Vertiv MPU2016DAC-400 16-Port Dual-Path KVM Switch with Dual AC Power
Overview
The Vertiv Avocent MPU2016DAC-400 is a 16-port KVM switch built for data center and server room environments where simultaneous access, power redundancy, and federal procurement compliance are non-negotiable. With two independent digital KVM paths and dual AC power inputs, it addresses two of the most common failure points in out-of-band management infrastructure: single-path access bottlenecks and single-point power failure. If you are managing a rack or row of servers and need two administrators to work concurrently without stepping on each other — or need the switch itself to stay online if one power feed drops — the MPU2016DAC-400 (often searched as MPU2016DAC 400) is the configuration to evaluate within the Vertiv Avocent KVM line.
Key Features
- 16 Server Ports: Connect up to 16 servers or devices to a single switch — enough to cover a fully populated 1U-per-port rack without a second unit or cascading, which reduces latency and simplifies cabling in rack KVM deployments.
- 2 Independent Digital KVM Paths: Two simultaneous remote sessions can run concurrently without one user locking the other out. For NOC environments or co-managed data centers, this eliminates the scheduling friction that single-path units create during incidents.
- Dual AC Power Inputs: Feed from two separate PDUs or circuits so a single power supply or upstream breaker failure does not take down your out-of-band access — the one time you need KVM most is precisely when primary systems are failing. Review your PDU and power distribution options to pair redundant feeds correctly.
- TAA Compliance: The MPU2016DAC-400 meets Trade Agreements Act requirements, making it eligible for federal, state, and SLED procurement vehicles where country-of-origin rules apply. Verify your specific contract vehicle requirements before ordering, but TAA compliance removes the most common barrier for government orders.
Integration and Compatibility
The MPU2016DAC-400 is part of the Vertiv Avocent MPU platform, which supports a range of server interface modules (SIMs) for connecting to different server types. Consult the Vertiv Avocent compatibility matrix for your specific server models and operating systems before ordering SIMs separately — the base switch does not include SIMs in all configurations. For larger environments, the MPU platform supports cascading and integration with Avocent DSView management software for centralized data center KVM management across multiple switches. If your environment requires more than 16 ports without cascading, evaluate the MPU2032 or higher-port-count variants within the same Vertiv Avocent KVM family.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is the MPU2016DAC-400 TAA compliant?
A: Yes. The MPU2016DAC-400 carries TAA (Trade Agreements Act) compliance, making it eligible for federal and SLED procurement where country-of-origin compliance is required.
Q: How many simultaneous users can access the MPU2016DAC-400 at once?
A: The MPU2016DAC-400 supports 2 independent digital KVM paths, meaning two administrators can access different servers simultaneously without blocking each other.
Q: Does the MPU2016DAC-400 include server interface modules (SIMs)?
A: SIM inclusion depends on the specific order configuration. Verify with the supplier whether SIMs are bundled or need to be ordered separately for your server types.
Q: What does dual AC power mean for the MPU2016DAC-400?
A: Dual AC power means the switch has two independent power inputs. You can connect each to a separate power feed or PDU, so if one feed fails, the switch remains online — critical for out-of-band access during outages.
Q: How many servers can the MPU2016DAC-400 manage directly?
A: The MPU2016DAC-400 provides 16 KVM ports, supporting up to 16 directly connected servers or devices without cascading.
The spec I keep coming back to on the MPU2016DAC-400 is the dual AC power input — it sounds like a checkbox feature until you are staring at a failed primary system at 2 AM and realize your single-PSU KVM switch just went dark with it. This unit eliminates that scenario by accepting two independent power feeds, and combined with 2 concurrent digital paths, it is the configuration I recommend for any environment with more than one on-call admin.
Technical Highlights:
- 16 KVM Ports: Covers a full standard rack of 1U servers from a single switch — no cascading topology to troubleshoot when you are already managing an incident.
- Dual Digital Paths: Two simultaneous independent sessions mean a NOC analyst and a senior engineer can both be on the same switch at the same time without a lockout queue.
- TAA Compliance: For government integrators, TAA on the MPU2016DAC-400 is the difference between a spec that qualifies and one that gets kicked back at contract review — worth confirming early in your procurement cycle.
Deployment Considerations:
- Plan your SIM procurement alongside the switch order — the MPU platform requires the appropriate server interface module for each connected server, and these are separate line items that vary by server vendor and connector type.
- Dual AC is only as good as your power infrastructure: confirm you have two independent circuits or PDUs in the rack before specifying this unit — connecting both feeds to the same breaker defeats the redundancy entirely.
The MPU2016DAC-400 fits best in co-location environments and government data centers where two admins may need simultaneous access, power redundancy is a site requirement, and TAA compliance is a procurement gate — not as a general-purpose KVM for single-admin small server rooms where a single-path unit would be sufficient and less expensive.
