Roi - ATEN Video DynaSync Executive Overview

Video DynaSync™
ATEN solves the switched EDID dilemma by adding specially confi gured EDID memory to its Video DynaSync™-
equipped KVM switches. When such a KVM switch is connected to an EDID-enabled monitor and turned on, the
switch reads the monitor's EDID and stores it in non-volatile memory. This memory is made available at once to
all the computers connected to the Video DynaSync™ equipped KVM, and these computers are able to use DDC
sensing to instantly read out the KVM switch's stored monitor EDID. HDCP connectivity is thereby maintained as
well, preventing unwanted blockage of protected digital content.
In the event the monitor is not turned or connected at the time the Video DynaSync™ KVM switch is turned
on, the switch directly connects the selected computer to the monitor's EDID so it is still able to get the needed
EDID data. ATEN also provides a non-volatile memory to save the EDID that it detected the last time it was used
so that, when powered up the next time, the chances are the KVM switch will already have the correct monitor
EDID – even if the monitor isn't yet powered up. Since a suitable EDID is always present for the computers,
there is no "seeking" time lost when switching among multiple computers, no blank screen, and no need to reboot
computers just to get them to detect the optimum video value. It's as though the computers each had a direct,
full-time DDC connection to the user's monitor EDID information.

ROI

In today's world economy, the bottom line is the fi rst criteria – what's the return on the investment? With Video
DynaSync™, you pay no more for the switch than you would with a legacy KVM; often it's less costly. So it's
a no-brainer – if you're setting up new computers with KVM... you get the Video DynaSync™ and it works. It
saves you money contrasted to legacy KVMs because your personnel can switch more quickly and reliably be-
tween computers, they don't have to reboot platforms just to get them to display properly, and (in rare instances,
granted) they don't have to replace monitors whose lives are shortened by driving them with too high-a-band-
width video signal.
Perhaps the more important question about ROI, Return on Investment, comes up when you are
considering replacing a legacy KVM switch or switch system with Video DynaSync™ capable KVM. In this case,
while spending money on a new switch obviously costs more, initially, than continuing to use an old one, it's
important to look ahead a year or more. Eventually, if you continue to replace old computers and monitors and/
or expand the system, your data center or production facility will wind up using predominantly LCD (with EDID)
monitors and EDID graphics cards. As this transition occurs, you will encounter increasing frustration with the
limitations of the older KVM system, and overall productivity will suffer due to the lost time in switching and trying
to get the video to look right (or trying to read a monitor with non-optimized video driving it).
In this case, the money spent on installing Video DynaSync™ capable KVM now will gradually pay itself back.
Because we don't know the size of your installation, the pay scale of your staff, and so forth, it's diffi cult to
assign actual dollar values to these savings, but it's clear that savings will accrue continuously once a Video
DynaSync™ KVM system is installed.
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