mounting; note that ATEN expresses physical dimensions in L×W×H order rather than the conventional W×D×H — verify rack depth clearance against the listed depth value, not the first dimension. Power input accepts 100–240 VAC at 50/60 Hz drawing up to 1A, so standard IEC C14 rack PDU circuits work without a step-down transformer in any region. Keep ambient humidity below 80% RH non-condensing — a standard data center environment meets this without additional controls. Firmware is actively maintained: IP Card firmware v1.6.155 (released 2023-01-31) and Local firmware v1.7.163 (released 2026-03-25) are the current releases; budget time to update firmware post-install before connecting production servers. Scan interval is configurable from 1 to 255 seconds, letting you tune auto-scan polling to match how many nodes you're actively monitoring without overwhelming the display cycle.
