Black Box ServSwitch - Manuals

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 aten...

6 MATRIX SERVSWITCH™ Contents Chapter Page 1. Specifications ........................................................................................... 10 2. Introduction ............................................................................................. 132.1 The Complete Package ..........

7 TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page 4. Full Configuration ................................................................................... 484.1 Using the Menu ................................................................................ 49 4.1.1 Navigating the Configuration Pages ..................

8 MATRIX SERVSWITCH™ Contents (continued) Chapter Page 6. Keyboard Commands (continued)6.12 Reset/Enable Mouse in Windows NT and UNIX: [Ctrl] O ......................................................................................... 81 6.13 Send Null Byte to PS/2 Type Mouse: [Ctrl] N .................

9 TABLE OF CONTENTS Appendix Page Appendix E: Installing Modules in the Matrix ServSwitch ......................... 106 E.1 Setting the RING/BUS Jumper (Jumper JP1) on Expansion Modules ................................................................ 106 E.2 Swapping In an Expansion Module ............

10 MATRIX SERVSWITCH™ 1. Specifications HardwareRequired — Monitor that supports your computers’ highest videostandard; in multiplatform applications, should be amultisync model capable of forming video from eithercomposite sync or separate horizontal and vertical syncsignals (see Section 3.2.3 ) Co...

11 CHAPTER 1: Specifications MaximumDistance — 20 ft. (6.1 m) of CPU or User Cable—possibly as much as 100 ft. (30.5 m) of coaxial CPU or User Cable,depending on CPUs, monitor, and video resolution(see Section 3.2.3 )—from any Matrix ServSwitch to any device attached to it; 100 ft. (30.5 m) of Expan...

12 MATRIX SERVSWITCH™ MaximumAltitude— 10,000 ft. (3048 m) TemperatureTolerance— 32 to 113˚F (0 to 45˚C) HumidityTolerance— 5 to 80% noncondensing Enclosure — Steel Power — From AC outlet through included power cord and power inlet to internal transformer:SW7x1A-R3, SW7x2A-R3: 85 to 250 VAC, 47 to 6...

13 CHAPTER 2: Introduction 2. Introduction Thank you for choosing a Matrix 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 two keyboards, monitors, andmice to access a number...

14 MATRIX SERVSWITCH™ 2.2 Features With the Matrix ServSwitch, you have easy, virtually trouble-free, secure, andcomplete access to up to 1000 computers from as many as four keyboard/video/mouse stations. Here are some of the major features of the Switch: Upgradability: • The plug-in Expansion Modul...

15 CHAPTER 2: Introduction Flexibility: • Full-featured command set includes a scan command to automatically switch through a subset of computers over the course of an adjustable time interval. • You can use keyboard commands, on-screen menus, or RS-232 devices to switch computers to your keyboard/v...

17 CHAPTER 2: Introduction Panel Label Description POWER (left) Main Power LED: Lights to indicate that the Matrix ServSwitch ispowered ON. [Numbered] CPU Status LEDs: Numbered pairs of LEDs indicate the status ofthe CPU connected to the corresponding port on the rearpanel: Left/Red (Select) Lights ...

18 MATRIX SERVSWITCH™ 2.4 The Rear Panel All cable connections are made at the Switch’s rear panel, as illustrated in Figures2-2 and 2-3 and described below and on the next page. Figure 2-2. The rear panel of a 2 x 16 Matrix Ser vSwitch with an Expansion Module installed. Figure 2-3. The same rear p...

19 CHAPTER 2: Introduction Designation Connector Description NOTE The 2 x 4 and 2 x 8 chassis have 8 eachof the CPU-port slots. The 2 x 16 chassish a s 1 6 o f t h e m . T h e e x t r a s l o t s i n t h echassis of the 2 x 4 model are left blank,but are protected by material mountedinside the chass...

20 MATRIX SERVSWITCH™ 2.5 Cable Requirements Many switches of this type have what seems like ten million connectors on theirrear panels: one for each CPU’s video cable, one for each keyboard cable, and athird for each mouse cable. The potential for tangling or mismatching cables ishigh. By contrast,...

21 CHAPTER 3: Installation and Preconfiguration 3. Installation and Preconfiguration 3.1 Quick Setup Guide Figure 3-1 shows a basic example of taking a Matrix ServSwitch and connecting itto a CPU, a user station (monitor, keyboard, and mouse), another Switch, and ACpower. IBM PC equipment is shown, ...

22 MATRIX SERVSWITCH™ 3.2 Guidelines for Using the Matrix ServSwitch with Your Equipment 3.2.1 CPU S If you will be attaching IBM PC type computers, use only IBM PC/AT, PS/2,RS/6000 ® , or 100% compatible machines, or recent SGI ® machines. The Matrix ServSwitch does not support IBM PC/XT™ or compat...

23 CHAPTER 3: Installation and Preconfiguration particular, use Windows keyboards if any of your applications require the Windows keys, and use three-button mice if any of your applications require the center mouse button. Other concerns: • The Matrix ServSwitch emulates several types of mice for th...

24 MATRIX SERVSWITCH™ • The Matrix ServSwitch is designed to support IBM PC compatible 101-, 102-, 104-, or 105-key keyboards and IBM PC keyboard-scan modes 1, 2, and 3; it’salso designed to work with PC-type CPUs/keyboards that use 5-pin DIN or6-pin mini-DIN keyboard connectors. The Matrix ServSwit...

26 MATRIX SERVSWITCH™ 3.2.3 M ONITOR If all of your CPUs are of the same type, we recommend that you use thecorresponding type of monitor. If your CPUs are of different types, the monitormust be a multisync model, able to sync to every CPU’s video-output frequencies,and compatible with all of the CP...

27 CHAPTER 3: Installation and Preconfiguration The Matrix ServSwitch will support SVGA (Super VGA) video, but with original Serv cables the video quality can decrease at higher resolutions and distances.Table 3-2 illustrates this. The distances in the table are total lengths of CPU Cableand User Ca...

28 MATRIX SERVSWITCH™ By contrast, coaxial cables (standard for Sun applications, required for XGAapplications, and recommended for most other applications) do much better atmaintaining video quality, as shown in Table 3-3. (For the meaning of qualitynumbers 3 , 2 , and 1 , see the bottom of the pre...

29 CHAPTER 3: Installation and Preconfiguration 3.3 Installation Procedure This section provides complete instructions for the hardware setup of a singleMatrix ServSwitch. (For detailed instructions on installing a daisychained MatrixServSwitch system, see Sections 3.3.6 and 3.4 .) For an illustrate...

30 MATRIX SERVSWITCH™ 3.3.3 R ACKMOUNTING (O PTIONAL ) If you want to mount the Matrix ServSwitch in a rack, you will need a ServSwitchRackmounting Kit. Our product code for a 19", 23", or 24" Kit that fits the 2 x 4and 2 x 8 Matrix ServSwitches is RMK19B, RMK23B, or RMK24B respectively....

31 CHAPTER 3: Installation and Preconfiguration 3.3.5 C ONNECTING CPU S CPU Cables run from the Matrix ServSwitch to the keyboard port, mouse port (ifthis is separate), and video-output port of each CPU you want to directly attach toit. Different types of this cable fit the connectors on different c...

32 MATRIX SERVSWITCH™ 6. Plug each (remaining) CPU Cable’s video-, keyboard-, and (on IBM type cables) mouse-port connectors into the corresponding ports on each CPU (orinto the Video Adapter on a non-VGA Mac). For various reasons, the CPUshould be OFF when you do this. (The Switch also needs to be ...

33 CHAPTER 3: Installation and Preconfiguration 3.3.7 P OWERING U P THE S WITCHES 1. Making sure that the connected CPUs are OFF (powered down)—except for at least one CPU in an all Sun installation where the monitor doesn’t support640 x 480 (see step 5 in Section 3.3.5 )—take the power cord of a Ma...

34 MATRIX SERVSWITCH™ 3.3.9 S WITCHING AND A CCESSING THE D ISPLAY FROM THE K EYBOARD If your Matrix ServSwitch system has been properly preconfigured (see Section 3.6 ), it is now ready for operation using its default settings. To take full advantage of the Switch’s keyboard-command features, refer...

35 CHAPTER 3: Installation and Preconfiguration 3.4 Daisychaining Matrix ServSwitches Chaining multiple Matrix ServSwitches together adds capacity for more computersand, optionally, more user stations. When you plan a daisychained system, keep inmind that Switches attach to each other: • From output...

36 MATRIX SERVSWITCH™ 3.4.2 T OPOLOGIES IMPORTANT NOTE A standard Matrix ServSwitch system can support two independentusers, but each of the user stations has to be attached to a different-numbered KVM port (one to KVM 1, the other to KVM 2), even if thestations are attached to different Switches. I...

37 CHAPTER 3: Installation and Preconfiguration Figure 3-4. The ring topology. Use a ring arrangement if you have user stations attached to two different Matrix ServSwitches and you want both of the users to have access (or at least potentialaccess) to all CPUs. Run Expansion Cables from the OUT por...

40 MATRIX SERVSWITCH™ Table 3-4. The standard diagnostic-screen messages. Diagnostic Messages Description Kernel Version Indicates version ID of kernel program being run by theSwitch’s bottom port board (all of the port boardsshould be running the same version). A new kernel maybe downloaded into th...

41 CHAPTER 3: Installation and Preconfiguration Table 3-4 (continued). The standard diagnostic-screen messages. Diagnostic Messages Description Keyboard Detected If the diagnostics are being reported through a KVMport, displays the keyboard type/mode detected at thatport’s user station. Mouse Detect...

42 MATRIX SERVSWITCH™ Here is what the parts of these messages mean: Kernel is bad, load new kernel through serial port The Matrix ServSwitch sends this message at bootup instead of the power-up diagnostic screen when it detects that its own kernel is corrupt. The Switch will waitto receive a replac...

43 CHAPTER 3: Installation and Preconfiguration Error reason When a communication error occurs, one of these “reason” messages will bedisplayed: Receive/network problem The Expansion Cables in your system might be loose, misconnected, broken,or defective. First make sure that all of your Expansion C...

44 MATRIX SERVSWITCH™ 3.5.3 K ERNEL S ERIAL -P ORT M ESSAGES The Matrix ServSwitch’s kernel writes this message to the serial port at power-up: Hit space bar within 5 seconds to get serial options menu If the Switch receives a [Space] character at the serial port during the next5 seconds, the standa...

45 CHAPTER 3: Installation and Preconfiguration 3.6 Initial Configuration Once you plug in and turn on a Matrix ServSwitch and it passes the power-updiagnostic tests, you’ll need to set an important initial configuration parameter forit. You’ll be able to fully configure all of the Switches in your ...

48 MATRIX SERVSWITCH™ 4. Full Configuration Once your Matrix ServSwitch system is up and running, you can configure thesystem from any attached user station (monitor, keyboard, and mouse). To do so,press and release the left [Ctrl] key, then press the [F12] key to access theconfiguration-menu screen...

49 CHAPTER 4: Full Configuration 4.1 Using the Menu 4.1.1 N AVIGATING THE C ONFIGURATION P AGES A help line at the bottom of each screen explains what each selection does. Fromthe configuration main page, use arrow keys to highlight the desired configurationmenu, and press the [Enter] key. New text ...

51 CHAPTER 4: Full Configuration 4.2 Configuring the System The “Configure System” page provides settings that affect the Matrix ServSwitchattached to the KVM station from where changes are initiated. Changes take effectwhen you exit the main menu or choose the Save option. Unsaved changes are losti...

52 MATRIX SERVSWITCH™ Starting computer number Use this field to define the “system-reference number” of the first CPU port on thisMatrix ServSwitch; that is, the unique number that the Switch system will use todifferentiate that port (and, by numbering upward from there, the other CPUports on the S...

53 CHAPTER 4: Full Configuration Sun keyboard language (multiplatform models only) Determines response to a Sun computer’s query for language type used. Factorydefault is “US” (standard North American keyboard language). Other availablevalues are “US UNIX,” “French,” “Danish,” “German,” “Italian,” “...

54 MATRIX SERVSWITCH™ Background color, text color Use these fields to set the background colors and text colors, respectively, of theconnection-status and computer-select screens. The “solid” colors available areblack, red, green, yellow, blue, magenta, cyan, and white; these are opaque andcause th...

55 CHAPTER 4: Full Configuration 4.3 Configuring Computers The “Configure Computer” page assigns names to computers and defineskeyboard and mouse types. Figure 4-4. The “Configure Computer” page. Here are the computer-configuration parameters: [Computer Number] The numbers in this unlabeled field re...

56 MATRIX SERVSWITCH™ Keyboard Use this field to assign one of the following keyboard modes. • PC1: PC mode 1. Appropriate for most IBM compatible PCs that do not use mode 2; in particular, several PS/2 models. • PC2: PC mode 2. Appropriate for the vast majority of IBM compatible PCs. • PC3: PC mode...

57 CHAPTER 4: Full Configuration 4.4 Configuring User Stations Using the “Configure KVM” page, you can assign names to your keyboard/video/mouse user stations, choose stations’ default resolutions and refresh rates, choosestartup computers, and enable or disable login procedures. If a login is notre...

59 CHAPTER 4: Full Configuration 4.5 Configuring User Definitions You can use the “Configure User” page to assign a username, password, and profilefor each user. Figure 4-6. The “Configure User” page. Here are the user-configuration parameters: User name Use this field to define a name for each user...

60 MATRIX SERVSWITCH™ Profile Use this field to assign users to “user profiles,” which are definitions of how userscan access the Matrix ServSwitch system. Profiles are configured on the ConfigureProfile page (see Section 4.6 ). The factory-default profile for each user is the profile appearing in t...

61 CHAPTER 4: Full Configuration Here are the profile-configuration parameters: Name Use this field to assign a name up to 8 characters long to each user profile. Thiscan be, for example, a descriptive term such as “Staff” or the name of a person oran area of business. Factory-default names are “Pro...

62 MATRIX SERVSWITCH™ Share Use this field to set the “Share-mode timeout,” in seconds, for each user profile. Ifthe connection mode for a given profile is “Share” (see the Connect heading above), this timeout determines how long users with that profile have to leave theirkeyboard and mice idle befo...

63 CHAPTER 4: Full Configuration 4.7 Configuring Groups You can use the “Configure Group” page to assign computers to specific groups.Users that belong to a certain group can access computers that belong to the samegroup. Figure 4-8. The “Configure Group” page. Here are the group-configuration param...

64 MATRIX SERVSWITCH™ Group Name Group names are displayed above the group-membership indicators (plus signs).To change a group’s name, use arrow keys to move the highlight to the group’scolumn and press [Enter]. A box will appear beside the page; type a new name inthis box and press [Enter] again. ...

65 CHAPTER 4: Full Configuration 4.8 The Status Page This page displays status information for each port board (set of four CPU ports)in the Matrix ServSwitch system. This information is an invaluable tool whenexpansion or reconfiguration is necessary. Figure 4-9. The Status page. These are the stat...

66 MATRIX SERVSWITCH™ Ver Displays last three characters of the version ID of the main program in the board’sfirmware. The last four fields apply only if (a) the port board is one of the bottom two on aSwitch and thus includes a KVM port, and (b) there is a user (KVM) stationattached to that KVM por...

67 CHAPTER 5: On-Screen Functions, Same-Port Users, and Connection Modes 5. On-Screen Functions, Same-Port Users, and Connection Modes This chapter discusses various operating functions of the Matrix ServSwitch thatinvolve the on-screen display. It also discusses the restrictions involved when there...

68 MATRIX SERVSWITCH™ 5.2 Connection-Status Messages A connection-status message provides information about a connection between aKVM station and a selected computer. There are three types of these messages: • “Connection successful” message • “Connection failed” message • Disconnect-status message ...

70 MATRIX SERVSWITCH™ 5.2.3 D ISCONNECT S TATUS You may be disconnected from a selected computer in the middle of an activity,depending on how your system is configured. For instance, when a private-modeuser connects to a computer, another user connected to the same computerreceives a disconnect-sta...

74 MATRIX SERVSWITCH™ 5.4 Connection Modes The Matrix ServSwitch has four “connection modes” that can be assigned to userprofiles in order to give users with varying security clearances the correspondinglevel of access to the computers in the system. These connection modes, discussedin the following...

75 CHAPTER 5: On-Screen Functions, Same-Port Users, and Connection Modes 5.4.4 P RIVATE M ODE A private-mode user connects to a computer knowing that, while they areconnected to that computer, no other user may access that computer in any way,even to view the computer’s screen. Non-private users alr...

77 CHAPTER 6: Keyboard Commands Table 6-1 (continued). The Matrix Ser vSwitch’s keyboard commands. Bypasses the Matrix ServSwitch, passing thecommand through to an attached KVM switch. [Ctrl] X or [Ctrl] [Tab] Pass ThroughCommand Turns Scan mode OFF; the user station is givenaccess—as much as the us...

78 MATRIX SERVSWITCH™ 6.2 Display Configuration Menu: [Ctrl] [F12] This command (press and release left [Ctrl], then press and release function key[F12]) causes the Matrix ServSwitch to display its main configuration menu onscreen. For more information about this menu and all of the configurationfun...

80 MATRIX SERVSWITCH™ 6.8 Display User-Station Status: [Ctrl] D This command (press and release left [Ctrl], then press and release the letter [D]key) causes the Matrix ServSwitch to display the most recent connection-status ordisconnection-status message (see Section 5.2 ) sent to your user station...

81 CHAPTER 6: Keyboard Commands use the mouse but don’t disable the mouse either, take these precautions: • If you never actually use the mouse with the CPU (as would probably be the case if, for example, the CPU were a Novell ® NetWare ® file server), either don’t plug the mouse strand of the CPU C...

82 MATRIX SERVSWITCH™ The CPU will be thrown out of sync if it uses a PS/2 mouse and it’s in sync when you issue this command. Issue this command up to three more times to get it backin sync again. This command has no effect on serial mice, or on CPUs that are notattached to your Matrix ServSwitch s...

84 MATRIX SERVSWITCH™ 7. Using the Serial Ports Each port board installed in the Matrix ServSwitch is equipped with an RS-232serial port that you can use to: • Configure the Switch; • Flash-upgrade firmware, and send kernel and system upgrades to the entire system; or • Restore factory defaults. 7.1...

86 MATRIX SERVSWITCH™ 7.2.1 O PTION 1. C HANGE S TARTING C OMPUTER This option can only be changed if your computer or terminal is attached to theserial port of port board 1 (the bottom board that includes CPU ports 1through 4—see Figure 2-3 in Section 2.4 for board numbering). The serial options me...

87 CHAPTER 7: Using the Serial Ports 7.2.3 O PTION 3. R ECEIVE N EW K ERNEL OR M AIN P ROGRAM (U PGRADE F IRMWARE ) NOTE You must be using a computer rather than a terminal to perform thisfunction. Occasionally we might release upgrades to the Matrix ServSwitch’s firmware: eitherits kernel (the “ope...

88 MATRIX SERVSWITCH™ What you do now depends on whether the download succeeds or fails: If something goes wrong during file transmission, you might receive an error message advising you that a “checksum error,” “record error,” or “data error” has beendetected. This message will be followed by: Rece...

89 CHAPTER 7: Using the Serial Ports 7.2.4 O PTIONS 4 AND 5. S END M AIN P ROGRAM /S END K ERNEL (D ISTRIBUTE U PGRADED F IRMWARE ) You only need to use the procedure in Section 7.2.3 to upgrade the main program or kernel of one port board in one Matrix ServSwitch. Afterward, unless the Switchis a s...

90 MATRIX SERVSWITCH™ 7.2.5 O PTION 6. R ESET TO F ACTORY D EFAULTS Use this option to restore the Matrix ServSwitch port board you’re communicatingwith to its original factory configuration (see Appendix A for a full list of factory- default configuration settings). There are several reasons you mi...

93 CHAPTER 8: Troubleshooting H. If the CPU still doesn’t boot, the CPU’s keyboard or mouse port (or other components) might be defective. (If the CPU’s Power LED doesn’t light, the fuseon the CPU’s motherboard might be blown.) If you still have them, plug thatCPU’s original monitor, keyboard, and m...

94 MATRIX SERVSWITCH™ You can’t seem to scan or switch to certain ports at all. A. Are other users accessing the CPU ports you’re trying to reach in “private mode”? If so, you won’t be able to use those ports until the private-mode usersrelease them—even if you are a private-mode user yourself. See ...

95 CHAPTER 8: Troubleshooting You can’t access all the functions of your mouse. A. What type of mouse is it? If it’s any other IBM PC type than those listed as being supported in item A under the section on the previous page headed “An IBMcompatible computer’s mouse driver doesn’t load,” chances are...

96 MATRIX SERVSWITCH™ Your monitor display is fuzzy. A. Check the settings of your monitor, especially the sharpness control. B. If you can’t solve the problem by changing the monitor settings, you might have run cable too far; maximum distance of original Serv type CPU or User Cable ( not including...

97 CHAPTER 8: Troubleshooting Your video is OK in low-resolution mode, but you can’t get into high-resolutionmode. A. If you’re using XGA, you must use coaxial cables (see Section 3.2.3 and Appendix B ). B. Check your video driver or control panel. It might not be set up correctly for your desired r...

98 MATRIX SERVSWITCH™ 8.2 Calling Black Box If you determine that your Matrix ServSwitch is malfunctioning, do not attempt to alter or repair the unit . It contains no user-serviceable parts. Contact Black Box Technical Support at 724-746-5500. Before you do, make a record of the history of the prob...

99 APPENDIX A: NVRAM Factory Defaults Appendix A: NVRAM Factory Defaults The table below and on the next page shows the Matrix ServSwitch’s factory-defaultconfiguration options. To reload these values, you’ll need to access the Switch’sserial options menu (see Chapter 7 ). Option Default setting Sys...

100 MATRIX SERVSWITCH™ Option Default setting Profile Name .............................................Profile n (n - profile number)Access ............................................ From “Name” in Group page Connect .........................................Share (share mode)Share (share-mode tim...

101 APPENDIX B: Cable Product Codes Appendix B: Cable Product Codes The table below and on the following pages lists the product codes for all the typesof cables we currently offer for use with the Matrix ServSwitch. The four digits thatfollow the dash in each product code indicate how long each cab...

104 MATRIX SERVSWITCH™ Appendix C: Pinout of Serial Ports The table below shows the pinout of the Matrix ServSwitch’s RJ-12 (“6-wire RJ-11”)female RS-232 serial ports. Pin Signal Name Abbrev. Direction Description 1 Data Set Ready DSR Input Reserved (not used) 2 Data Terminal Ready DTR Output Pulled...

105 APPENDIX D: The LK461 Keyboard 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 MatrixServSwitch supports this keyboard by passing through unaltered the scan codes ofcerta...

106 MATRIX SERVSWITCH™ Appendix E: Installing Modules in the Matrix ServSwitch E.1 Setting the RING/BUS Jumper (Jumper JP1) on Expansion Modules Before you install Expansion Modules (our product code SW740C-R3-B) in adaisychained Matrix ServSwitch system, you might need to set their RING/BUSjumpers....

107 APPENDIX E: Installing Modules in the Matrix ServSwitch E.2 Swapping In an Expansion Module Making sure that the Matrix ServSwitch is turned OFF and unplugged, unscrewand remove any blank plate over the opening of the Matrix ServSwitch’s Expansionslot. (You should always have a plate covering th...

109 APPENDIX F: Rackmounting the Matrix ServSwitch Appendix F: Rackmounting the Matrix ServSwitch You can use a ServSwitch Rackmount Kit to mount a Matrix ServSwitch in a 19",23", or 24" rack. Use the RMK19B, RMK23B, or RMK24B Kit respectively to mounta 2 x 4 or 2 x 8 Switch; use the RMK...