ServSwitch User's Manual

CHAPTER 3: Installation and Preconfiguration

3.3.5 C

ONNECTING

CPU

CPU Cables run from the Matrix ServSwitch to the keyboard port, mouse port (if

this is separate), 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

applications (see Section 3.2.3).

1. Make sure that the Matrix ServSwitch is turned off and unplugged.

2. For Mac CPUs: Plug a ServSwitch Micro Mac Converter (KV99MCON) into

each of the CPU ports on the Switch’s rear panel that you’ll be connecting to

a Mac CPU.

3. Take the CPU Cable you’ll be running to the first CPU and plug its DB25

male connector into one of the CPU ports on the Switch’s rear panel

(preferably the lowest-numbered one—refer to Figure 2-3 in Section 2.4), or

into the Mac Converter attached to the port if the cable is going to a Mac. Use

the other (consecutively higher-numbered) CPU ports for the rest of the CPU

Cables.

4. For Mac CPUs that don’t output VGA-compatible video: As described on its

installation sheet, set a Mac Video Adapter for ServSwitch (KV99MA) to

emulate the proper monitor for each of your Mac CPUs, then attach the

Adapter to the Mac CPU’s video port. (Keep in mind that unless all of your

CPUs are Mac type, you’ll need multisync monitors at your user stations.)

5. If all of the CPUs you will be attaching to your Matrix ServSwitch system are Sun

models, and none of the monitors you want to use support 640 x 480 resolution: Take

the CPU Cable attached to the Switch’s lowest-numbered CPU port. Plug the

video strand of this cable into the video port of a powered and operating Sun

CPU that is outputting video in a resolution that at least one of your user-

station monitors supports. (You can also unplug this CPU’s keyboard and

mouse and attach the keyboard/mouse strand of the CPU Cable instead, but

be aware that this will cause the CPU to suspend normal operation and go

into a locked-up “panic mode.” To recover the CPU from this mode when

you’re ready to power the system, turn the Switch system ON, select that CPU,

and type in the proper character sequence—usually “OK” [Enter].)

This step is necessary in order for the Switch’s on-screen display to be

properly synchronized when the Switch is powered up, so that it will then be

possible to configure all of your CPU ports for Sun keyboard and mouse. If

you skip this step, it will cause a series of hardware and firmware

incompatibilities that will prevent your Switch system from working. To avoid

this complication altogether, we strongly recommend that you use multisync

monitors rather than monitors that don’t support 640 x 480 resolution.