Guntermann & Drunck News - May 2009

Visualisation and operation in control centres and towers

Air traffic control requires the controller’s highest concentration. Limited space and computer emissions such as noise and heat stand in opposition to this. For both the controller as well as the computer optimised working environments have to be created in order to enable them to work highly concentrated and precise. Since the demands of humans and computers differ extremely, they are separated from each other. The flight controllers work in the control centre whereas the computers are removed to a separate and access-secured plant room. The emerging distance is bridged by a KVM extender system. The products of one of the leading manufacturers in the KVM sector, the German manufacturer Guntermann & Drunck GmbH, are represented Europe-wide in numerous control centres of the air and ground traffic control.

In nearly all sectors of computer technology KVM is applied. “KVM“ is an abbreviation of the terms “Keyboard“, “Video“, “Mouse“.

In both the control centre and the tower, KVM systems enable the removal of computers into separate plant rooms. This not only creates space at the controller desks but also improves the computers’ accessibility in case of need for maintenance. Preventive monitoring of the device states, event messages via network or the possibility to create multiple redundancies are more features of G&D’s KVM extenders for mission-critical applications.  

A KVM extender system consists of a transmitter and a receiver. The system’s transmitter tap the computer’s external interfaces, the K-eyboard, V-ideo and M-ouse interface, and uses the existing cabling to transmit them to the receiver in the control centre. Here, the flight controller connects his peripherals and operates the remote computer in real-time without noticing the distance – completely independent of the network. The KVM systems automatically carry out the setup as well as the image tuning. Further advantages that result from this technology:

–    1:1 connection
–    real-time transmission
–    independent of operating systems and free of software
–    bridge distances up to 10,000 m
–    high resolutions
–    1:1 performance without delays

In case of maintenance, the responsible IT administrator obtains easy access to the computer. He can access the computer through a second console located in the plant room, which is connected to the KVM sender. Thus, the controller is able to continue his work without any distractions. This way, maintenance work can be carried out much faster.

Modular system and possibilities for combination

A special feature the extenders made by Guntermann & Drunck offer, is their diverse variants. Based on the existing cable medium (CAT or fibre optics), the user selects the signals he wants to extend and gets the fitting product from G&D:

–    keyboard/mouse
–    video (VGA, single-link or dual-link DVI; also multichannel)
–    RS232
–    audio
–    USB

Thanks to a power-switching component, the computer can be remotely activated or deactivated via keypress. The KVM components are ready for flash upgrades and provided with a redundant power supply. All devices are available as desktop or rackmount variants. Hence, standard products can be exactly and flexibly adjusted to the customer’s demands without the necessity of a special solution.

By combining KVM extenders with switches, several computer/controller lines can be comfortably switched via one console. Of course this also works if several computers at the desk are connected and are to be switched via one console consisting of 1 x keyboard, monitor and mouse. This not only saves peripherals but also space.

Safety functions of the KVM extenders

Since safety is paramount, the solutions of Guntermann & Drunck can be expanded with special features for mission-critical application such as:

–    event reporting functions (e.g. for interferences)
–    two integrated self-monitoring power packs
–    link control (monitoring the fibre optics)
–    permanent monitoring of the computer video signal with reporting function
–    SMNP and syslog messages

Driven by experience and knowledge

As manifold as their variants are the possibilities for combining G&D’s products made in Germany. The KVM products adapt to the existing requirements as well as to the environment variables and can be easily integrated into the customer’s concept. The company provides almost 25 years of knowledge and experience, which is reflected in the solution competency in service, planning, integration and initiation of the German manufacturer.

Profile Guntermann & Drunck GmbH

The Guntermann & Drunck GmbH was founded in 1985 and is now established as a leading manufacturer of analog and digital KVM solutions. The company provides almost 25 years of experience in developing and implementing professional products for distributing, extending and switching signals in real-time. With its products the German company serves customers from small to medium-sized companies up to worldwide acting concerns of all branches.

KVM solutions from Guntermann & Drunck optimize IT applications, e.g. in telecommunications, finance sector, digital signage, control station or control room, industrial production and automation, broadcast engineering as well as in the office and of course in the Airport sector.

Being a medium-sized company, Guntermann & Drunck provides the flexibility to meet their customer’s demands. Among them are adjustments regarding customised functions as well as integrated special peripherals.

Core competencies like development, production, sales and service are available in-house. That gives the owner-managed company the flexibility to make decisions closely to the market and in the interest of the customers. G&D assures qualitative, customer-oriented individual expert advice from planning over initial operation up to support. Only the perfect interaction of all components achieves the individual requirements of all different application scenarios.

With KVM Extenders the possible distance between computer and user can be extended up to 10,000 m. Signal transmission is carried out over existing cable infrastructure. 

With KVM Switches and Matrixswitches many computers are operated and administrated over one or several workplaces while saving in peripherals. All solutions hold the common advantage: high performance, latency- and loss-free access from the workplace to the computer.
G&D’s IP solutions extend the range of use as well as enable computer access also over Ethernet down to the BIOS level. More product groups add to the portfolio and make comprehensive competence in solution.

Guntermann & Drunck GmbH – turning technology into solutions!

Further information:           
Guntermann & Drunck GmbH
Dortmunder Strasse 4a
D-57234 Wilnsdorf, Germany

Tel.: +49 (0) 27 39 / 89 01 – 100
Fax: +49 (0) 27 39 / 89 01 – 120
http://www.gdsys.de
http://atc.gdsys.de

Press Office: Mrs. Annette Haebel
eMail: haebel@gdsys.de