Raritan MC16E MasterConsole 16-Channel KVM Switch VGA PS/2 Auto Scan

Raritan MC16E MasterConsole 16-Channel KVM Switch VGA PS/2 Auto Scan

The Raritan MC16E MasterConsole is a 16-channel KVM (Keyboard, Video, Mouse) switch made by Raritan Computer, Inc. (RCI) of Belle Mead, New Jersey. It allows a single VGA monitor, PS/2 keyboard, and PS/2 mouse to control up to 16 servers or computers, with front-panel Bank and Channel LED displays showing the active connection at a glance.

Specifications & What's Included

• Manufacturer: Raritan Computer, Inc. (RCI) — MasterConsole Series
• Model: MC16E
• Channels: 16 (organized in banks)
• Video Interface: VGA (HD-15) monitor output; TTL monitor output also present on rear
• Keyboard/Mouse Interface: PS/2
• Rear Ports: DB25 multi-server port banks (8 banks visible, each with dual DB25 connectors for CH1/CH2 per bank), VGA Monitor Out, TTL Monitor Out, PS/2 Keyboard In
• Front-Panel Display: Dual red LED indicators — Bank No. and Channel No. — with Scan Time label
• Front-Panel Controls: Auto Scan, Auto Skip, Next Bank (illuminated blue push buttons); Remote buttons; red ON/OFF rocker power switch
• Hot Key Control: Full hot key command set printed on top of unit (channel/bank select, Auto Scan, Auto Skip, scan interval, activator key reassignment)
• AC Power: 100–120V / 200–240V AC, 60Hz/50Hz, 2.5A / 1.25A (universal input)
• AC Socket: 2/1A; circuit breaker present on side panel
• Certifications: UL Listed (I.T.E. 1F61 C)
• Form Factor: Desktop / 1U-style rackmountable chassis
• Country of Manufacture: United States
• Included: Unit only — no KVM cables included unless visible in photos

Applications

The MasterConsole MC16E belongs to Raritan's well-established line of KVM switches, widely used in data centers, server rooms, and IT labs throughout the 1990s and into the 2000s to centralize control of multiple servers at a single console station. By sharing one keyboard, monitor, and mouse across up to 16 machines, administrators could manage servers without dedicated peripherals at each rack position — reducing hardware clutter and desk space significantly. The Auto Scan feature cycles through active channels automatically for monitoring, while Auto Skip bypasses channels with no connected computer. The Bank/Channel organization supports scaling to large multi-switch installations via daisy-chaining or cascading. Today, the MC16E is primarily sought by legacy lab environments, educational institutions, and operators still running PS/2-era servers or workstations who need a proven analog KVM solution with no software or drivers required.