Page 2 - ServSwitch Freedom; Trademarks Used in this Manual; We‘re here to help! If you have any questions about your application
ServSwitch Freedom 724-746-5500 | blackbox.com Page 2 Trademarks Used in this Manual Black Box and the Double Diamond logo are registered trademarks, and ServSwitch is a trademark, of BB Technologies, Inc. Mac is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. Linux is registered trademark of Linus T...
Page 3 - FCC and IC RFI Statements
FCC and IC RFI Statements 724-746-5500 | blackbox.com Page 3 Federal Communications Commission and Industry Canada Radio Frequency Interference Statements This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio-frequency energy, and if not installed and used properly, that is, in strict accordance wit...
Page 4 - Instrucciones de Seguridad; Todas las instrucciones de operación y uso deben ser seguidas.
ServSwitch Freedom 724-746-5500 | blackbox.com Page 4 Instrucciones de Seguridad (Normas Oficiales Mexicanas Electrical Safety Statement) 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 operació...
Page 5 - Table of Contents; Contents
Table of Contents 724-746-5500 | blackbox.com Page 5 Contents 1. Specifications .............................................................................................................................................................................. 62. Overview ...................................
Page 6 - Hardware Compatibility: All computers with USB interfaces
ServSwitch Freedom 724-746-5500 | blackbox.com Page 6 1. Specifications Approvals: CE, FCC Hardware Compatibility: All computers with USB interfaces Software Compatibility: Operates with all known software and operating systems including Windows ® , Linux ® , Unix ® , BSD, all Sun ® OS, all Mac ® OS...
Page 7 - The ServSwitch; Glide and Switch
Chapter 2: Overview 724-746-5500 | blackbox.com Page 7 2. Overview 2.1 Introduction The ServSwitch ™ Freedom is a compact unit created to allow a single operator to access information and control operations across numerous systems and screens. With the ServSwitch Freedom unit, you can use a single U...
Page 8 - • ServSwitch Freedom unit; Additional Items You May Need
ServSwitch Freedom 724-746-5500 | blackbox.com Page 8 2.2 Features Multiple screens, multiple systems The ServSwitch Freedom unit allows you to control up to four individual computer systems and their display screens using just one keyboard and mouse set. You can also share two further USB periphera...
Page 9 - S e r v S w i t c h F r e e d o m; Hardware Description; Number
Chapter 2: Overview 724-746-5500 | blackbox.com Page 9 COMPUTER K/M SPK USB1 USB2 MODE S e r v S w i t c h F r e e d o m ™ B L A C K B O X D E S K T O P K V M S W I T C H 2.5 Hardware Description 2.5.1 Top Panel Figure 2-2 shows the top panel of the unit. Table 2-1 describes its components: Figure 2...
Page 10 - Number Component
ServSwitch Freedom 724-746-5500 | blackbox.com Page 10 2.5.2 Rear Panel Figure 2-3 shows the rear panel of the unit. Table 2-2 describes its components: Figure 2-3. Rear panel. Table 2-2. Rear panel components. Number Component Description 4 2.5-mm Barrel connector Power input or power supply connec...
Page 11 - Chapter 3: Installation; desk or placed adjacent to the connected systems.
Chapter 3: Installation 724-746-5500 | blackbox.com Page 11 3. Installation 3.1 Locations Please consider the following important points when planning the position of the ServSwitch Freedom unit: • Situate the ServSwitch Freedom unit close to the systems to which it will be connected and near to a p...
Page 12 - power in; To connect peripherals to the user console
ServSwitch Freedom 724-746-5500 | blackbox.com Page 12 3.3 Connections Connections do not need to be carried out in the order given within this guide; however, where possible connect the power in as a final step. 3.3.1 User console The ports that make up the user console are where you attach the per...
Page 13 - To connect a computer system
Chapter 3: Installation 724-746-5500 | blackbox.com Page 13 5V 2.5A I N D O O R U S E O N L Y OP TIO NS 2 1 4. Audio: Where required, connect the lead from your speakers to the audio socket. See Figure 3-3. Figure 3-3. Connecting speakers to the user console. 3.3.2 Computer systems Each computer sys...
Page 14 - To connect the power supply; Attach the output lead from the power adapter to the; Connect the power lead to a nearby main supply socket.
ServSwitch Freedom 724-746-5500 | blackbox.com Page 14 3.3.3 Power in connection The ServSwitch Freedom unit is supplied with a 12.5W power adapter. There is no on/off switch on the unit, so operation begins as soon as a power adapter is connected. To connect the power supply 1. Attach the output le...
Page 15 - Channel switching by external control; To connect a computer or device for remote control
Chapter 3: Installation 724-746-5500 | blackbox.com Page 15 3.3.4 Channel switching by external control The OPTIONS port allows external control of the current channel by commands sent either via RS-232 serial input or by switching one of the four channel select input lines. For more details about t...
Page 16 - Serial port parameter settings; Ensure that the chosen serial port is configured to the following:; Serial port channel selection codes; ASCII
ServSwitch Freedom 724-746-5500 | blackbox.com Page 16 3.3.4.2 Control by RS-232 serial Serial port parameter settings Ensure that the chosen serial port is configured to the following: • Baud rate: 1200 • Data bits: 8 • Stop bit: 1 • Parity: None Serial port channel selection codes ASCII Character ...
Page 17 - upgrades; port of the main ServSwitch Freedom switch.
Chapter 3: Installation 724-746-5500 | blackbox.com Page 17 3.3.5 Optional LED indicator connections The optional ServSwitch Freedom LED Monitor module (part number: KV0004A-LED) enables you to add LED (Light Emitting Diode) indicators to each of your video display screens to show which are active. ...
Page 18 - Configuring LED indicators
ServSwitch Freedom 724-746-5500 | blackbox.com Page 18 2. Link each LED indicator to a port on the ServSwitch Freedom LED Monitor module - ports 1 to 4 are most commonly used. See Figure 3-10. 3. You need to tell the ServSwitch Freedom LED Monitor which LED indicator to illuminate (and in which colo...
Page 19 - Chapter 4: Configuration; Using the Configuration Menu; To use the configuration menu; Enter; The display will show:; To exit the configuration menu and save changes
Chapter 4: Configuration 724-746-5500 | blackbox.com Page 19 4. Configuration 4.1 Using the Configuration Menu The configuration mode allows you to determine numerous aspects of the ServSwitch Freedom unit capabilities. To use the configuration menu During normal use, the seven segment display on th...
Page 21 - General configuration
Chapter 4: Configuration 724-746-5500 | blackbox.com Page 21 4.2 General configuration 4.2.1 Changing hotkeys ServSwitch Freedom units use CTRL and ALT as their standard hotkeys. These can be changed if they clash with other software or hardware within the installation. To change the hotkeys 1. Ente...
Page 24 - Glide and Switch configuration; Optional LED monitor indicator connections; Configuring the Glide and Switch system; Screens
ServSwitch Freedom 724-746-5500 | blackbox.com Page 24 1A 2A 3A 4A 1A 2A 3A 4A 1A 2A 3A 4A 4.3 Glide and Switch configuration 4.3.1 Installing the Glide and Switch configuration application The Glide and Switch configuration application is available for download from the Black Box website. Go to the...
Page 25 - File; and choose the; Save; Click the; Configure; menu and choose the; Send Layout to Switch; See
Chapter 4: Configuration 724-746-5500 | blackbox.com Page 25 3. Double-click on each screen representation to set the screen resolution and, optionally, add a screen name and/or configure an LED indicator (if used). See Figure 4-3. Figure 4-3. Defining the resolution of a screen and (optionally) a n...
Page 26 - Multi-Monitor Glide and Switch configuration; Install for all users; Full Install; • Options to install individually:; Drivers; Choose the required components and click the; Finish; Note: On each PC that you installed the driver, a process called
ServSwitch Freedom 724-746-5500 | blackbox.com Page 26 4.4 Multi-Monitor Glide and Switch configuration 4.4.1 Installing drivers and multi-monitor config app In order to use Multi-Monitor mode you will need to install a Multi-Monitor Glide and Switch driver (available for download from the Black Box...
Page 27 - LED indicator connections; Glide and Switch configuration
Chapter 4: Configuration 724-746-5500 | blackbox.com Page 27 4.4.2 Configuring multiple monitors Multi-Monitor configuration is similar to normal Glide and Switch setup except that you can add more than one display per PC, up to a total of eight per machine. Note: It is necessary to install a driver...
Page 28 - Adjusting color and brightness for all indicators; and then tick the option
ServSwitch Freedom 724-746-5500 | blackbox.com Page 28 4.5 Configuring LED indicators When the optional ServSwitch Freedom LED Monitor indicator kit is used, there are several configuration options available that allow you to customise behavior and these are set using the Glide and Switch configurat...
Page 29 - No LED
Chapter 4: Configuration 724-746-5500 | blackbox.com Page 29 Figure 4-7. Choosing an individual indicator port 4. Choose the ServSwitch Freedom LED Monitor output port that you wish to associate with the currently selected video screen. 5. Optionally alter the color, from the Color: list, that you w...
Page 30 - Optional Glide and Switch operations and settings
ServSwitch Freedom 724-746-5500 | blackbox.com Page 30 4.6 Optional Glide and Switch operations and settings 4.6.1 Downloading the existing layout from the ServSwitch Freedom If the ServSwitch Freedom unit has already been configured and you wish to alter it (and you don’t have a saved .ffc config f...
Page 31 - Performing upgrades; Items required to perform an upgrade; Using the KVM Firmware Uploader utility; Query Unit
Chapter 4: Configuration 724-746-5500 | blackbox.com Page 31 4.7 Performing upgrades The ServSwitch Freedom unit is fully upgradable via flash upgrade. Such upgrades require a Windows-based computer system to be linked via the OPTIONS port. Items required to perform an upgrade • Upgrade cable (suppl...
Page 32 - where xxx is the firmware version.; Issues to consider when performing flash upgrades
ServSwitch Freedom 724-746-5500 | blackbox.com Page 32 7. From the main KVM Firmware Uploader dialog, click the Browse... button and select the upgrade file: FREEDM_xxx.txt where xxx is the firmware version. The upgrade file details will be displayed within the dialog. IMPORTANT: Check that the ‘Int...
Page 33 - Selecting a computer; Using the front panel controls; Selecting a computer using the Glide and Switch utility
Chapter 5: Operation 724-746-5500 | blackbox.com Page 33 5. Operation 5.1 Selecting a computer There are five ways to switch the common peripherals to specific computer channels: • Using the innovative Glide and Switch automatic switching utility • Using the front panel controls • Using hotkeys • Us...
Page 34 - Selecting a computer using the front panel; To select a computer using the front panel; Figure 5-2. Changing the switching mode using the MODE button.
ServSwitch Freedom 724-746-5500 | blackbox.com Page 34 5.1.2 Selecting a computer using the front panel The front panel allows you to determine how the various peripherals are switched to one or more computer channels. K/M SPK USB1 USB2 MODE MODE MODE MODE MODE Will switch all peripherals together W...
Page 35 - Selecting a computer using hotkeys; Choosing which computers are accessed when using hot keys + tab
Chapter 5: Operation 724-746-5500 | blackbox.com Page 35 5.1.3 Selecting a computer using hotkeys Using hotkey combinations, you can quickly switch the keyboard, mouse, speakers and USB peripherals to any computer channel. There are two mains ways to use hotkeys: Standard and Additional . 5.1.3.1 Us...
Page 36 - CTRL; Selecting a computer using the mouse buttons; To select a computer using the mouse buttons; Choosing which computers are accessed when using mouse buttons
ServSwitch Freedom 724-746-5500 | blackbox.com Page 36 5.1.3.2 Using additional hotkey press combinations In addition to the standard hotkey press combinations (shown left), you can also add additional keypresses in order to determine which peripherals are switched: 1. Simultaneously press and hold ...
Page 37 - Locking access to the computers
Chapter 5: Operation 724-746-5500 | blackbox.com Page 37 5.2 Locking access to the computers When privacy is required, you can lock access to the connected computers via the unit. To lock the unit 1. Simultaneously press and hold CTRL and ALT (or other hotkeys, if altered). 2. While still holding CT...
Page 38 - • Quick, transparent and reliable switching,; A.1 Enumerated USB switching; Enumeration; A.2 Emulated USB switching; Emulating
ServSwitch Freedom 724-746-5500 | blackbox.com Page 38 Appendix A. What is True Emulation? True Emulation represents a significant breakthrough in sharing USB devices between two or more computer systems. Until this point, the problem has been how to create a USB switch that provides all of the foll...
Page 39 - Appendices; and also uses the USB hubs to link with the computers.
Appendices 724-746-5500 | blackbox.com Page 39 HOST CONTROLLER USB KEYBOARD OTHER USB DEVICE USB MOUSE USB HUB PC 1 PC 2 PC 3 PC 4 USB HUB USB HUB USB HUB EMULATION ENGINE True Emulation is not necessarily required by other USB devices, which is why you will also find two enumerated circuits include...
Page 40 - Issues when using Glide and Switch; pointer is parked.
ServSwitch Freedom 724-746-5500 | blackbox.com Page 40 Appendix B. What is Glide and Switch? Glide and Switch represents true innovation in KVM switching. For the first time, Glide and Switch allows users to automatically switch between target computers simply by moving the mouse pointer from screen...
Page 41 - Serial remote control and flash upgrade cable (8p8c); Serial remote control and flash upgrade cable (10p10c)
Appendices 724-746-5500 | blackbox.com Page 41 Serial remote control and flash upgrade cable (8p8c) 8p8c connector D-Type female 9 way 6 2 TXD RXD 32 35 RXD GND TXD GND Serial remote control and flash upgrade cable (10p10c) 10p10c connector D-Type female 9 way 7 2 TXD RXD 43 35 RXD GND TXD GND Appen...
Page 42 - Appendix D. Safety information; • For use in dry, oil free indoor environments only.
Appendices 724-746-5500 | blackbox.com Page 42 Appendix D. Safety information • For use in dry, oil free indoor environments only. • Both the unit and its power supply generate heat when in operation and will become warm to the touch. Do not enclose them or place them locations where air cannot circ...
Page 43 - About Black Box; NETWORK SERVICES; Tech support the
724-746-5500 | blackbox.com About Black Box Black Box Network Services is your source for more than 118,000 networking and infrastructure products. You’ll find everything from cabinets and racks and power and surge protection products to media converters and Ethernet switches all supported by free, ...
