Avocent® HMX Digital Extension KVM
Industrial Applications
Infrastructure Management &
Monitoring for
Business-Critical ContinuityTM
LAN
HMX
User Station
HMX allows operators and engineers to access equipment
and servers seamlessly from their desks.
Important Points
• Remote Computer Access
Users have secure, rights-based access
to the full computer/device experience
from their desks.
• High Performance Extension KVM
User is able to use all of their computer
peripherals to control target devices.
• Ability to Remotely Access
Non-Networked Devices
Older equipment that is not
capable of being networked but
accepts keyboard, mouse and video
connections can seamlessly be
accessed remotely.
• Layered Security Control
The HMX digital extension KVM allows
administrators to disable USB virtual
media on a device basis providing for
superior security.
Plant Security
Reduce security risks by isolating equipment specialized areas,
while maintaining a high-quality, end-user experience.
Digital Extension/Switching on a Single Wire
The HMX digital extension KVM solution can be deployed easily over a LAN and
supports a comprehensive range of peripherals including DVI-I video, CD audio,
USB mass storage device, keyboard and mouse, and other USB devices. This proven
technology eliminates distance limitations within the LAN, allowing computers and
users to be located as far apart as necessary without adversely affecting function.
Avocent® HMX Digital Extension KVM for
Industrial Security
Infrastructure Management &
Monitoring for
Business-Critical ContinuityTM
Security Compliance
The Market
Modern production facilities face a constant barrage of security threats such as physical trespass on plant
property and unauthorized virtual access to plant networks and computer resources.
Unfortunately, the driving force for many plants when installing legacy and current generation systems
was convenience and interoperability rather than security. These pragmatic design choices often create
potential security flaws which are not easily remedied. In fact, in a recent third party study of five different
vendors’ Programmable Logicboard Controller (PLC) devices, significant security flaws were found in
every implementation that could be exploited remotely by an automated piece of software.
The Avocent HMX digital extension KVM solution allows plants to implement one solution that addresses
both the physical security of equipment as well as the cyber security of the plant equipment and network.
The Application
In this application, the users need full access to industrial PCs and equipment within the plant to keep
the operation running smoothly. Typically, only modern networked devices are accessible from the
engineering office. That means that in order to monitor, maintain, calibrate, and resolve issues, engineers
must make frequent and productivity-disrupting trips to the devices in question.
By implementing the HMX digital extension KVM solution, a plant can put its supervisory control and
data acquisition (SCADA) infrastructure on a separate discrete maintenance network. The security is
maintained by only being accessible from other SCADA machines and not from the user space, thus
preventing infection of the network by malware or malicious file transfers.
Engineers retain unhindered access to the equipment via the HMX receivers at their desks. The
technology allows them to almost instantaneously switch their access to any equipment (that they have
been given rights to) and operate it via full keyboard, video and mouse interaction.
Emerson Network Power.
The global leader in enabling Business-Critical ContinuityTM.
AC Power
Connectivity
Embedded Computing
Embedded Power
Infrastructure Management & Monitoring
Outside Plant
DC Power
Industrial Power
Power Switching & Controls
EmersonNetworkPower.com
Emerson, Business-Critical Continuity and Emerson Network Power are trademarks of Emerson Electric Co. or one of its affiliated companies. Avocent is a
trademark and service mark of the Avocent Corporation. ©2012 Emerson Electric Co. All rights reserved. 0212-HMXPLANTSECURITY-OP-EN
Precision Cooling
Racks & Integrated Cabinets
Services