Historical Implementation and Evolution (2009–2024)

In 2009, OOBAXS (Alan M. Frank), on behalf of ECS, led the installation of the initial HD KVM-over-IP infrastructure for the Aviation Simulation Room at McClellan Air Park, California. The system enabled unblocked high-definition KVM access and control across an IP network, supporting over 63 video sources and more than 19 user workstations and large displays for training, observation, and instruction. The installation spanned 11 days and included stacking and racking of Avocent HMX Classic equipment—approximately 19 receiver stations and 73 transmitter appliances. The control room featured nine flat-panel displays for overhead monitoring, while the training area included projection and podium control points for real-time viewing, audio monitoring, and content recording. Two management stations were placed near Cockpit #1 for direct access during flight training. Transmitters were added to extend control to the podium and remote areas such as the Thirty-Mile and Sand Rooms. Mobile crash carts with multiple control points enabled flexible projection in these spaces. A dedicated fiber run connected IDF and IDC locations, overcoming distance limitations of copper cabling. This infrastructure remains in place and will support future upgrades. A single access point in the IDF across from the SIM Room facilitated maintenance and remote access, which was later disabled per USFS policy. Wireless control via tablet PC was introduced using AVSnap programming, allowing hands-free matrix management. Over time, the HMX Classic matrix required numerous modifications due to evolving operating systems, video standards, and usage patterns. These changes introduced complexity and increased maintenance costs. The proposed replacement solution addresses these challenges by streamlining hardware, reducing human intervention, and incorporating lessons learned from years of operational experience. Proposed 2024 Drop-In Replacement Raritan DKX4 Series High-Performance HD KVM-over-IP DKX4-UST (Receiver/User Station) • Supports up to 3 UHD displays (up to 4K60Hz) • Dual NICs, digital audio output, and 8 USB ports • Enables full cockpit views on single or multiple displays • Flexible display orientation for simulator compatibility • Digital audio transport for up to 5 signals • Reduces appliance count, power usage, and network load DKX4-101 (Transmitter/Encoder) • Supports up to 4K30Hz/2K60Hz resolutions • Local port pass-through eliminates need for splitters or extra video cards • Supports up to 8 concurrent sessions per appliance • Node Groups allow automatic multi-output viewing • Fanless design reduces heat, noise, and energy consumption CommandCenter Secure Gateway (CC-SG) • Centralized BIOS-level access and control • Supports remote power control via Raritan PX and Server Technology PDUs • Integrates with LDAP, AD, RADIUS, TACACS+ • Enforces MFA and RBAC • Consolidated logging and audit trails for compliance Network Infrastructure The DKX4 Series and CC-SG will operate on a high-performance EXTREME Networks GigE backbone, matching the Flight Simulator provider's infrastructure. This alignment ensures reliable performance, simplified maintenance, and seamless integration. Summary The Raritan solution offers a direct, compatible replacement for the legacy HD KVM system. It reduces hardware footprint, power consumption, and operational complexity while enabling secure remote access through CC-SG (pending policy reinstatement). This upgrade reflects years of research, hands-on experience, and strategic refinement to meet evolving simulation and training needs.

2024 USDA Forest Service AV SIM ROOM - Upgrade Breakdown

CASE STUDY - US Forestry Service Flight Simulation Training Facility - Not Approved by Alan M. Frank

Case Study – US Forestry Service Flight Simulation Training Facility

Figure 1- View of Flight Simulation Room from the Control Room

Goal

Provide a reliable delivery system for high resolution video and Out-of-Band (OOB) access to the flight simulators and AV equipment

throughout the Wildland Fire Training and Conference Center (WFTC) of the US Forestry Service located in Sacramento, CA.

Control room, Flight Sim Room, South Canyon Sand Table, Thirty Mile Presentation Room, and two IDFs were upgraded as part of the

process.

Challenge

The US Forestry Service uses a variety of aircraft for firefighting. Conducting frequent training on simulated aircraft operation and

firefighting techniques is crucial to pilots being successful under pressure and cost effectively defending peoples’ lives and property

from the growing problem of wildfires.

In operation continuously since 2009, the fourteen year old legacy infrastructure of the WFTC facility was due for an update.

Upgrading the computers and KVMs that drive the ATC Flight Simulators was necessary to get the facility up to current standards and

maximum efficiency. Newer computers did not have the legacy video ports supported by the prior KVM products, necessitating an

update of the KVMs as well.

Solution

ECS, a technology integration company specializing in data center infrastructure solutions, partnered with Raritan, a brand of

Legrand, to help the Forestry Service implement a new video distribution architecture.

ECS offered the Dominion KX4-101 KVM-over-IP Switch, Dominion KX4-UST User Station, and Command Center Secure Gateway (CC-

SG), as the solution of choice to join displays in the Flight Simulator Room, the Control Room, Sand Table Room, Presentation Room

and two IDFs inside the WFTC.

Results

The Raritan solution set saved the customer on both electrical power consumption and the number of hardware devices needed to

connect everything together. It also helped to reduce fan noise throughout the facility, as the prior KVM devices relied on fans for

cooling while the new DKX4-101 is a fan-less device that employs convection cooling.

For More Information

Raritan offers the most advanced technology solutions to help you manage, maintain and operate your critical IT

equipment to its maximum potential: From power management and remote server access products, to Legrand’s

connectivity and physical infrastructure solutions.

Build on 30 years of engineering expertise and customer insight, we’re proven to offer reliable solutions to

efficiently manage your unique date center rack and white space environment

Figure 2- Inside the cockpit of the ATC simulator for fixed wing training

Figure 3- Rear view of ATC Simulator video displays

Figure 4 - Twin engine DC-3 equipped with flame retardant delivery system Figure 5 - Rotary wing aircraft for water delivery

Figure 6 - Presentation Room

 

Connect with OOBAXS

Historical Implementation

and Evolution (2009–2024)

In 2009, OOBAXS (Alan M. Frank), on behalf of ECS, led the installation of the initial HD KVM-over-IP infrastructure for the Aviation Simulation Room at McClellan Air Park, California. The system enabled unblocked high-definition KVM access and control across an IP network, supporting over 63 video sources and more than 19 user workstations and large displays for training, observation, and instruction. The installation spanned 11 days and included stacking and racking of Avocent HMX Classic equipment—approximately 19 receiver stations and 73 transmitter appliances. The control room featured nine flat-panel displays for overhead monitoring, while the training area included projection and podium control points for real-time viewing, audio monitoring, and content recording. Two management stations were placed near Cockpit #1 for direct access during flight training. Transmitters were added to extend control to the podium and remote areas such as the Thirty-Mile and Sand Rooms. Mobile crash carts with multiple control points enabled flexible projection in these spaces. A dedicated fiber run connected IDF and IDC locations, overcoming distance limitations of copper cabling. This infrastructure remains in place and will support future upgrades. A single access point in the IDF across from the SIM Room facilitated maintenance and remote access, which was later disabled per USFS policy. Wireless control via tablet PC was introduced using AVSnap programming, allowing hands-free matrix management. Over time, the HMX Classic matrix required numerous modifications due to evolving operating systems, video standards, and usage patterns. These changes introduced complexity and increased maintenance costs. The proposed replacement solution addresses these challenges by streamlining hardware, reducing human intervention, and incorporating lessons learned from years of operational experience. Proposed 2024 Drop-In Replacement Raritan DKX4 Series High-Performance HD KVM-over-IP DKX4-UST (Receiver/User Station) • Supports up to 3 UHD displays (up to 4K60Hz) • Dual NICs, digital audio output, and 8 USB ports • Enables full cockpit views on single or multiple displays • Flexible display orientation for simulator compatibility • Digital audio transport for up to 5 signals • Reduces appliance count, power usage, and network load DKX4-101 (Transmitter/Encoder) • Supports up to 4K30Hz/2K60Hz resolutions • Local port pass-through eliminates need for splitters or extra video cards • Supports up to 8 concurrent sessions per appliance • Node Groups allow automatic multi-output viewing • Fanless design reduces heat, noise, and energy consumption CommandCenter Secure Gateway (CC-SG) • Centralized BIOS-level access and control • Supports remote power control via Raritan PX and Server Technology PDUs • Integrates with LDAP, AD, RADIUS, TACACS+ • Enforces MFA and RBAC • Consolidated logging and audit trails for compliance Network Infrastructure The DKX4 Series and CC-SG will operate on a high-performance EXTREME Networks GigE backbone, matching the Flight Simulator provider's infrastructure. This alignment ensures reliable performance, simplified maintenance, and seamless integration. Summary The Raritan solution offers a direct, compatible replacement for the legacy HD KVM system. It reduces hardware footprint, power consumption, and operational complexity while enabling secure remote access through CC-SG (pending policy reinstatement). This upgrade reflects years of research, hands-on experience, and strategic refinement to meet evolving simulation and training needs.

2024

USD

A

Fores

t

Servi

ce AV

SIM

ROO

M -

Upgr

ade

Brea

kdow

n

CASE STUDY - US Forestry Service Flight Simulation Training Facility - Not Approved by Alan M. Frank

Case

Study –

US

Forestry

Service

Flight

Simulatio

n

Training

Facility

Figure

1- View of

Flight

Simulation

Room from

the Control

Room

Goal

Provide a

reliable

delivery

system

for high

resolutio

n video

and Out-

of-Band

(OOB)

access to

the flight

simulator

s and AV

equipme

nt

througho

ut the

Wildland

Fire

Training

and

Conferen

ce

Center

(WFTC)

of the US

Forestry

Service

located

in

Sacrame

nto, CA.

Control

room,

Flight

Sim

Room,

South

Canyon

Sand

Table,

Thirty

Mile

Presenta

tion

Room,

and two

IDFs

were

upgraded

as part of

the

process.

Challeng

e

The US

Forestry

Service

uses a

variety of

aircraft

for

firefighti

ng.

Conducti

ng

frequent

training

on

simulate

d aircraft

operatio

n and

firefighti

ng

techniqu

es is

crucial to

pilots

being

successf

ul under

pressure

and cost

effectivel

y

defendin

g

peoples’

lives and

property

from the

growing

problem

of

wildfires.

In

operatio

n

continuo

usly

since

2009, the

fourteen

year old

legacy

infrastru

cture of

the

WFTC

facility

was due

for an

update.

Upgradin

g the

compute

rs and

KVMs

that

drive the

ATC

Flight

Simulato

rs was

necessar

y to get

the

facility

up to

current

standard

s and

maximu

m

efficienc

y. Newer

compute

rs did not

have the

legacy

video

ports

supporte

d by the

prior

KVM

products,

necessita

ting an

update of

the

KVMs as

well.

Solution

ECS, a

technolo

gy

integrati

on

company

specializi

ng in

data

center

infrastru

cture

solutions

,

partnere

d with

Raritan, a

brand of

Legrand,

to help

the

Forestry

Service

impleme

nt a new

video

distributi

on

architect

ure.

ECS

offered

the

Dominio

n KX4-

101

KVM-

over-IP

Switch,

Dominio

n KX4-

UST User

Station,

and

Comman

d Center

Secure

Gateway

(CC-SG),

as the

solution

of choice

to join

displays

in the

Flight

Simulato

r Room,

the

Control

Room,

Sand

Table

Room,

Presenta

tion

Room

and two

IDFs

inside

the

WFTC.

Results

The

Raritan

solution

set saved

the

customer

on both

electrical

power

consump

tion and

the

number

of

hardwar

e devices

needed

to

connect

everythi

ng

together.

It also

helped to

reduce

fan noise

througho

ut the

facility,

as the

prior

KVM

devices

relied on

fans for

cooling

while the

new

DKX4-

101 is a

fan-less

device

that

employs

convecti

on

cooling.

For More

Informati

on

Raritan

offers

the most

advance

d

technolo

gy

solutions

to help

you

manage,

maintain

and

operate

your

critical IT

equipme

nt to its

maximu

m

potential

: From

power

manage

ment and

remote

server

access

products,

to

Legrand’

s

connecti

vity and

physical

infrastru

cture

solutions

.

Build on

30 years

of

engineeri

ng

expertise

and

customer

insight,

we’re

proven

to offer

reliable

solutions

to

efficientl

y manage

your

unique

date

center

rack and

white

space

environm

ent

Figure 2-

Inside

the

cockpit

of the

ATC

simulator

for fixed

wing

training

Figure 3-

Rear

view of

ATC

Simulato

r video

displays

Figure 4 -

Twin

engine

DC-3

equipped

with

flame

retardan

t delivery

system

Figure 5 -

Rotary

wing

aircraft

for water

delivery

Figure 6 -

Presenta

tion

Room

 

Connect with OOBAXS