Black Box SW721A-R4 manual

JUNE 2000 SW721A-R4 SW722A-R4 KV3108SA-R4 SW723A-R4 SW724A-R4 SW725A-R4 P o w e r 1 5 9 1 3 2 6 1 0 1 4 3 7 1 1 1 5 4 8 1 2 1 6 FREE tech support 24 hours a day , 7 days a week: Call 724-746-5500 or fax 724-746-0746 . Mailing address: Black Box Corporation , 1000 Park Dr ., Lawrence, P A 15055-1018 World-Wide W eb: www.blackbox.com • E-mail: info[...]

JUNE 2000 SW721A-R4 SW722A-R4 KV3108SA-R4 SW723A-R4 SW724A-R4 SW725A-R4 Step-By-Step Quick Install Guide f or the ServSwitch™ 1. Introduction This guide is designed to quickly show you how to attach cables and equipment in order to install a ServSwitch system. For just the basics, look over the diagrams on the next four pages. More detailed instr[...]

2 SERVSWITCH™ QUICK INSTALL GUIDE RS-232 POWER MONITOR/KEYBOARD/MOUSE CPU 5 CPU 6 CPU 7 CPU 8 CPU 2 CPU 1 CPU 4 CPU 3 Labeled "MOUSE" Unlabeled Ser vSwitch MONITOR/KEYBOARD/MOUSE CPU 1 1 Attach User Adapter Cable . 2 Attach monitor (V GA type shown). 3 Plug in monitor . 5 Use CPU Adapter Cable to attach CPU this wa y (PS/2 CPU shown): H[...]

3 SERVSWITCH™ QUICK INSTALL GUIDE POWER 6 Plug in CPU . 7 Plug in ServSwitch. 8 T urn on ServSwitch. ☞ 4 Attach your k eyboard and mouse this way (PS/2 equipment sho wn): Labeled "MOUSE" Unlabeled 9 T urn on monitor and all CPUs.[...]

4 SERVSWITCH™ QUICK INSTALL GUIDE The rest of this guide is divided into five sections, one for each connection type: Figure 1. Connection sequence. Required: Section 2, User-Station Connections (see page 5 ). Optional: Section 3, Cascade Connections (see page 10 ). Required: Section 4, CPU Connections (see page 11 ). Optional: Section 5, The RS-[...]

SERVSWITCH™ QUICK INSTALL GUIDE 2. User-Station Connections Which cables you use for these and how you connect them to the ServSwitch and to your user-station equipment will depend on what type of equipment you’re using: If your keyboard And if your Refer to this section and mouse are monitor is this (on this page): this type (with this type (w[...]

6 SERVSWITCH™ QUICK INSTALL GUIDE 2.1 IBM PS/2 C OMPATIBLE K EYBOARD AND M OUSE , VGA/M ULTISYNC M ONITOR If your keyboard and mouse are IBM PS/2 compatible (which includes current RS/6000 and SGIkeyboards and mice, as well as the Microsoft ® IntelliMouse ® ), and your monitor is a VGA, SVGA, XGA, or multisync type with an HD15 video connector,[...]

SERVSWITCH™ QUICK INSTALL GUIDE 2.2 IBM PC/AT C OMPATIBLE K EYBOARD , RS-232 S ERIAL M OUSE , VGA/M ULTISYNC M ONITOR If your keyboard is PC/AT compatible, your mouse is an RS-232 serial type, and your monitor is a VGA, SVGA, XGA, or multisync type with an HD15 video connector, first choose your Monitor/Keyboard/Mouse Adapter Cable (User Cable): [...]

8 SERVSWITCH™ QUICK INSTALL GUIDE 2.3 IBM PS/2 C OMPATIBLE K EYBOARD AND M OUSE , RS/6000 M ONITOR If your keyboard and mouse are IBM PS/2 compatible (which includes current RS/6000 keyboards and mice, as well as the Microsoft IntelliMouse), and your monitor is an RS/6000 type with a 13W3 video connector, use the coaxial Monitor/Keyboard/Mouse Ad[...]

SERVSWITCH™ QUICK INSTALL GUIDE 2.4 IBM PS/2 C OMPATIBLE K EYBOARD AND M OUSE , SGI M ONITOR If your keyboard and mouse are IBM PS/2 compatible (which includes current SGI keyboards and mice, as well as the Microsoft IntelliMouse), and your monitor is an SGI type with a 13W3 video connector, use the coaxial Monitor/ Keyboard/Mouse Adapter Cable ([...]

10 SERVSWITCH™ QUICK INSTALL GUIDE 3. Cascade Connections (Optional) If you want to connect submaster (slave) ServSwitch units to your master unit, use the coaxial Expansion Cable EHN284 . Plug one end of this cable (it doesn’t matter which end) into the submaster unit’s MONITOR/KEYBOARD/ MOUSE port. If this is the first submaster, plug the o[...]

SERVSWITCH™ QUICK INSTALL GUIDE 4. CPU Connections Which cables you use and how you connect them will depend on what type of equipment you’re using: If your CPU’s keyboard And if your CPU’s Refer to this section and mouse ports are video port is this (on this page): this type (with this type (with this connector): connector): IBM PS/2 type [...]

12 SERVSWITCH™ QUICK INSTALL GUIDE 4.1 IBM PS/2 C OMPATIBLE K EYBOARD AND M OUSE P ORTS , VGA T YPE V IDEO P ORTS If a CPU’s keyboard and mouse ports are IBM PS/2 compatible (which includes current RS/6000 and SGI CPUs), and its video port is a VGA, SVGA, XGA, or a compatible type with an HD15 connector, first choose your CPU Adapter Cable: •[...]

SERVSWITCH™ QUICK INSTALL GUIDE Figure 7. PS/2 type CPU connections. RS-232 POWER MONITOR/KEYBOARD/MOUSE CPU 5 CPU 6 CPU 7 CPU 8 CPU 2 CPU 1 CPU 4 CPU 3 13 EHN051 or EHN282 To kbd port To mouse port To video port[...]

14 SERVSWITCH™ QUICK INSTALL GUIDE 4.2 IBM PC/AT C OMPATIBLE K EYBOARD P ORT , RS-232 S ERIAL M OUSE P ORT , VGA T YPE V IDEO P ORT If a CPU’s keyboard port is PC/AT compatible, its mouse port is an RS-232 serial type, and its video port is a VGA, SVGA, XGA, or compatible type with an HD15 connector, first choose your CPU Adapter Cable: • If [...]

SERVSWITCH™ QUICK INSTALL GUIDE Figure 8. PC/AT type CPU connections (standard cable). Figure 9. PC/AT type CPU connections (coaxial cable). RS-232 POWER MONITOR/KEYBOARD/MOUSE CPU 5 CPU 6 CPU 7 CPU 8 CPU 2 CPU 1 CPU 4 CPU 3 RS-232 POWER MONITOR/KEYBOARD/MOUSE CPU 5 CPU 6 CPU 7 CPU 8 CPU 2 CPU 1 CPU 4 CPU 3 15 EHN048 To kbd port To mouse port To [...]

16 SERVSWITCH™ QUICK INSTALL GUIDE 4.3 IBM PS/2 C OMPATIBLE K EYBOARD AND M OUSE P ORTS , RS/6000 V IDEO P ORT If a CPU’s keyboard and mouse ports are IBM PS/2 compatible (which includes current RS/6000 CPUs), and its video port is an RS/6000 type with a 13W3 connector, use the coaxial CPU Adapter Cable EHN520 . Hook this cable up to the ServSw[...]

SERVSWITCH™ QUICK INSTALL GUIDE 4.4 IBM PS/2 C OMPATIBLE K EYBOARD AND M OUSE P ORTS , SGI V IDEO P ORT If a CPU’s keyboard and mouse ports are IBM PS/2 compatible (which includes current SGI CPUs), and its video port is an SGI type with a 13W3 connector, use the coaxial CPU Adapter Cable EHN500 . Hook this cable up to the ServSwitch and your e[...]

18 SERVSWITCH™ QUICK INSTALL GUIDE 5. The RS-232 Connection (Required for Upgrading Firmware, Optional Other wise) To attach the ServSwitch’s RS-232 port to the RS-232 serial port of a PC or modem for upgrading firmware (required) or for out-of-band port switching and diagnostics (optional), you will need a 4- or 6-wire flat-satin modular cable[...]

SERVSWITCH™ QUICK INSTALL GUIDE • If you are connecting the Switch to a computer at another site through a modem with a DB25 female serial port, use the 6-wire cable EL06MS and the DB25 male adapter FA042 , as shown in Figure 14. Figure 14. RS-232 connection to DB25 male computer port. RS-232 POWER MONITOR/KEYBOARD/MOUSE CPU 5 CPU 6 CPU 7 CPU 8[...]

20 SERVSWITCH™ QUICK INSTALL GUIDE 6. The Power Connection Attach the outlet end of the included power cord into the Switch. Attach the plug end of the cord to a wall outlet. See Figure15. Figure 15. The power connection. RS-232 POWER MONITOR/KEYBOARD/MOUSE CPU 5 CPU 6 CPU 7 CPU 8 CPU 2 CPU 1 CPU 4 CPU 3 Included power cord[...]

21 NOTES[...]

CUSTOMER SUPPORT INFORMATION Order toll-free in the U.S. 24 hours, 7 A.M. Monday to midnight Friday: 877-877-BBOX FREE technical support, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: Call 724-746-5500 or fax 724-746-0746 Mail order: Black Box Corporation , 1000 Park Drive, Lawrence, PA 15055-1018 Web site: www.blackbox.com • E-mail: info@blackbox.com © Copyri[...]

1 THE SERVSWITCH™ FAMILY W elcome to the Ser vSwitch TM Family! Thank you for purchasing a BLACK BOX ® ServSwitch ™ Brand KVM switch! We appreciate your business, and we think you’ll appreciate the many ways that your new ServSwitch keyboard/video/mouse switch will save you money, time, and effort. That’s because our ServSwitch family is a[...]

2 SERVSWITCH™ TRADEMARKS USED IN THIS MANUAL BLACK BOX and the logo are registered trademarks, ServSwitch, ServSwitch Ultra, Matrix ServSwitch, and ServManager are trademarks, of Black Box Corporation. Apple and Macintosh are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. ProComm is a registered trademark of DATASTORM TECHNOLOGIES, INC.™ Compaq [...]

3 FCC/IC STATEMENTS FEDERAL COMMUNICA TIONS COMMISSION AND INDUSTR Y CANADA RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE ST A TEMENTS This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and if not installed and used properly, that is, in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, may cause interference to radio communication. It h[...]

4 SERVSWITCH™ NORMAS OFICIALES MEXICANAS (NOM) ELECTRICAL SAFETY ST A TEMENT INSTRUCCIONES DE SEGURIDAD 1. Todas las instrucciones de seguridad y operación deberán ser leídas antes de que el aparato eléctrico sea operado. 2. Las instrucciones de seguridad y operación deberán ser guardadas para referencia futura. 3. Todas las advertencias en[...]

5 NOM STATEMENT 12. Precaución debe ser tomada de tal manera que la tierra fisica y la polarización del equipo no sea eliminada. 13. Los cables de la fuente de poder deben ser guiados de tal manera que no sean pisados ni pellizcados por objetos colocados sobre o contra ellos, poniendo particular atención a los contactos y receptáculos donde sal[...]

6 SERVSWITCH™ Contents Chapter Page 1. Specifications ........................................................................................... 10 2. Introduction ............................................................................................. 13 2.1 The Complete Package .............................................................[...]

7 TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page 4.4 Using the RS-232 Port ....................................................................... 44 4.4.1 Connecting Equipment to the Port ..................................... 44 4.4.2 Switching Ports Remotely (Optional) .................................. 45 4.4.3 Upgrading the Firmware (Flash Memory) ............[...]

8 SERVSWITCH™ Contents (continued) Chapter Page 5. Operation: On-Screen Display (continued) 5.5 The “Configure Security” Page ........................................................ 68 5.5.1 The Configuration Password ................................................ 68 5.5.2 The Access Password ...............................................[...]

9 TABLE OF CONTENTS Appendix Page Appendix A: NVRAM Factory Defaults ......................................................... 78 A.1 Keyboard-Command Settings ........................................................... 78 A.2 On-Screen Configuration Settings ................................................... 79 Appendix B: Cable Product Codes ...[...]

10 SERVSWITCH™ 1. Specifications Hardware Required — Monitor that supports your computers’ highest video standard (see Section 4.1.1 ) Compliance — CE, FCC Part 15 Subpart J Class A, IC Class/classe A Standards — With original Serv cabling: VGA (color or monochrome/ page white) video; With original Serv cabling (minimal) or coaxial cablin[...]

11 CHAPTER 1: Specifications User Controls — All models: Keyboard commands; On-screen menus; SW721A-R4: (3) Front-mounted pushbuttons: “ON/OFF” (power), “+” (switch to next port), and “–” (switch to previous port); All models except SW721A-R4: (2) Front-mounted pushbuttons: “  ” (switch to next port) and “  ” (switch t[...]

12 SERVSWITCH™ Power — SW721A-R4: From wallmount external power supply (type may vary, refer to labeling on transformer): Either: Input: 90 to 260 VAC at 50 or 60 Hz, 65 to 130 mA; Output: +8 VDC at 1.5 A, –8 VDC at 375 mA; or: Input: 90 to 264 VAC at 47 to 63 Hz, 78 to 156 mA; Output: +12 VDC at 1 A, –12 VDC at 0.5 A; Consumption: Up to 15[...]

13 CHAPTER 1: Specifications 2. Introduction Thank you for choosing a ServSwitch™. Designed with your needs in mind, your new Switch will simplify your job by helping you organize your multiple-computer application. With your Switch, you can use one keyboard, monitor, and mouse to access a number of IBM ® PC compatible computers (including IBM R[...]

14 SERVSWITCH™ • The units remember and restore Num Lock, Caps Lock, Scroll Lock, and keyboard mode for each CPU. • Screen-save function can turn off video after 1 to 999 seconds of inactivity. • Scan function can sequence between CPUs every 1 to 15 seconds. • You can program the keyboard’s typematic rate and delay. • Custom settings [...]

15 CHAPTER 2: Introduction 2.3 The Front Panel The front panels of the ServSwitch feature two or three pushbutton switches and several LED indicators. To familiarize yourself with these controls and indicators, refer to Figures 2-1, 2-2, and 2-3 below and the descriptions that follow on the next page. Figure 2-1. The front panel of a 2 to 1 Ser vSw[...]

16 SERVSWITCH™ Panel Label Description POWER (left) Main Power LED: Lights to indicate that unit is powered ON. ON/OFF 2-port units only: Press this button to turn the ServSwitch ON or OFF. [Numbered] CPU Status LEDs: Numbered pairs of LEDs indicate the status of the CPU or submaster (cascaded) Serv device connected to the corresponding port on t[...]

17 CHAPTER 2: Introduction 2.4 The Rear Panel All cable connections are made at the rear panel of the ServSwitch, as illustrated in Figures 2-4 and 2-5 and described below. Figure 2-4. The rear panel of a 2 to 1 Ser vSwitch (SW721A-R4). Figure 2-5. The rear panel of a 16 to 1 Ser vSwitch (SW725A-R4). Panel Label Conn. Description Connect your compu[...]

18 SERVSWITCH™ Panel Label Connector Description or Control Connect the ServSwitch’s power cord or power- supply cord here. The power supply is autosensing; it will accept input voltages from 90 to 264 VAC (on 2-port units, where it is external) or 100 to 240 VAC (on other models, where it is internal). 2-port: 5-pin DIN M Others: IEC 320 M POW[...]

19 CHAPTER 2: Introduction 2.5 Cable Requirements Many switches of this type have what seems like ten million connectors on their rear panels: one for each CPU’s video cable, one for each keyboard cable, and a third for each mouse cable. The potential for tangling or mismatching cables is high. By contrast, you can connect the ServSwitch to your [...]

20 SERVSWITCH™ 3. Installation 3.1 Quick Setup Guide Figure 3-1, below, shows a basic example of connecting a CPU, a submaster, a keyboard, a monitor, and a mouse to the ServSwitch unit. Connectors will vary depending on the types of equipment you are installing. Figure 3-1. Basic system setup for a slimline 8-port unit. RS-232 POWER MONITOR/KEYB[...]

21 CHAPTER 3: Installation 3.2 Installation Procedure This section provides complete instructions for the hardware setup of a single ServSwitch. (For detailed instructions on the capabilities and concerns involved in installing a cascaded Switch system, see Section 3.3 ; to make troubleshooting the installation easier, we recommend that you check t[...]

22 SERVSWITCH™ 3.2.3 C ONNECTING CPU S CPU Adapter Cables run from the ServSwitch to the keyboard port, mouse port, and video-output port of each CPU you want to directly attach to it. Different types of this cable fit the connectors on different computers (see Appendix B ). This cable also comes in the different lengths supported by different ap[...]

23 CHAPTER 3: Installation 3.2.4 C ONNECTING S UBMASTERS (O PTIONAL ) To connect a submaster Serv type switch (ServSwitch, ServSwitch Ultra, Matrix ServSwitch, ServManager, etc.) to a master ServSwitch, run a ServSwitch to ServSwitch Expansion Cable (our product code EHN055 for original cable or EHN274 for [recommended] coaxial cable) from one of t[...]

24 SERVSWITCH™ 3.2.5 P OWERING U P THE S YSTEM 1A. 2-port model (SW721A-R4): Making sure that the connected CPUs and any connected submasters are OFF (powered down), take the output cord of the ServSwitch’s power supply and plug its 5-pin DIN male connector into the power jack on the rear panel of the Switch. Plug the power supply’s input cor[...]

25 CHAPTER 3.2.6 C HANGING THE K EYBOARD S ETTING OF W INDOWS NT 4.0 CPU S If any CPUs attached to your ServSwitch are running Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, you must change the keyboard setting in their Control Panel from the default, “Microsoft Enhanced Keyboard,” to “Standard 101/102 or Microsoft Natural Keyboard.” Your ServSwitch system will[...]

26 SERVSWITCH™ 3.3 Cascading in ServSwitch Systems In a normal cascaded ServSwitch system, the shared monitor(s), keyboard(s), and mouse (mice) are directly attached to one or more “master” Serv-Switches, while all the CPUs are indirectly attached through “submasters” (subsidiary ServSwitches, ServSwitch Ultras, ServManagers, etc.) that p[...]

27 CHAPTER 3: Installation say that CPUs 1 through 8 are “shared,” we mean that they can be accessed by either master at different times, not by both masters simultaneously.) Adding a third 4-port submaster unit would give you a total of 17 ports, and so on. (To reach all of the CPUs in cascaded systems like this, you must set Maximum computers[...]

28 SERVSWITCH™ Figure 3-2. Basic Ser vSwitch cascading. CPU 7 CPU 6 CPU 5 CPU 4 CPU 3 CPU 2 CPU 1 4 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 CPU 16 CPU 15 CPU 14 CPU 13 4 3 2 1 CPU 12 CPU 11 CPU 10 CPU 1 9 4 3 2 1 CPU 8 CPU 7 CPU 6 CPU 5 4 3 2 1 CPU 4 CPU 3 CPU 2 CPU 1 4 3 2 1 MONITOR KEYBOARD MOUSE MASTER UNIT ADAPTER CABLES SUBMASTER UNIT CPU SS to SS MKM MONITOR KEYBOAR[...]

29 CHAPTER 3: Installation • You must not cascade submasters to more than one “layer.” That is, you may connect submasters to the CPU ports of one or (with Matrix ServSwitch submasters) two master ServSwitches, but do not connect any submasters to submasters’ CPU ports. To illustrate this restriction, let’s say you’ve installed a four-p[...]

30 SERVSWITCH™ • If you are attaching more than one submaster to a slimline or full-size master ServSwitch, we strongly recommend that all of the submasters have the same number of ports. This is because the Switch’s “Expansion width” command/ parameter—the value it uses to calculate how many ports each attached submaster has (see Secti[...]

31 CHAPTER 3: Installation receive the file at 9600 baud (9600 bps). (In this case, you must download the file at 9600 bps.) 6. Turn ON the computer identified as CPU 1. Wait until the boot process is complete, then turn ON CPU 2, wait until it boots, turn ON CPU 3, etc., until all of your computers are powered up. 7. Set each master’s Maximum co[...]

32 SERVSWITCH™ 4. Operation: Hardware and Keyboard Commands The first part of this chapter, Section 4.1 , gives you some guidelines that you should follow to make sure your ServSwitch works properly with your equipment. Section 4.2 summarizes the ServSwitch’s keyboard commands, and Section 4.3 describes these commands in detail. Section 4.4 out[...]

33 CHAPTER 4: Operation: Hardware and Keyboard Commands Though the ServSwitch can convert any supported keyboard or mouse protocol to any other, this is not enough to overcome all of the vast differences between input devices. If all of your CPUs are of the same type, we recommend that you use the corresponding type of keyboard and mouse. Other con[...]

34 SERVSWITCH™ 4.1.3 M ONITOR NOTE At resolutions up to 800 x 600, the video quality for most ServSwitch applications will be excellent. At higher resolutions, however, you might see a little fuzziness on your monitor no matter how close to ideal your ServSwitch system is. If all of your CPUs are of the same type, we recommend that you use the co[...]

35 CHAPTER 4: Operation: Hardware and Keyboard Commands The ServSwitches will support SVGA (Super VGA) video, but with original Serv cables the video quality will decrease markedly at higher resolutions and distances. Table 4-2, below, illustrates this. The distances in the table are total cable lengths measured from the CPU to the monitor. The tab[...]

36 SERVSWITCH™ By contrast, coaxial cables (required for XGA applications and recommended for most other applications) do much better at maintaining video quality, as shown in Table 4-3 below. (For the meaning of quality numbers 3 , 2 , and 1 , see the bottom of the previous page.) As before, the distances in the table are total cable lengths mea[...]

37 CHAPTER 4: Operation: Hardware and Keyboard Commands 4.2 Keyboard-Command Summary Table 4-4 below and on the next page summarizes the commands that can be sent to the ServSwitch. To enter any command at the shared keyboard, first press and release the left Control key, represented by “[Ctrl].” (This cues the Switch to look for commands from [...]

38 SERVSWITCH™ T able 4-4. The Ser vSwitch’s Keyboard Commands (continued) Logs out the current user if an access password has been set; video is blanked and keyboard and mouse input is locked until a user enters the access password. If no access password has been set, turns on the screen saver. [Ctrl] L Log Out Causes the ServSwitch to display[...]

39 CHAPTER 4: Operation: Hardware and Keyboard Commands 4.3 The Commands in Detail 4.3.1 S ELECTING A P ORT FROM THE S HARED K EYBOARD To select a port from your keyboard, press and release your keyboard’s left Control key ([Ctrl]), then type in the port number: If “Maximum Ports” is set to 1 to 9: The ServSwitch will immediately switch to th[...]

40 SERVSWITCH™ 4.3.3 S CAN M ODE To start scanning (switching from CPU to CPU in a continuous rotation) from the keyboard, press and release the left Control key ([Ctrl]), then press [S]. The ServSwitch will begin scanning sequentially from its currently selected port through the higher-numbered ports, then begin again at CPU Port 1. As it scans,[...]

41 CHAPTER 4: Operation: Hardware and Keyboard Commands 4.3.6 R ESET This command, along with the commands described in the next two sections, can come in handy when certain problems arise. It will reboot your keyboard and mouse without your having to power down the station or the system, and will also re-enable PS/2 mouse communication if the sele[...]

42 SERVSWITCH™ 4.3.7 S END N ULL B YTE (PS/2 T YPE M ICE O NLY ) PS/2 type mice send control data to CPUs in three-byte increments. Sometimes, because of electronic transients, unusual power-up effects, or plugging and unplugging of cables from live equipment, the currently selected CPU in a ServSwitch system can lose one or two bytes of this con[...]

43 CHAPTER 4: Operation: Hardware and Keyboard Commands 4.3.9 D ISPLAY L ABEL One of the ServSwitch’s graphic-overlay functions is to display the on-screen “label” window that contains the number and assigned name of the currently selected CPU (see Section 5.4.3 ). If this label is not on screen, you can use this command to cause the Switch t[...]

44 SERVSWITCH™ 4.4 Using the RS-232 Port 4.4.1 C ONNECTING E QUIPMENT TO THE P ORT For your convenience, a computer or terminal with an EIA/TIA RS-232 serial port can be connected to the RS-232 serial port (RJ-12 connector) on the ServSwitch’s rear panel (see Appendix C for a pinout of this connector). This allows you to send switching commands[...]

45 CHAPTER 4: Operation: Hardware and Keyboard Commands 4.4.2 S WITCHING P ORTS R EMOTELY (O PTIONAL ) To switch ports on a ServSwitch from a remote computer or terminal attached to the Switch’s RS-232 port, take these steps: 1. Set your computer for serial communication at 9600 bps, no parity, 8 data bits, and 1 stop bit. 2. To switch the ServSw[...]

46 SERVSWITCH™ 4.4.3 U PGRADING THE F IRMWARE (F LASH M EMORY ) The ServSwitch has flash memory, which means its firmware may be reloaded (upgraded) in order to support new features or fix any problems in its operation. To get new firmware revisions when they become available, you can download them from our FTP site—at the time of this writing,[...]

47 CHAPTER 4: Operation: Hardware and Keyboard Commands ASCII text file ( not XMODEM, ZMODEM, etc.). The Switch will send back a series of ASCII period (“.”) characters (decimal 46, hex 2E) that shows the progress of the file-copying procedure. It will also flash LED 1 or 4 (depending on the data rate). Once the file transfer is complete, the S[...]

48 SERVSWITCH™ 6. Press the Enter key on the PC’s keyboard. (If your keyboard does not have an Enter key, press the Return key instead.) LED 3 will go dark briefly while the ServSwitch reboots itself and runs its new firmware. The Switch should then light LED 4 and send some diagnostic information about itself. (In particular, make sure that th[...]

49 CHAPTER 4: Operation: Hardware and Keyboard Commands 3. Make sure the ServSwitch is turned OFF, then turn it ON while holding in both the “  ” and “  ” buttons (the “+” and “–” buttons on the 2-port unit) on the Switch’s front panel. Once the Switch has powered up, release the next port/previous port buttons, then the p[...]

50 SERVSWITCH™ 5. Operation: On-Screen Display 5.1 Overview You can use the ServSwitch’s on-screen display to: 1. Configure the ServSwitch through a series of configuration menus (trig gered with the [Ctrl] [F12] command, where [Ctrl] is the left Control key). 2. Switch to different computers from a window which shows a list of computer names ([...]

51 CHAPTER 5: Operation: On-Screen Display This menu and all other on-screen display windows appear “on top of” your computer video, assuming you are switched to a computer with active video. (If no video is present, then the background is black.) If the display is not synchronized, then you should switch to a computer with active video and con[...]

52 SERVSWITCH™ 5.2 The “Configure System” Page Use this page, shown in Figure 5-2 below, to view and change keyboard-type, mouse, expansion, scan, and keyboard-typematic settings. Access it from the main menu by hitting [Enter] when “Configure system” is highlighted. Figure 5-2. The “Configure system” page. 5.2.1 C ONFIGURE S YSTEM : [...]

53 CHAPTER 5: Operation: On-Screen Display 5.2.2 C ONFIGURE S YSTEM : M OUSE The ServSwitch will also autodetect the mouse type unless you boot the Switch without a mouse attached, in which it will default to the “PS/2” setting. To change the mouse type, press [Enter] while “Mouse” is highlighted. An input-selection box will pop up as shown[...]

54 SERVSWITCH™ “Serial 2-button mouse” refers to those mice that have serial RS-232 interfaces (usually with a DB9 connector), are Microsoft compatible, and use a 3-byte, 7-bit, 1200-bps, no-parity data format. Most PC serial mice with two buttons fall into this category. “Serial 3-button mouse” refers to those mice which have serial RS-2[...]

55 CHAPTER 5: Operation: On-Screen Display 5.2.3 C ONFIGURE S YSTEM : M AXIMUM C OMPUTERS This setting corresponds to the number of computers (CPUs) connected to the ServSwitch system. It comes in handy when you are cascading, or are only using some of the CPU ports on a single Switch: When the Switch knows how many CPUs there are, it can handle sw[...]

56 SERVSWITCH™ 5.2.4 C ONFIGURE S YSTEM : E XPANSION U NITS This setting corresponds to the number of “submaster” (expansion) Serv units that are connected to the main master ServSwitch. It helps to determine which CPU number is associated with which physical connector. If you aren’t cascading, this number should be set to zero. If one subm[...]

57 CHAPTER 5: Operation: On-Screen Display 5.2.6 C ONFIGURE S YSTEM : S CAN T IME This item determines the time, in seconds, that the ServSwitch will pause at each of the computers when scanning. The factory-default setting is 5 seconds. To change the scan time, press [Enter] while “Scan time” is highlighted. An “Input new value” box appear[...]

58 SERVSWITCH™ T able 3-1. Typematic Rate Rate Value Actual Rate in Rate Value Actual Rate in Keystrokes per Keystrokes per Second Second 02 1 6 8 1 2.1 17 8.6 2 2.3 18 9.2 3 2.5 19 10 4 2.7 20 10.9 5 3 21 12 6 3.3 22 13.3 7 3.7 23 15 8 4 24 16 9 4.3 25 17.1 10 4.6 26 18.5 11 5 27 20 12 5.5 28 21.8 13 6 29 24 14 6.7 30 26.7 15 7.5 31 30 5.2.10 C [...]

59 CHAPTER 5: Operation: On-Screen Display 5.3 The “Configure Computers” Page Use this page to set the name, keyboard type, and mouse type for each of the ServSwitch’s CPU ports. Access it from the main menu by hitting [Enter] when “Configure computers” is highlighted. The page is shown below in Figure 5-5. (The arrow in the column after [...]

60 SERVSWITCH™ 5.3.1 C ONFIGURE C OMPUTERS : C OMPUTER N AME Each computer can be given a name consisting of up to 16 characters. These names appear as labels in the “Computer select” window (see Section 5.6 ). To change a computer name, press [Enter] while the corresponding “Computer name” field is highlighted. An “Input new name” bo[...]

61 CHAPTER 5: Operation: On-Screen Display 5.3.2 C ONFIGURE C OMPUTERS : K EYBOARD Use this field to tell the ServSwitch what type of keyboard mode (PC mode 1, 2, or 3) a given CPU uses. To change a CPU port’s keyboard mode, press [Enter] while the corresponding “Keyboard” field is highlighted. A keyboard-mode input box appears, as shown in F[...]

62 SERVSWITCH™ 5.3.3 C ONFIGURE C OMPUTERS : M OUSE Use this field to tell the ServSwitch what type of mouse a given CPU uses. The factory default is “PS/2” (non-wheel). To change a CPU port’s mouse type, press [Enter] while the corresponding “Mouse” field is highlighted. A mouse-type input box appears, as shown in Figure 5-8 below. Fig[...]

63 CHAPTER 5: Operation: On-Screen Display 5.4 The “Configure Overlay” Page Use this page to set the color of the configuration menus, the resolution of ServSwitch-generated video, the type and timing of the Switch-generated screen saver, the appearance of the “Computer select” window, and the appearance of the Switch-generated computer lab[...]

64 SERVSWITCH™ 5.4.1.B Resolution This item gives you maximum monitor-type flexibility by determining the resolution and refresh rate of the video signal that the ServSwitch sends to the shared monitor while the unit isn’t receiving any video from the CPU. The possible choices—all using 640 x 480 resolution—are “PC1” (60-Hz refresh rate[...]

65 CHAPTER 5: Operation: On-Screen Display 5.4.2 C ONFIGURE O VERLAY : C OMPUTER S ELECT W INDOW 5.4.2.A Background Color and Text Color These items determine the background and text colors of the “Computer select window” (see Section 5.6 ). The “solid” colors available are black, red, green, yellow, blue, magenta, cyan, and white; these ar[...]

66 SERVSWITCH™ 5.4.3 C ONFIGURE O VERLAY : C OMPUTER L ABEL 5.4.3.A Background Color and Text Color These items determine the background and text colors of the computer label. The ServSwitch displays this label on the shared monitor’s screen as you switch between CPUs to identify individual CPUs. The “solid” colors available are black, red,[...]

67 CHAPTER 5: Operation: On-Screen Display 5.4.3.C Show Computer Number This item determines whether or not the computer number is displayed along with the computer label. To change this setting, press [Enter] while “Show computer number” is highlighted. A yes/no input box appears. Use the arrow keys to select “Yes” or “No” and hit [Ent[...]

68 SERVSWITCH™ 5.5 The “Configure Security” Page Use this page to set security options for the ServSwitch. Access this page, shown in Figure 5-10 below, from the main menu by hitting [Enter] when “Configure security” is highlighted. Figure 5-10. The “Configure security” page. 5.5.1 T HE C ONFIGURATION P ASSWORD This option protects th[...]

69 CHAPTER 5: Operation: On-Screen Display ServSwitch will begin displaying its currently selected screen saver (see Section 5.4.1.C ) over the whole screen. The Switch will not display any computer video, nor will it accept any keyboard commands, until a user logs in by entering the access password. (The “Enter password” box—but nothing else[...]

70 SERVSWITCH™ 5.6 The “Computer Select Window” You can bring up a “computer select window” on the shared monitor’s screen to select a specific computer from a list of computers attached to the ServSwitch. Access the window, shown in Figure 5-11 below, by pressing and releasing the left [Ctrl] key and then hitting the [Esc] (escape) key[...]

71 CHAPTER 6: Troubleshooting 6. T roubleshooting The first two sections of this chapter discuss things to try when problems arise in a ServSwitch system. If the trouble you’re having with the Switch is something you haven’t seen before, or if the trouble seems minor, try the procedures detailed in Section 6.1 before doing anything else. The se[...]

72 SERVSWITCH™ 6.2 Common Problems 6.2.1 A CPU C ONNECTED TO Y OUR S ERV S WITCH OR A S UBMASTER D OESN ’ T B OOT , AND Y OU G ET A K EYBOARD OR M OUSE E RROR A. First make sure your ServSwitch and (if one is involved) your submaster are plugged in and powered up. B. If the Switch and submaster are ON, check the master’s configuration. The ke[...]

73 CHAPTER 6: Troubleshooting 6.2.2 Y OU C AN ’ T S WITCH P ORTS FROM THE K EYBOARD A. Can you do anything from the keyboard? If not, the keyboard strand of your MKM cable has probably come loose. Reconnect it. B. The ServSwitch might have lost power for less than three seconds. (This can cause the keyboard to lock up.) Disconnect the keyboard an[...]

74 SERVSWITCH™ 6.2.5 T HE S ERV S WITCH S CANS OR S WITCHES TO E MPTY OR N ONEXISTENT P ORTS A. The “Maximum computers” setting is too high. (If any of the CPUs you can access are receiving garbage characters, this is a good indicator.) Set M aximum Ports to match the number of CPUs in your system. See Section 5.2.3 . B. The “Expansion unit[...]

75 CHAPTER 6: Troubleshooting 6.2.9 Y OUR M OUSE D OESN ’ T M OVE THE P OINTER /C URSOR A. What type of mouse is it? If it is any type other than those listed as being supported in item A under Section 6.2.6 , chances are that the ServSwitch doesn’t support it. B. The mouse might not be configured properly. C. Your mouse must be connected to a [...]

76 SERVSWITCH™ E. The CPU is sending video with sync on green, which the ServSwitch does not currently support. Call Black Box for technical support. F. If the video problem is not centered on the monitor, check the video strands of your cables. Tighten any loose connections. G. If no cable connectors are loose, begin swapping your cables one at [...]

77 CHAPTER 6: Troubleshooting 6.2.16 T HE S ERV S WITCH D OESN ’ T W ORK W ITH Y OUR D ONGLE -P ROTECTED S OFTWARE The ServSwitch does not support keyboard-line dongles (the devices required to be inserted into the keyboard line by some software for copy protection). 6.2.17 T HE S ERV S WITCH D OESN ’ T W ORK W ITH Y OUR IBM T HINK P AD The Swi[...]

78 SERVSWITCH™ Appendix A: NVRAM Factor y Defaults A.1 Keyboard-Command Settings The tables below shows, for the ServSwitch’s keyboard-command configuration options, the default values stored in nonvolatile memory (NVRAM) when the ServSwitch is shipped from the factory. It also shows what commands or actions can change these settings for the Sw[...]

79 APPENDIX A: NVRAM Factory Defaults A.2 On-Screen Configuration Settings The table below and on the next page shows, for the ServSwitch’s saveable on- screen display options, the default values stored in nonvolatile memory (NVRAM) when the ServSwitch is shipped from the factory. Option Default setting System Keyboard ...........................[...]

80 SERVSWITCH™ Option Default setting Computer label Background color .........................Transparent blue Text color ......................................White Position..........................................X=3, Y=90 Show computer number ..............Yes Fade out ........................................5 seconds Font ..................[...]

81 APPENDIX B: Cable Product Codes Appendix B: Cable Product Codes The table below and on the next page lists the product codes for all the types of cables we currently offer for use with the ServSwitch. The four digits that follow the dash in each product code indicate how long each cable is in feet (one foot = 30.5 cm). For most of these cables, [...]

82 SERVSWITCH™ Standard CPU Adapter Cables: Video Type Keyboard Type Mouse Type Product Code (Connector on Cable) (Connector on Cable) (Connector on Cable) VGA (HD15 male) IBM PC/AT (5-pin DIN male) Serial RS-232 (DB9 female) EHN048-0xxx VGA (HD15 male) IBM PS/2 (6-pin mini-DIN male) PS/2 (6-pin mini-DIN male) EHN051-0xxx Coaxial CPU Adapter Cabl[...]

83 APPENDIX C: Pinout of RS-232 Port Appendix C: Pinout of RS-232 Por t The table below shows the pinout of the ServSwitch’s RJ-12 (“6-wire RJ-11”) female RS-232 port. Pin Signal Name Abbrev. Direction Description 1 Data Set Ready DSR Input Reserved (not used) 2 Data Terminal Ready DTR Output Pulled high with 1-K Ω resistor 3 Transmit Data [...]

84 SERVSWITCH™ Appendix D: The LK461 Keyboard Some of the computers manufactured by Compaq ® subsidiary Digital Equipment Corporation come with a special keyboard called the DEC LK461. The ServSwitch supports this keyboard by passing through unaltered the scan codes of certain proprietary keys (such as [Help] and [Do]) and remapping others (such[...]

85 APPENDIX E: Installing the 4-Port Expansion Board Appendix E: Rackmounting the Ser vSwitch If you want to mount your -R4 ServSwitch in a 19", 23", or 24" rack, make sure you get the right ServSwitch Rackmounting Kit: product code RMK19M, RMK23M, or RMK24M respectively for the mini-chassis Switch models, RMK19B, RMK23B, or RMK24B r[...]

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