Vertiv Cybex Secure 4K UHD KVM 4-Port DisplayPort DH DPP NIAP EAL4+ TAA (SC945D-001)

Was truly unimpressed with this KVM. It cannot handle 3840x1600, from any card I fed it through, which means this switch will emulate (not communicate) its display settings with the computers. Vertiv (the new parent company) never could come up with the solution for this, and requested I RMA (to which they called almost daily to determine if I'd returned the forms yet, 3 weeks). They were persistant, if not helpful. Off-shore company now (Malaysia, I think?) Don't know how much longer this firm will be on the shortlist of GSA suppliers for secure KVMs, but we'll see...

The key with this unit is security, and it is built to ensure an absence of crosstalk among input devices as well as to maintain the overall security of the network. Within that context we have a four-port HDMI KVM switch that, in brief, allows you to have a single output monitor and four input sources. So let's say you have four computers, each with HDMI outputs, and a single monitor, with its own HDMI input. You'd hook up your four computer HDMI ports to Ports one through four on the KVM switch, then attach a single keyboard and a single mouse, and finally run USB lines between the KVM and each of the computers.Plug in the KVM and the unit lights up with a blue LED bar across the top and clear indicator lights demonstrating a variety of keyboard issues (caps lock, num lock) as well as which computer source you've chosen to pass through to the monitor. Which leads to a question - how do I turn off all the lights? Some of my work is in a dim setting where the bright lighting of the KVM is something I'd rather not have. This question led me to the manual site to which I was directed by the very brief instructional sheet included with the KVM. The manual there, though, is not significantly longer, and doesn't address this issue at all, leading me to believe there's no way to modify the LED indicator brightness.While I confirmed that the KVM works as designed, I wasn't able to accomplish the task that I was hoping to. Here's what I wanted to do: I have a 4K LG display which has limited HDMI inputs. With this KVM switch, I was hoping I could essentially turn a single HDMI input into four. These four inputs would include two computers and a Cable box (DVR with HDMI output). Although I knew the KVM works, and I knew that I had working HDMI cables, the DVR would not show up on the monitor when run through the KVM. An HDMI compatibility issue? A firmware issue on the monitor (which is a 2015 model)? Or a problem with the KVM switch? I don't know. What I do know is that the cable box works perfectly when strung directly to the monitor but not if it goes through the KVM.One other issue that I had in another attempted application is that I have bluetooth mice/keyboards, so to have a single shared mouse/keyboard would require the KVM to have bluetooth capabilities. It could then share the mouse/keyboard input with the chosen computer via USB. But there is no bluetooth ability in the KVM, so I'm essentially unable to make this configuration work either unless I switch over to a cabled keyboard and mouse. You'll want to be extra careful here, because even if you do have a cabled mouse, you may not be able to use a USB hub anywhere in the pathway, something you might want if only to extend the length of your mouse cable, which typically is rather short.Finally, note that each of the KVM switches is designed for only a single input/output source type, so this one, the SC945H, works with HDMI, and there are others for DVI-I and DisplayPort. Of course, if you have one computer from one year, another computer bought a few years ago, and yet another which is a different brand, you may have one with an HDMI output, one with DVI-I, and one with DP. What I'd love to see is a unit that has a choice of inputs and a single output for the single monitor type that you have, or even with multiple possible outputs so that you can change monitors without being constricted to the type of output the KVM has. I'd also very much like to see an improved manual that really goes into detail as to the connections and pathways , including what's possible and what's not, along with some methodology of making adjustments so that problems which arise such as the one I describe in the previous paragraph can be easily corrected.So again, for those looking for a very specific solution for a routine configuration of standard PCs and a standard monitor all with HDMI connectivity, and with a need for ultra-high security, this is your solution. For those looking to mix things up a little with a variety of possible connections that include Macs, consumer-grade 4k TVs, and consumer HD video products, this may not be the wisest choice.

This is a very expensive KVM switch that is really overkill for an individual, due to the price and the feature of being able to use authentication devices including common access cards (or CAC cards) for access. CAC cards seem to be a government only system used to securely access computers. If you are not a government entity, the CAC capability in the switch is a waste, although supposedly there is support for other types of authentication such as fingerprint recognition. Unfortunately no documentation is provided on how to connect and use authentication devices; there is a USB port for an authentication device for each computer. No doubt because of the capability of being able to use an authentication device, the switch is more expensive, larger and heavier than a typical KVM switch. Note that CAC or other authentication devices is optional with the switch. The switch appears to be very solidly built and should last a long time; not flimsy in any way like some cheaper switches can be. It has big well lighted push buttons for the up to 4 computers that you can attach. What I didn't like is that there apparently is no software switching between computers; you have to use the manual push buttons. (On the switch I was using I just press scroll lock twice and the computer number of 1,2,3 or 4.) What I truly do like about this switch is the fact that keyboard and mouse are controlled from a single USB cable that plugs into the switch and into your computer. I could not fathom this at first, as the KVM switches that I am used to have a 3-way cable that plugs into the mouse port, keyboard port and monitor and then into the switch with a 15-pin connector. I didn't realize that a single USB cable could handle both keyboard and mouse, but this switch is designed to do that. You just plug one end of a regular USB cable into the switch and the other into a USB port on the computer (has to be a built-in one, by the way; not on a USB hub or extender). You don't even need the keyboard and mouse ports on your computer. One thing I wasn't thrilled about is that the only monitor input to the switch is HDMI. The cables you may need to connect each computer's video output and your master console monitor will vary depending on what kinds of outputs you have available. For a KVM this expensive, it would seem that they could have included the older standard video connection (the 15-pin) that was the usual way to connect for many years until newer connectors such as HDMI and DVI came along. In any case, the switch comes with no cables, so you have to buy your own. I ended up needing 3 different kinds due to age of the various computers and the monitor and the types of video output(s) they had. I called support over my confusion on the cables and they call you back the next day; no immediate support I guess, unless you are on a paid plan. Didn't feel I got a good answer from support and was still confused about the cables until I actually connected it and started using it. To be fair, this may not have really been the fault of support, but my fault for not understanding how to ask my questions correctly. The biggest problem with this switch is that the documentation is woefully lacking. There should be some explanation about how this differs from a regular KVM switch and what kinds of cables you might need. This is a fine product, but is hurt by so little documentation and lack of explanations of how to connect it. Also, note this is a powered switch, so you do need a outlet to run it. If you want a top of the line KVM switch, this is it, but it's far from perfect. Not for novices.

The hardware is fantastic, solid. I cannot, however, find a keyboard and mouse combo that works with both a PC and a Mac that also, works with this KVM. The KVM's security features reject *EVERY* modern USB keyboard and mouse. It's not really "Mac compatible" -- mac USB keyboards do not work with it. I would love to see a list of recommended hardware to use with this because I am baffled.**THAT BEING SAID** the HDMI switching is first rate, although ironically, you can't play secure content because-- the HDMI connection is unencrypted :).If you work in a secure environment and don't mind PS/2 keyboards-- I think this is probably the ideal device for you. Most consumers should stick with the non-secure version :)