Adder Technology High-Performance KVM Solutions for the Railway Industry

With billions of passengers, millions of journeys and tonnes of freight moving each year, the rail network is one of the world’s most critical infrastructures.

In order to provide a safe and comfortable experience for passengers, it is critical that rail providers optimise all areas of the rail network for IT deployment.

High-performance KVM solutions for railway control rooms

For over 35 years, Adder Technology has been manufacturing high-performance IP keyboard, video and mouse (KVM) solutions designed to bring ergonomic and secure access benefits to rail operators across the globe. Installed by some of the world’s leading rail networks, Adder’s solutions allow streamlined computer systems to be stored within secure, environmentally controlled server rooms whilst giving the control room operator real-time access to the data they need to visualise, share and analyse.

Adder’s range of extend, switch and matrix solutions can support operators across the rail network. From the operational control centre to those managing station facilities, some of the world’s busiest rail systems are using Adder’s innovations to improve efficiency and collaboration, security, ergonomics and uptime.

KVM switch solutions for managing data in the operational control room

The advances in technology have opened opportunities for the rail networks but have also led to a rapid increase in the amount of data that is generated and, therefore, processed. In order to ensure passenger and personnel safety, minimise downtime and maintain an efficient service, rail operators must be able to access and analyse realms of up-to-date information in real-time.

Adder’s KVM switch solutions radically streamline control rooms by giving operators real-time, secure access to computers that have been moved to a dedicated server room. The relocation of critical computing resources, from under the user’s desk, improves ergonomics by freeing up space at the workstation, removing noise and heat and improves security by restricting physical PC access to certain personnel.

Adder has developed features such as instant switching, which ensures an ‘at-the-PC experience’ for the operator, and FreeFlow technology, which allows users to switch intuitively between target computers to access multiple resources using one keyboard, video source and mouse.

KVM extension solutions for improved data visualisation in rail control rooms

Within an operational control room, operators receive large amounts of vital information to their own workstations, allowing them to deal with activities such as service scheduling, signalling, track safety, and the maintenance of passenger movement.

High-performance KVM extenders improve collaboration and data visualisation by allowing operators to cast from their individual workstation to a central video wall, in turn, sharing data that can often be critical to the 24/7 operation of the network. In the case of failure, control room operators can use KVM extension solutions to connect remotely over IP to a redundant server, providing the absolute reliability required by rail passengers.

KVM matrix solutions connecting control room operators with vital resources

As the rail network becomes digitised, there is a greater need for interconnectivity in the control room. However, whilst investing in new technologies is paramount to the future-proofing of the rail networks, operators must also look for solutions that lower operating costs by enabling shared access to expensive computing resources.

Adder’s flagship IP KVM matrix solution utilises existing IP infrastructure to manage and connect all I/O devices across multiple different workstations and locations. These locations may be dedicated to a different function in the same building or spread across multiple sites. KVM matrices allow operators to have absolute, real-time control over the host PC, from their workstation, without latency or degradation of image quality.

Using a single keyboard, video and mouse to control multiple resources and USB peripherals, Adder’s KVM matrix solutions have helped rail networks around the world improve situational awareness, ergonomics and response times in their control rooms.