- 16/32 Port Modular MatrixTM KVM Switch User Manual

Multilevel Installations
The number of computers that can be added to your installation can be greatly
expanded by performing a multilevel installation. The KM0216 / KM0432
supports three types of multilevel installation:
w Daisy chained
w Cascaded
w Daisy chained plus cascaded
Overview
Daisy chaining refers to connecting two KVM switches via dedicated daisy
chain ports. The switches are strung together in a chain (see the diagram on p.
20), similar to the way children make chains of daisies by tying the head of one
daisy to the end of another.
With daisy chaining none of the switch’s CPU ports are used to connect to the
next switch. The port capacity of a daisy chained installation is the total of all
the CPU ports of all the KVM switches on the chain. For example, a KM0432
has 32 CPU ports. On an installation with eight daisy chained switches the
number of available ports is 32 x 8 = 256.
Cascading involves using the CPU ports of a Parent KVM switch (one that is
above a switch linked down from it) to connect to a Child KVM switch. With
numerous Child switches linked down from the parent, the effect is reminiscent
of the way water cascades down over a waterfall. Cascading adds capacity to a
KVM installation, but the parent loses one CPU port for each cascaded KVM.
The KM0216 / KM0432 supports both daisy chaining and cascading. In
addition, it supports combining the two - providing enormous capacity and
flexibility for expanding the installation. The following sections provide the
information and proecedures involved in setting up the various multilevel
installations.
2004-08-04
18