KVM Console to USB 2.0 Portable Laptop Crash Cart Adapter
Turn any laptop into a console for headless servers, PCs, ATMs, kiosks and more
Product ID: NOTECONS01
3.4 stars
(20 reviews) |
- Very small footprint with integrated KVM cables
- Self-powered – draws its power from the server USB connections
- Multi-platform support USB and PS/2 to the server or KVM (PS/2 for Keyboard Only)
Your price
$897.99
NZD excl. GST
$1,032.69
NZD incl. GST
The NOTECONS01 KVM Console to USB 2.0 Portable Laptop Crash Cart Adapter turns your notebook or netbook into a portable server crashcart, eliminating the need to lug around a large, heavy and awkward video screen, keyboard, and mouse. This adapter delivers the VGA stream from any host computer to a laptop and emulates the laptop mouse and keyboard outputs for simple access and control of connected servers, PCs or other "headless" devices.
"StarTech.com's USB KVM may be your new best friend for trips to the datacenter... you can use this from the back of the rack. So if you are handling issues that require moving cables or network connections... this can be a major timesaver."
— everythingUSB.com
"The CRN Test Center recommends StarTech's Crash Cart Adapter for any company with a data center or with technicians servicing computers in the field"
— CRN
— everythingUSB.com
"The CRN Test Center recommends StarTech's Crash Cart Adapter for any company with a data center or with technicians servicing computers in the field"
— CRN
With portability for the mobile administrator or repair technician in mind, this USB-powered adapter features a small-footprint design that requires no additional accessories to connect to most servers, and requires no server-side software installation. Plus, the pocket-sized adapter draws its power from the server-side USB connections, allowing the laptop/netbook to last longer without consuming battery power.
Ensuring full control of the connected units, the Laptop KVM Server Console Adapter provides immediate access to the POST screen and BIOS, plus the ability to handle full configuration of the attached PC or machine; administrators can connect to a headless server/device without the need of an expensive LCD rackmount console or bulky monitor, keyboard and mouse solution.
Backed by a StarTech.com 2-year warranty and free lifetime technical support.
How it works:
Applications
- Cost effective solution for areas where dedicated rack mounted LCD Consoles are too pricey or cumbersome to install
- Headless Server maintenance
- ATM and VLT maintenance and repair
The StarTech.com Advantage
- No power adapter needed - Draws power from the server side USB connection saving your laptop’s battery life, and avoiding the hassle of finding 110V outlets in the server room or remote locations
- Small, ruggedized casing (similar to the size of a cellphone) is easily stored and transported; with no server-side software requirement, you will be up and running in seconds
Partner Numbers
- Ingram Micro New Zealand 1602318
- UPC 065030835312
Compatibility
Windows® XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10, 11
Windows Server® 2008 R2, 2012, 2016, 2019
macOS 10.6 to 10.15, 11.0, 12.0
Linux 2.6.x to 4.11.x (LTS Versions Only; glibc 2.18 or newer required)
Windows Server® 2008 R2, 2012, 2016, 2019
macOS 10.6 to 10.15, 11.0, 12.0
Linux 2.6.x to 4.11.x (LTS Versions Only; glibc 2.18 or newer required)
Specifications
| Warranty Information | Warranty | 2 Years |
|---|---|---|
| Connector(s) | 1 - Console Interface(s) | USB Mini-B (5 pin) |
| 1 - Host Connectors | USB Type-A (4 pin) USB 2.0 | |
| VGA (15 pin, High Density D-Sub) | ||
| PS/2 (6 pin, Mini-DIN) | ||
| Environmental | Operating Temperature | 0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F) |
| Storage Temperature | -40°C to 70°C (-40°F to 158°F) | |
| Humidity | 80% RH | |
| Hardware | Audio | No |
| KVM Ports | 1 | |
| PC Interface | USB and PS/2 | |
| PC Video Type | VGA | |
| Number of Monitors Supported | 1 | |
| Rack-Mountable | No | |
| Cables Included | Yes | |
| Daisy-Chain | No | |
| Indicators | 1 - LED Indicators | Host/Server Video (VGA) Link |
| User Console/USB Link | ||
| Host/Server Keyboard/Mouse (USB,PS/2) Link | ||
| Packaging Information | Package Length | 1,8 in [45 mm] |
| Package Width | 11,8 in [30 cm] | |
| Package Height | 6,3 in [16 cm] | |
| Shipping (Package) Weight | 0,9 lb [0,4 kg] | |
| Performance | On-Screen Display | No |
| IP Control | No | |
| Hot-Key Selection | No | |
| Maximum Analog Resolutions | 1920x1200 @ 60Hz | |
| Maximum Number of Users | 1 | |
| MTBF | 284000 Hrs | |
| Physical Characteristics | Color | Black |
| Material | Plastic | |
| Cable Length | 1 x 15in (385mm) USB host cable, 1 x 3in (76mm) VGA host cable, 1 x 6ft (1.8m) USB Console cable | |
| Product Width | 2,9 in [74 mm] | |
| Product Height | 0,6 in [1,5 cm] | |
| Product Depth | 4,5 in [115 mm] | |
| Weight of Product | 6,0 oz [170 g] | |
| Power | Power Source | USB-Powered |
| Software | OS Compatibility | Windows® XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10, 11 Windows Server® 2008 R2, 2012, 2016, 2019 macOS 10.6 to 10.15, 11.0, 12.0 Linux 2.6.x to 4.11.x (LTS Versions Only; glibc 2.18 or newer required) |
| Special Notes / Requirements | Note | If you're interfacing with a Linux device, this adapter is only compatible with standard QWERTY keyboards in U.S English configuration |
| What's in the Box | 1 - Included in Package | USB PS/2 KVM Console Adapter |
| USB Cable | ||
| USB to PS/2 Adapter | ||
| USB Software Key |
Certifications
View downloadable documentation
Drivers/Downloads
Talk to an Advisor
We are always ready to assist you with any questions you may have.
Live Chat (opens in new window)Manual(s):
-
notecons01.pdf
- Language: EN
Software
-
[notecons01] mac usb crash card adapter.zip
- Version: 118.0508
- Language: EN
-
[notecons01] windows usb crash card adapter.zip
- Version: 120.0918
- Language: EN
-
[notecons01] linux usb crash card adapter.zip
- Version: 118.1019
- Language: EN
Datasheet
-
notecons01_Datasheet.pdf
- Datasheet
- Language: EN
Product Support
Talk to an Advisor
We are always ready to assist you with any questions you may have.
Live Chat (opens in new window)Frequently Asked Questions
Installation
In order to view the computer connected to the laptop crash cart adapter, you must install the software package either from the USB stick or StarTech.com website. The software must be installed prior to using the device on your computer.
Hardware requirements
You require the following components in your hardware setup:
- A host computer with a female VGA and USB ports. This is the computer that will be controlled.
- A client computer running Windows with an available USB port. This computer will control the host computer.
Install the software
Drivers and software must be installed on the client computer before you connect the components. To install the software, complete the following:
- Download the latest drivers from the StarTech.com website (http://www.startech.com/Support). You can find the part number and product ID on the product packaging.
Note: Windows typically saves the files to the Downloads folder that is associated with your user account (for example, C:\Users\your_name\Downloads).
- When the download is complete, right-click the zip folder that you downloaded, click Extract All, and follow the on-screen instructions.
- In the list of extracted files, navigate to the Windows folder, right-click the Setup.exe file and click Run as Administrator.
Note: If the Run as Administrator option is not available, you might be attempting to run the installer from within the zipped file. Extract the files using the instructions in step 2.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to install the device drivers and software.
Install the hardware
- Connect the USB and VGA cables from the crash cart adapter to the host computer.
- Connect the mini USB cable to the crash cart adapter and the client computer.
Plug in the crash cart adapter and run the USB Crash Cart software. The software automatically detects the settings of the connected computer and shows the display from the computer. When you move the mouse cursor to the display, the keyboard and mouse control is redirected from the client to the host computer.
Before you install the device, make sure that your operating system is current (for example, the most recent service pack is installed).
- Download the latest drivers from the StarTech.com website at www.startech.com/Support. The part number and product ID are on the product packaging.
Note: Windows usually saves the files to the Downloads folder that is associated with your user account (for example, C:\Documents and Settings\your_name\My Documents\Downloads).
- After the download is complete, right-click the zip folder that you downloaded, click Extract All, and complete the instructions.
- In the list of extracted files, double-click the setup.exe file.
- Complete the instructions to install the device drivers, and restart your computer when prompted to.
- After your computer restarts, connect the USB crash cart adapter to your computer.
Your device should be ready to use.
In order to view the computer connected to the KVM console adapter, you must install the software package either from the USB stick or the StarTech.com website. The software must be installed prior to using the device on your computer. To install the software, do the following:
- Download the latest drivers from the StarTech.com website (http://www.startech.com/Support). You can find the part number and product ID on the product’s packaging.
Note: Mac OS X will typically save the files to the Downloads folder that is associated with your user account (for example,hard_drive_name\Users\your_name\Downloads).
- Double-click the Software Pack.zip file.
- Double-click the Mac folder.
- Double-click the Install.dmg file.
- Double-click USB Crash Cart Adapter.
The program is now located on the desktop and is ready to run.
Troubleshooting
Monitors may begin flickering when they receive a signal of insufficient quality. There are a few potential fixes available that will help to improve the signal quality in order to eliminate flickering:
- Replace Video Cables with high-quality Video Cables (e.g. upgrade DisplayPort 1.2 Cables to DisplayPort 1.4 Cables).
- Use shorter Video Cables to reduce signal attenuation.
- When possible, remove Video Adapters to use native Video Connection Types (e.g. go from VGA to VGA, or DisplayPort to DisplayPort)
- For DisplayPort Monitors, try changing the DisplayPort Version on the Monitor. For information on how to change your Monitor Settings refer to the Manual from the Monitor Manufacturer.
- Update the Drivers for the Computer’s GPU to the latest available from the Monitor Manufacturer.
When you troubleshoot issues with a USB crash cart adapter, there are some quick tests that you can complete to rule out potential problems. You can test to make sure that the following components are working correctly and are not the source of the issue:
- Video cables
- Video source
- Computer system
- USB crash cart adapter
To test your setup components, try the following:
- Use the video cables, video source, computer, and USB crash cart adapter in another setup to see if the problem is with the components or the setup.
- Use a different video cable, video source, computer, and USB crash cart adapter in your setup to see if the problem persists. Ideally, you should test a component that you know works in another setup.
When you test your cables, it is recommended that you do the following:
- Test each cable individually.
- Use short cables.
When you test the video cables, video source, and the USB crash cart adapter, it is recommended that you do the following:
- Press the Windows key + R, type devmgmt.msc, and press Enter to open Device Manager.
- If the device is listed with an error, follow the instructions on the website to reinstall the drivers.
In order for the adapter to work correctly, the software must be installed on your operating system. After the software is installed on your operating system, run the software. The software automatically detects the video source when it is present on the video port.
If the video works on your client computer but the keyboard or mouse is not working with your laptop crash cart adapter, try the following:
- Make sure that the USB cable on the laptop crash cart adapter is firmly connected to the host computer.
- If you're using multiple monitors with the host computer, make sure that the VGA cable connected to the laptop crash cart adapter is connected to the primary monitor.
- Under Keyboard, change the Active emulation type to PS/2.
How To
To confirm that Windows detects your USB device, complete the following:
- Press the Windows key+R, type devmgmt.msc, and press Enter.
- In Device Manager, under the appropriate heading, confirm that your expansion card is listed and that there isn't an exclamation mark next to it. For example, a USB controller card would be under Universal Serial Bus controllers.
Your USB device is listed according to the name of the chipset. To determine the name of the chipset of your USB device, navigate to www.StarTech.com and look on the Technical Specifications tab for your product.
To confirm that the Mac OS detects your USB device, complete the following:
- Click the Apple icon.
- Click About This Mac.
- Click More Info or System Report.
- Under the appropriate heading, confirm that your USB device is listed and that there isn't an error. For example, a network card would be under Ethernet Cards.
You may need to refresh the System Information page after you plug in your device. To do so, press Command + R with the System Information page open.
Your USB device is listed according to the name of the chipset. To determine the name of the chipset of your USB device, navigate to www.StarTech.com and look on the Technical Specifications tab for your product.
Compliance and safety
Compliance letters
-
RoHS & REACH Certificate of Compliance
- Language: English
-
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE)
- Language: English
-
Country of Origin (COO)
- Language: English
-
Declaration of Conformity (DOC)
- Language: English
Safety Measures
- If product has an exposed circuit board, do not touch the product under power.
- If Class 1 Laser Product. Laser radiation is present when the system is open.
- Wiring terminations should not be made with the product and/or electric lines under power.
- Product installation and/or mounting should be completed by a certified professional as per the local safety and building code guidelines.
- Cables (including power and charging cables) should be placed and routed to avoid creating electric, tripping or safety hazards.
*Product appearance and specifications are subject to change without notice.
Customer Reviews
(20 reviews)3.4 out of 5 stars
Tell us what you think of this product.
Need a little help getting started?
Check out our review guidelines.
Gets the job done, and well.
I have been planning on buying this since it was announced and only recently got to it. I have worked in the field for 15 years and consider this (conceptually) to be pretty much the most useful thing in a toolkit after a Phillips screwdriver.
The device works really well, I have used it both under Mac OSX 10.9 and Windows 7 at this time, it assists me both in the server room, and at my desk. No longer do I require a dedicated spare Keyboard/Mouse/Monitor at my desk, nor do I need to worry about connecting to our servers that do not have KVM functionality.
I have run into a single issue with the device which I suspect is a limitation of Apple hardware, I was unable to activate the boot menu on a Mac Mini using the host, I ended up plugging a keyboard in to trigger the event, still using the NOTECONS01 for Monitor access. For me this was not a deal breaker at all (I did try several things and settings adjustments without success).
If you are a technician that plans on using this in the field extensively I would recommend packing a DVI to VGA, as well as a MiniDP to VGA (active) and MiniDP to DP adapter. This will ensure you can connect the device to any display output you are likely to encounter in the field.
If you are thinking this will be an invaluable tool for working in the field/datacenter, you will be happy with this products performance.
Love this device. Unfortunately my company recently switch from Ubuntu 12.04 LTS to Ubuntu 14.04 LTS and now the software does not work. Without the software this device is useless. I suspect from the error I get when I try to start it from the terminal that the software is looking for packages that are no longer located in the same directory but the instal does not indicate what dependencies it has or that any are unresolved.
Does exactly what it says
I bought this a few months ago to help with repairing offline servers. Now I don't have to worry about the KVM, keyboard, monitor or mouse work (or are missing) at the remote site. This also works with Windows 10
Best gadget for IT field technician
This device is one of the best gadgets I've ever bought. I used to connect to servers using standard monitor, mouse and keyboard. No more messing with vga/power cables to get monitor working. This device saved me already lots of time that I would otherwise waste on finding, connecting and moving monitor.
App does not seem to want to
Overpriced, but handy if you don't have access to physical console crash carts and travel. Invest in cheap kvm cables to protect pins on this device as they will eventually get damaged from constant plugging and unplugging. App does not seem to support Mac OS High Sierra, but work in Sierra.
--- Update: June 6, 2018 ---
New drivers for the NOTECONS01 have been posted to our Support page, currently adding support up to macOS 10.13 (High Sierra). For the latest OS Compatibility information, please refer to the Technical Specifications tab on our product page.
Excellent Crash Cart But...
I love this adapter, but would like to see better copy and paste options.
Fantastic tool
I repair servers and in data centers and many client site this tool has saved me many hours of waiting. It was always important to watch the the server complete it post on power on. It is certainly worth it.
Works in Windows but not on High Sierra 10.13.6
The KVM adapter works well when it works, however, had to get my employer to provide me with a Windows laptop since the adapter stopped working when they upgraded our Macbooks to High Sierra 10.13.3. The drivers state they support 10.13 but they do not work. My employer will not provide me with a new adapter (supposedly NOTESCON2 supposedly works with High Sierra) so I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place.
No longer works with my iOS devices
Somewhere along the way this is no longer consistently working for my iOS devices. I am not sure if its the iOS upgrades or the unit is failing but finding help is not a trivial task. When I originally got this years ago it was pretty solid but no longer the case.
Thank you for your review, we're sorry to hear that our product isn't working as consistently as it used to for you.
This performance is not expected, and we recommend contacting us directly so that one of our Technical Advisors can look into this and get you back up and running as quickly as possible.
www.startech.com/support
Problems with Windows 10
Hello, the adapter worked very well whilst Windows 7 was installed on my Notebook. But since I've been migrated to Windows 10 the NoteCons01 Adapter isn't working properly anymore even I am using the latest driver software for this kind of the Adapter. So as soon as a Output Screen coming from the connected Device is changing, the Adapter Software needs to be restarted to get awareness of this change. Otherwise the output of the Card Adapter is frozen and not synced with the Device Output.
Thank you for your feedback on NOTECONS01. We apologize for the problems you've had since migrating to Windows 10. It's possible that some of the files or dependencies for NOTECONS01's software were modified during the migration to Windows 10. We recommend uninstalling the currently installed software and reinstalling the latest version of the software available on NOTECONS01's product page.
If you find you're still having any issues or if you need any assistance with reinstalling the software, please reach out to our Technical Advisors at 1-800-265-1844 or www.startech.com/chat. We're available 24 hours a day, 5 days a week, to provide support.
No longer works with OS X 10.13 and above
This expensive product used to work great with OS X and now it requires multiple restarts of the application with every session. It's barely functional now.
Thank you for reviewing the NOTEONS01. We apologize for any trouble this caused you.
The NOTECONS01 is fully supported on MacOS 10.6 up to the latest 10.14, so this is not normal behavior. We recommend uninstalling the software currently on your Mac, and reinstalling using the latest drivers found here: https://www.startech.com/NOTECONS01#dnlds
If you encounter any difficulties or have any additional questions, please contact our Technical Advisors at +1 (800) 265-1844 or www.startech.com/chat. We are available 24 hours a day 5 days a week to offer support.
Old tech
I bough half a dozen, and I'm a bit disappointed.
Only vga support, no proper linux/esx, and last no virtual media support.
On the upside its a small device.
Thank you for your feedback on NOTECONS01. You're correct that it is meant to be used with a server with VGA, but with the proper video adapter, it can work with HDMI, DVI, DisplayPort, etc.
Currently it can't be used with an ESXi host to connect to a server, however it is compatible with Windows® XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10, Windows Server® 2008 R2, 2012, 2016, Mac OS® 10.6 to 10.14, and LTS versions of Linux kernels 2.6.x to 4.11.x.
If your application requires virtual media support, we encourage you to consider our NOTECONS02. It is a similar product with some extra features such as file transfer and video capture.
Red color missing on screen
I have had this for several years, recently the video output is missing the color red. The VGA connector looks fine, no missing or pushed down pins.
We are sorry to hear the NOTECONS01 is displaying color issues.
If you are seeing this on more than one VGA Server we would first suggest a complete uninstall and reinstall of the software. This will cause the software to attempt to reapply the firmware when used again which may help this issue.
If you continue to see issues, please do not hesitate to contact us at 1 800 265 1844 or www.startech.com/chat available 24 hours a day 5 days a week.
Works great, be sure you get the right drivers
This is a great tool. You do want to be sure to get the correct drivers; notecons01 and notecons02 are different. Also, a note to Startech: it's hard to find this in the list of KVM switches. This really could use its own category.
Works great on Older MAC OS's
Was very happy with the product but need new driver for MAC Catalina10.15, ASAP as it's now a high dollar useless device for me.
Thank you for sharing your review of our NOTECONS01. At this time the drivers we have available on our website have been tested and are compatible with macOS 10.15 but you may need to reinstall the software from our website after updating. You can find the drivers here: https://www.startech.com/NOTECONS01#dnlds.
If you require any assistance, please feel free to contact us directly at www.startech.com/support. Our Technical Advisors are available 24 hours a day, 5 days a week.
Brilliant bit of kit
Dead easy to use and works a treat. You can also plug in more than one if you need to access multiple devices at once.
Software sometimes crashes on windows 10, hence the 4 star review. If it could be a bit more stable then it would be 5.
Works fairly well, but rubber coating degrades
Rubber coating on mine degraded and became like sticky gel, collects all dust and rubbish, disgusting to work with. Contacted support just to waste my time and hear how sorry they are for me and there is nothing they can do. All I needed is new plastic case.
Bad experience.
We always try to ensure our customers have exceptional experiences with us and our products and we apologize for the problems you're seeing with our NOTECONS01. The NOTECONS01 has a 2-year warranty with free lifetime technical support and while we are unable to replace the coating on the unit, if you're within the warranty period we'd be happy to replace the product for you under the warranty. Please feel free to contact us back at www.startech.com/support where our Technical Advisors are available 24 hours a day, 5 days a week to provide assistance.
Doesn't refresh the video correctly
During the POST/Boot process, if the server is constantly changing video resolution, it usually throws garbage text at the screen or the screen freezes. I have to keep unplugging and plugging the USB cable until I get video signal again. I'm using Windows 10 (fresh install, no upgrade from Windows 7 or 8) with latest software/drivers installed. I have more than 20 of these and I have the same issue with all of them.
Hello Jeff,
We apologize for the problems you're seeing with our NOTECONS01. We'd like to speak with you about this problem as this crash cart adapter should not be freezing or providing garbage text. Please contact us directly at www.startech.com/support so that we can help look into this further with you. Our Technical Advisors are available 24 hours a day, 5 days a week.
I have the same issue with the video not refreshing and also the color is off when the OS loads on the server.
MacOS Big Sur software?
Not usable on MacOS Big Sur v11.4. Any plans to release a software update?
Hi Nelson,
We would expect this to work, one of our Technical Advisors is reaching out to see if we can help.
Invaluable tool
Simply essential tool. No need for screen and keyboard anymore, just plug into any server and access it. Do need a HDMI convertor
Very handy tool, needs a bit more polish
I've had my crash cart for a few years and it has been invaluable every time. I've used it on servers, PCs and even Raspberry Pis. I've recommended it lots of times and every engineer who saw me using mine has wanted one.
My main issue is the software - later versions have an issue with the screen buffer, showing corrupted or inaccurate output in certain times (usually during POST and boot). After a conversation with Support some years ago, the best version I've found for Windows 10 seems to be 113.0103, but sadly this is no longer available for download - a good job I kept it when I had it in 2018. Startech, please either fix the display buffer or have the stable version available for download.
We are sorry to hear that you experienced difficulty with NOTECONS01. This is not expected behavior for our crash cart adapter. Our Technical Advisors will be reaching out to you shortly.
Wait...