Black Box SW721, SW722, SW723, SW724V SW725 , KV3000, KV5000, KV3100, KV5100, KV3200, KV5200, KV3300, KV5300 manual

NOVEMBER 1998 SW721 through SW725 (-R3) Series KV3000, KV5000 Series KV3100, KV5100 Series KV3200, KV5200 Series KV3300, KV5300 Series 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-mai[...]

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™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ TRADEMARKS USED IN THIS MANUAL BLACK BOX and the logo are registered trademarks, ServSwitch, ServSwitch Ultra, Matrix ServSwitch, and ServManager are trademarks, and “The World’s Source for Connectivity” is a service mark, of Black Box Corporation. Apple, Mac, and Macintosh are registered trademarks, an[...]

3 FCC/IC STATEMENTS FEDERAL COMMUNICA TIONS COMMISSION AND CANADIAN DEP AR TMENT OF COMMUNICA TIONS 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 r[...]

4 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ 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. T[...]

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™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ Contents Chapter Page 1. Specifications ........................................................................................... 10 2. Introduction ............................................................................................. 14 2.1 The Complete Package .....................................[...]

7 TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page 4. Operation: Hardware and Commands (continued) 4.3 The Commands in Detail (continued) 4.3.7 Set Keyboard/Mouse (IBM and Multiplatform Regular ServSwitches Only) ........................................... 43 4.3.7.A Keyboard Types (IBM Type Keyboard Only) ........ 44 4.3.7.B Mouse Types (IBM Type Mouse Only) ......[...]

8 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ Contents (continued) Chapter Page 5. Operation: On-Screen Display (continued) 5.2 The “Configure System” Page (continued) 5.2.4 Configure System: Expansion Units (IBM and Multiplatform Models Only) ........................................... 72 5.2.5 Configure System: Expansion Width (IBM and Multiplatfor[...]

9 TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page 6. Troubleshooting (continued) 6.2 Common Problems (continued) 6.2.6 Mouse Driver Doesn’t Load ................................................. 88 6.2.7 Can’t Access Mouse Functions ............................................. 88 6.2.8 PS/2 Mouse Gets Out of Sync .............................................. [...]

10 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ 1. Specifications Hardware Required — Monitor that supports your computers’ highest video standard; in multiplatform applications, should be a multisync model capable of forming video from either composite sync or separate horizontal and vertical sync signals (see Section 4.1.1 ) Compliance — FCC Part [...]

11 CHAPTER 1: Specifications Interfaces (continued)— CPU and MONITOR/KEYBOARD/MOUSE ports (continued): Multiplatform (KV30xx, KV50xx) models: P roprietary composite of: • IBM AT, IBM PS/2, Sun, or ADB keyboard; • RS-232, PS/2, Sun, or ADB mouse; and • Video (standards listed above) Resolution — With original Serv cabling: Up to 1024 x 768[...]

12 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ Indicators — SW721 and KVxx02 models: (5) Front-mounted LEDs: (1) [Unit] POWER, (2) SELECT, (2) [CPU] POWER; SW722 and KVxx04 models: (9) Front-mounted LEDs: (1) [Unit] POWER, (4) SELECT, (4) [CPU] POWER; SW723 and KVxx08 models: (9) Front-mounted LEDs: (1) [Unit] POWER, (8) SELECT, (8) [CPU] POWER; SW724 [...]

13 CHAPTER 1: Specifications Power (continued)— For 230-VAC, 50-Hz operation (continued): Slimline and full-size (SW723AE, SW724AE, SW725AE, KV3104FAE, KV510xFAE, KVxx08SAE, KVxx12FAE, and KVxx16FAE) models: From wallmount power supply PS018E: Optimal input: 230 VAC, 50 Hz, 60 mA; Output: 16.5 VAC CT, 1.45 amps; Consumption: Up to 23.9 VA (11.9 w[...]

14 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ 2. Introduction Thank you for choosing a ServSwitch™ or ServSwitch Ultra™. Designed with your needs in mind, your new Switch will simplify your job by helping you organize your multiple-computer application. With your Switch—depending on which model you have—you can use one keyboard, monitor, and mou[...]

15 CHAPTER 2: Introduction • The units have flash memory, so you can upgrade their firmware through their RS-232 ports. • Rackmount kits are also available. • Full-size 4-, 8-, and 12-port units can be expanded up to 16 ports by installing a 4-Port Expansion Board (see Appendix F ). Features exclusive to the PC and multiplatform models: • Y[...]

16 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ 2.3 The Front Panel The front panels of the ServSwitch feature 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 KV5x04M[...]

17 CHAPTER 2: Introduction Panel Label Description POWER Main Power LED: Lights to indicate that unit is powered ON. ON/OFF Power Button: Pressing this button turns the unit ON and OFF when the power supply is plugged into the unit and into a working outlet. CPU STATUS CPU Status LEDs: Numbered pairs of LEDs indicate the status of the CPU or submas[...]

18 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ 2.4 The Rear Panel All cable connections are made at the rear panel of the ServSwitch, as illustrated in Figure 2-4 and described below. Figure 2-4. The rear panel of a 16 to 1 Ser vSwitch (KV3x16F). Panel Label Connector Description Connect the sharing computers to these ports with “CPU Adapter Cables.”[...]

19 CHAPTER 2: Introduction Panel Label Connector Description Connect the ServSwitch’s power-supply cord here. This is not a keyboard input. Power transformers are available for 110 VAC or 230 VAC. Both have center-tapped output of 17 VAC at 700mA. 5-pin DIN F POWER If you connect a more distant computer or terminal to this RS-232 serial port, you[...]

20 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ 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 ServS[...]

21 CHAPTER 3: Installation 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. IBM PC equipment is shown, but the basic principles will be similar for all equipment types. Connectors will vary depending on the types of equipment y[...]

22 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ 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 th[...]

23 CHAPTER 3: Installation 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 di[...]

24 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ of this writing, it does not support docking stations; your Serv system might not function properly if any are attached. Even if you connect your ThinkPad directly (rather than through a docking station) to the keyboard, video, and mouse feeds from the ServSwitch, it still won’t work, because the ServSwitc[...]

25 CHAPTER 3: Installation 3.2.6 S WITCHING FROM THE K EYBOARD Your ServSwitch is now ready for operation using its default settings. To take full advantage of the Switch’s features, refer to Chapter 4 , which gives detailed information about each of the ServSwitch commands, describing each command’s function and keystroke sequence. For your co[...]

26 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ You can add submasters to your ServSwitch system as you need them. For each submaster you add to the system, you add as many ports as are on that submaster, minus the one port on each master “above” it that’s now occupied. Refer to Figure 3-2 on the next page: • Connecting one 4-port submaster Serv u[...]

27 CHAPTER 3: Installation Figure 3-2. Basic Ser vSwitch cascading. CPU1 CPU3 CPU2 CPU4 MONITOR/KEYBOARD/MOUSE RS-232 POWER 17VAC CT CPU1 CPU3 CPU2 CPU4 MONITOR/KEYBOARD/MOUSE RS-232 POWER 17VAC CT CPU 7 CPU 6 CPU 5 CPU 4 CPU 3 CPU 2 CPU 1 4 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 CPU1 CPU3 CPU2 CPU4 MONITOR/KEYBOARD/MOUSE RS-232 POWER 17VAC CT CPU 16 CPU 15 CPU 14 CPU 13 4[...]

28 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ • If you use coaxial cables, the maximum recommended distance from the ServSwitch to the attached monitor, keyboard, and mouse is 20 ft. (6.1 m) with typical monitors and video resolutions, but see the first Caution notice on page 23. For typical CPUs, this is also the maximum recommended distance from any[...]

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™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ 4. Attach the power supplies to the master(s) and to the submasters. Plug in the power supplies, but do not turn the master(s) or submasters ON. 5. Turn ON all of the submaster units, then the master unit(s). 6. Turn ON the computer identified as CPU 1. Wait until the boot process is complete, then turn ON C[...]

31 CHAPTER 4: Operation: Hardware and Keyboard Commands 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 th[...]

32 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ 4.1.2 M OUSE AND K EYBOARD When you power up your ServSwitch system, make sure that your CPUs, mouse (mice), and keyboard(s) are properly cabled to the Switch (or to the appropriate master or submaster unit). When you boot up your CPUs, the master(s) and/or submasters to which they are connected should alrea[...]

33 CHAPTER 4: Operation: Hardware and Keyboard Commands • If you are using a PC mouse as the common mouse, make sure that the IBM PC CPUs use only the generic Microsoft mouse driver MOUSE.COM , version 4.0 at least and preferably version 9.01 or higher. If you’re running Windows ® 3.x, this driver must be loaded in Windows as well as in the ba[...]

34 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ T able 4-1. Keyboard Mapping by the Multiplatfor m Ser vSwitches Generally, the ServSwitch interprets keys by their positions on the keyboard, so any keys that occupy more or less the same positions and perform more or less the same functions across platforms will map one-to-one. However, certain keys availa[...]

35 CHAPTER 4: Operation: Hardware and Keyboard Commands 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[...]

36 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ The IBM and multiplatform 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. [...]

37 CHAPTER 4: Operation: Hardware and Keyboard Commands By contrast, coaxial cables (standard for Sun applications, 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 page 36.) As b[...]

38 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ 4.2 Keyboard-Command Summary Table 4-4 below and on the next two pages 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 that keybo[...]

39 CHAPTER 4: Operation: Hardware and Keyboard Commands IBM/multiplatform only: Tells the ServSwitch how many submasters are attached to it. [CTRL] U xxx [ENTER] ( xxx = a 1- to 3-digit number from 0 to 255) Set Units IBM/multiplatform only: Tells the ServSwitch how wide all of the attached submasters are (that is, how many CPU ports each submaster[...]

40 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ T able 4-4. The Ser vSwitch’s Keyboard Commands (continued) Causes the ServSwitch Ultra (or ServSwitch with Overlay Option Board installed) to display its “computer select window” (see Section 5.5 ). [CTRL] [ESC] Activate Select Window Causes the ServSwitch Ultra (or ServSwitch with Overlay Option Boar[...]

41 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[...]

42 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ 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 [...]

43 CHAPTER 4: Operation: Hardware and Keyboard Commands 4.3.6 S ET S CREEN -S AVER I NTERVAL This feature reduces the wear on your shared screen and provides security for your system by blanking the screen when there has been no keyboard activity for a specified length of time. To set the screen-saver interval, press and release the left Control ke[...]

44 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ 4.3.7.A Keyboard Types (IBM Type Keyboard Only) At the time of this writing, there are two basic types of keyboards most commonly used with IBM PS/2 and PC/AT compatible computers. The older type, standard for several years, has either 101 or 102 keys depending on which country and language it was designed f[...]

45 CHAPTER 4: Operation: Hardware and Keyboard Commands change from a PC Mouse to a Microsoft serial mouse. (If you send the ServSwitch a Set Keyboard/Mouse command that attempts to change the shared-mouse type, but the shared mouse is Sun or Apple type or the Switch can autosense that the mouse is otherwise not of the type you’ve indicated, the [...]

46 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ 4.3.7.D Mouse Interfaces IBM compatible CPUs can have several types of mouse interfaces. The ServSwitch supports three of these: PS/2 (including PS/2 wheel), Microsoft serial, and PC Mouse (Mouse Systems); see Section 4.3.7.B . PS/2 is the factory-default mouse- interface setting for all of the CPU ports of [...]

47 CHAPTER 4: Operation: Hardware and Keyboard Commands 4.3.7.E Command Procedure On the input side of the ServSwitch, you might need to issue this command twice— once to set the keyboard type and once to set the mouse type. You can enter these global input-side commands at any time. On the output side of the ServSwitch, selecting the Apple or Su[...]

48 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ KEYBOARD/MOUSE port (this will require an MKM Adapter Cable), and select the port as if the submaster were a single unit. Then issue the Set Keyboard Mode and Keep Settings commands as described in the previous paragraphs. Unplug the keyboard and reconnect the submaster to the master Serv unit. The port’s [...]

49 CHAPTER 4: Operation: Hardware and Keyboard Commands 4.3.8 S ET M AXIMUM P ORTS Use this command to tell a ServSwitch the total number of ports in its system (on that Switch and all attached submasters) to which devices are or will be connected. This allows the scan function to cycle correctly with CPUs connected to more or fewer ports than the [...]

50 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ 4.3.9 S ET W IDTH OF S UBMASTERS (IBM AND M ULTIPLATFORM M ODELS O NLY ) Use this command to tell an IBM only or multiplatform ServSwitch master how “wide” your submasters are (that is, how many ports each of them has). If your submasters are all 4-port models, set the Width to 4; if they are all 8-port [...]

51 CHAPTER 4: Operation: Hardware and Keyboard Commands Figure 4-1. Alter native configurations which the Ser vSwitch needs W idth to resolve. ❶ WIDTH = 2 WIDTH = 4 ❷ CPUs CPUs 1 2 1 2 3 4 3 4 5 6 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 & 16: 7 8 5 6 7 8 17 Sun CPU 9 Sun CPU 9 Mac CPU 17 Mac CPU Multiplatform ServSwitch Multiplatform ServSwitch Multiplatform S[...]

52 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ 4.3.10 S ET U NITS (IBM AND M ULTIPLATFORM M ODELS O NLY ) Use this command to tell a n IBM only or multiplatform ServSwitch master how many submasters (as opposed to CPUs) are directly attached to it. It doesn’t matter what kind of Serv device the submaster is. For example, if you were to take an 8-port S[...]

53 CHAPTER 4: Operation: Hardware and Keyboard Commands Figure 4-2. Alter native configurations which the Ser vSwitch needs Units to resolve. ❶ 1 5 UNITS = 1 6 7 2 3 4 CPUs CPUs Master ServSwitch Submaster ServManager 1 2 34 5 6 7 UNITS = 2 ❷ Master ServSwitch CPUs CPUs Submaster ServSwitches[...]

54 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ 4.3.11 S ET K EYBOARD T YPEMATIC (IBM AND M ULTIPLATFORM M ODEL S ERV S WITCHES AND IBM C OMPATIBLE K EYBOARDS O NLY ) Most IBM type keyboards have an internal seven-bit “typematic” setting which governs the way the keyboard responds when you hold a key down to force it to repeat. (Apple and Sun keyboard[...]

55 CHAPTER 4: Operation: Hardware and Keyboard Commands T able 4-7. Typematic Rate Decimal Binary Repeat Rate in Value Bit Values Keys per Second 0[ xx ]00000 30 1[ xx ]00001 26.7 2[ xx ]00010 24 3[ xx ]00011 21.8 4[ xx ]00100 20 5[ xx ]00101 18.5 6[ xx ]00110 17.1 7[ xx ]00111 16 8[ xx ]01000 15 9[ xx ]01001 13.3 10 [ xx ]01010 12 11 [ xx ]01011 1[...]

56 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ 4.3.12 T RANSPOSE C OMMAND AND A LT K EYS This command is designed to make life easier for people used to the Sun or Mac keyboard who now need to use a Windows 95/Windows 98 style (104/105-key) PC type shared keyboard, or vice versa. In the ServSwitch’s default setting, the Start and Alt (“Alt” or “A[...]

57 CHAPTER 4: Operation: Hardware and Keyboard Commands 4.3.14 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 syst[...]

58 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ 4.3.16 S END [S TOP ] The Sun keyboard has too many keys for them all to be mapped one-to-one to keys on a PC or Mac keyboard, so there are a few Sun keys that PC and Mac keyboards can’t directly reproduce. (See Section 4.1.2 and Table 4-1 on page 34.) If you absolutely have to use a PC or Mac shared keybo[...]

59 CHAPTER 4: Operation: Hardware and Keyboard Commands 4.3.19 A CTIVATE S ELECT W INDOW (S ERV S WITCH U LTRA AND S ERV S WITCH WITH O VERLAY B OARD O NLY ) You can use this command to cause the ServSwitch Ultra to display its “computer select window” (see Section 5.5 ). To issue the Activate Select Window command, press and release the left C[...]

60 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ 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 a 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[...]

61 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[...]

62 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ 3. Make sure the ServSwitch is turned OFF, then turn it ON while holding in both the “+” and “–” buttons on the Switch’s front panel. Once the Switch has powered up, release the “+” and “–” buttons, then the power button. The Switch should light LED 1 and send you the message: Waiting f[...]

63 CHAPTER 4: Operation: Hardware and Keyboard Commands 5. If the file transfer is successful, press the space bar on the PC’s keyboard. LED 2 will go dark briefly while the ServSwitch begins reprogramming its flash memory with the new firmware. It should send the message: Programming flash This will be followed by another series of ASCII periods[...]

64 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ 4.4.3.B Upgrading the Firmware with the DOS COPY Command Alternatively, you can, if you choose, upgrade a unit’s firmware with the DOS COPY command. Use caution: The ServSwitch will attempt to send text messages back to you during this process, but DOS has no way of properly receiving and displaying them; [...]

65 CHAPTER 4: Operation: Hardware and Keyboard Commands If, however, an error occurs, LED 2 will remain dark, and there is a chance that the computer will lock up (you might have to reboot). If the computer is OK, you’ll have to go back to step 3. If the second attempt doesn’t work, call Black Box for technical support. 5. If the copy process w[...]

66 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ 5. Operation: On-Screen Display (Ser vSwitch Ultra and Ser vSwitch with Overlay Board Installed Only) 5.1 Overview You can use the ServSwitch Ultra’s on-screen display to: 1. Configure the ServSwitch Ultra through a series of configuration menus (trig- gered with the [CTRL] [F12] command, where [CTRL] is t[...]

67 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[...]

68 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ 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[...]

69 CHAPTER 5: Operation: On-Screen Display be displayed here as “US,” “US/UNIX,” “French,” “Danish,” “German,” “Italian,” “Netherlands/Dutch,” “Norwegian,” “Portuguese,” “Spanish,” “Swedish/Finnish,” “Swiss-French,” “Swiss-German,” “United Kingdom,” “Korean,” “Taiwan,” “Japan,” “[...]

70 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ “PS/2 wheel” mice, such as the Microsoft IntelliMouse, are similar to regular mice, but have a clickable and scrollable wheel control instead of a middle button. “Serial 2-button mouse” refers to those mice that have serial RS-232 interfaces (usually with a DB9 connector), are Microsoft compatible, a[...]

71 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 Ultra 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 han[...]

72 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ 5.2.4 C ONFIGURE S YSTEM : E XPANSION U NITS (IBM AND M ULTIPLATFORM M ODELS O NLY ) This setting corresponds to the number of “submaster” (expansion) Serv units that are connected to the main master IBM only or multiplatform ServSwitch Ultra. (This option will appear and can be set for Sun only and Mac [...]

73 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 Ultra will pause at each of the computers when scanning. The default setting is 5 seconds. To change the scan time, press [Enter] while “Scan time” is highlighted. An “Input new value” box appears.[...]

74 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ 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.[...]

75 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 CPU port. 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 the computer number poi[...]

76 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ 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 5.5 ). To change a computer name, press [Enter] while the corresponding “Computer name” field is highlighted. An[...]

77 CHAPTER 5: Operation: On-Screen Display 5.3.2 C ONFIGURE C OMPUTERS : K EYBOARD (IBM AND M ULTIPLATFORM M ODELS O NLY ) Use this field to tell the IBM PC compatible and multiplatform ServSwitch Ultra 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 “[...]

78 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ setting will appear for the Apple only Switch, and only the “Sun” setting will appear for the Sun only Switch.) Once all of your CPU ports have been configured for the proper keyboard mode, make sure you save the changes. 5.3.3 C ONFIGURE C OMPUTERS : M OUSE (IBM AND M ULTIPLATFORM M ODELS O NLY ) Use th[...]

79 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-Ultra-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 comput[...]

80 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ 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 Ultra sends to the shared monitor while the unit isn’t receiving any video from the CPU. For PC- only Switches, the possible choices—all IBM PC ty[...]

81 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 5.5 ). The “solid” colors available are black, red, green, yellow, blue, magenta, cyan, and white; these ar[...]

82 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ 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 Ultra displays this label on the shared monitor’s screen as you switch between CPUs to identify individual CPUs. The “solid” co[...]

83 CHAPTER 5: Operation: On-Screen Display 5.4.3.D Fade Out This item determines how long the ServSwitch Ultra continues to display the computer label after you switch to a different CPU before allowing it to “fade out.” If you set “Fade out” to anything from 1 to 254, the Serv unit will wait that number of seconds before fading out the com[...]

84 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ 5.5 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 Ultra. Access the window, shown in Figure 5-10 below, by pressing and releasing the left [Ctrl] key and then [...]

85 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[...]

86 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ 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?[...]

87 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[...]

88 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ 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 Ports setting is too high. (If any of the CPUs you can access are receiving garbage characters, this is a good indicator.) Set Maximum Ports to match the number of CPUs in your system. See Section 4.3.8 . B. The Widt[...]

89 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 IBM PC 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 connecte[...]

90 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ 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 a time. If the problem goes away when you substitute a cable, the old cable is probably defective. H. If swappi[...]

91 CHAPTER 6: Troubleshooting 6.2.15 O NE OR M ORE OF Y OUR CPU S H AS P ROBLEMS E XITING W INDOWS 3. X If a CPU running Windows 3.x locks up or (if it’s also running EMM386 ® ) displays “EMM386 EXCEPTION ERROR #06” when you try to exit Windows, this is probably what causes it: Windows tries to unload its mouse drivers and reinstate any DOS [...]

92 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ 6.3 Calling Black Box If you determine that your ServSwitch is malfunctioning, do not attempt to alter or repair the unit . It contains no user-serviceable parts (and see the Caution notice on page 85). Contact Black Box Technical Support at 724-746-5500. Before you do, make a record of the history of the pr[...]

93 APPENDIX A: NVRAM Factory Defaults Appendix A: NVRAM Factor y Defaults The table below and on the next page shows, for the ServSwitch’s saveable 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 ServSwitch’[...]

94 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ [CTRL] K Type [CTRL] B Pressing the key produces the same scan code Transpose Command and Alt Keys [CTRL] K Type [CTRL] A xxx [ENTER] ( xxx = 0 to 127; see Section 4.3.11 ) 43 (delay of 1/2 second, rate of 10.9 characters per second) Keyboard Typematic To Save Changes To Change Factory-Default Setting Option[...]

95 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, [...]

96 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ 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 [...]

97 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 [...]

98 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ 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]) an[...]

99 APPENDIX E: Installing the ServSwitch Overlay Option Board Appendix E: Installing the Ser vSwitch Overlay Option Board (SW720C-R3) E.1 Introduction The ServSwitch Overlay Option Board, our product code SW720C-R3, is an extra circuit board that can be installed in the current generation of regular ServSwitches and ServManagers to add on-screen me[...]

100 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ E.2 The Installation Procedure CAUTION! Installing the ServSwitch Overlay Option Board requires almost completely disassembling the ServSwitch or ServManager. This can be complicated and time-consuming, and it is possible to damage the Serv unit. We recommend that you let us install the Board for you at our[...]

101 APPENDIX E: Installing the ServSwitch Overlay Option Board Figure E-1. Exploded left-side view . Mini ServSwitch models Step 4: Back- plate screws (will be here on ServManagers) Step 5: Bottom screws Step 4: Back- plate screws Step 4: Back- plate screws Full-size ServSwitch models and all ServManagers (not all models will have all slave PCBs) S[...]

102 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ 6. Separate the Serv unit’s PCB(s) and back panel from the bottom panel, being very careful not to bend the LEDs. With the ServManager, you will have to carefully unplug the ribbon cables of the display panel (pry gently upward) and keypad (pry gently outward) from the J12 and J13 connectors respectively [...]

103 APPENDIX E: Installing the ServSwitch Overlay Option Board Figure E-2. Exploded front view of the PCB stack. Slimline ServSwitch models Step 13: Overlay-Board standoffs Step 14: Overlay-Board screws Step 14: Overlay-Board screws Step 14: Overlay-Board screws Step 9: PCB standoffs Step 9: PCB standoffs Step 13: Overlay-Board standoffs Step 9: PC[...]

104 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ 14. Mount the two washers included with the Overlay Option Board on the two screws that are also included. (You might have removed these from the Board’s mounting standoffs in Step 12.) Screw the screws through the bottom of the PCB’s mounting holes into the Overlay Board’s standoffs. See Figure E-2 o[...]

105 APPENDIX E: Installing the ServSwitch Overlay Option Board Figure E-3. Exploded top views of the master PCB. All ServManager models J4 J13 J12 Step 13: Overlay-Board standoffs Steps 11, 13: J4 Step 10: J3 J3 Step 3: J12 and J13 Step 9: PCB standoffs Step 10: J3 J3 J4 Steps 11, 13: J4 Step 9: PCB standoff might also be here Step 13: Overlay-Boar[...]

106 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ Before putting the Serv unit’s top cover back on, test the unit as directed in steps 23 through 28. 23. Temporarily connect the Serv unit to a monitor, keyboard, and mouse, along with at least one CPU for every PCB in the Switch. (On a twelve-port unit, for example, one CPU should be attached to port 1, o[...]

107 APPENDIX E: Installing the ServSwitch Overlay Option Board Figure E-4. Exploded right-side view . Step 14: Overlay-Board screws Step 13: Overlay-Board standoffs All full-size ServSwitch models and all ServManagers (not all models will have all slave PCBs) Step 14: Overlay-Board screws Step 13: Overlay-Board standoffs Slimline models[...]

108 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ Figure E-5. The Ser vManager’s display and keypad cables. Inside of front cover Surface of master PCB Surface of master PCB Pin 1 Keypad cable Display cable Pin 1 Ribbon cable for display, to J13 on master PCB Ribbon cable for keypad, to J12 on master PCB Pin 1 J12 J12 J13 J13 Pin 1[...]

109 APPENDIX F: Installing the 4-Port Expansion Board Appendix F: Installing the 4-Por t Expansion Board (KV5x00C) (Full-Size Models Only) F .1 Introduction The 4-Port Expansion Boards for ServSwitch and ServSwitch Ultra, our KV5x00C series of product codes, are extra circuit boards that can be installed in full-size ServSwitches or ServSwitches Ul[...]

110 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ F .2 The Installation Procedure CAUTION! Installing the 4-Port Expansion Board requires almost completely disassembling the ServSwitch or ServSwitch Ultra. This can be complicated and time-consuming, and it is possible to damage the Switch. We recommend that you let us install the Board for you at our facto[...]

111 APPENDIX F: Installing the 4-Port Expansion Board Figure F-1. The Switch’s cover . Figure F-2. Exploded left-side view of a Ser vSwitch or Ser vSwitch Ultra with the maximum number of ports installed. Step 2: Holes for cover screws Step 4: Back- plate screws Step 13: Jack screws Step 5: Bottom screws Step 10: J3 Step 8: Nuts and washers[...]

112 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ 8. Unscrew and remove the nuts and washers from the screw-ends of the standoffs that poke through the topmost PCB. There will definitely be two of these standoffs at the front of the PCB; there might also be one on the narrow right-hand end. See Figure F-2 on the previous page, Figure F-4 on the next page, [...]

113 APPENDIX F: Installing the 4-Port Expansion Board Figure F-3. The Switch’s back panel*. Figure F-4. Exploded front view of a Ser vSwitch’s or Ser vSwitch Ultra’s PCB stack (16-port unit shown). *Solid lines show actual appearance of 8-port Switch prior to Board installation; dotted lines show differences for 4-port or 12-port units. Step [...]

114 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ 15. Put the PCB-stack-plus-back-panel assembly back together with the Switch’s bottom and front panels. (This can be very tricky. Hold the assembly at a 45˚ angle relative to the front panel—this will make it much easier to realign the LEDs with the corresponding holes in the front panel.) 16. Refasten[...]

115 APPENDIX F: Installing the 4-Port Expansion Board Once you reconnect the Switch to its normal system (rebuilding, if necessary, its normal configuration), you can attach additional computers to the Switch’s new CPU ports if all lower-numbered ports are occupied. Power up the system and issue a Maximum Ports command (left- [CTRL] P xxx , where[...]

116 SERVSWITCH™ AND SERVSWITCH ULTRA™ Appendix G: Rackmounting the Ser vSwitch If you want to mount your 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, RMK19S, RMK23S, or RMK24S respectively for[...]

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