Customer Support Information: 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, PA 15055-1018 World-Wide Web: www.blackbox.com • E-mail: info@blackbox.com © Copyright 2000. Black Box Corporation. All rights reserved.
THE SERVSWITCH™ FAMILY Welcome to the ServSwitchTM Family! Thank you for purchasing a BLACK BOX® ServSwitch™ Brand CAT5 KVM Extender model! We appreciate your business, and we think you’ll appreciate the many ways that your enhanced keyboard/video/mouse system will save you money, time, and effort. That’s because our ServSwitch family is all about breaking away from the traditional, expensive model of computer management.
SERVSWITCH™ BRAND CAT5 KVM MICRO EXTENDER TRADEMARKS USED IN THIS MANUAL BLACK BOX and the logo are registered trademarks, and ServSwitch, Matrix ServSwitch, ServSwitch Affinity, ServSwitch Duo, ServSwitch Multi, ServSwitch Ultra, ServSwitch Wizard, ServSwitch Wizard Pro, ServManager, ServSelect, and ServShare are trademarks, of Black Box Corporation. Apple and Macintosh are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.
FCC/IC STATEMENTS 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 with the manufacturer’s instructions, may cause interference to radio communication.
SERVSWITCH™ BRAND CAT5 KVM MICRO EXTENDER EUROPEAN UNION DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY This equipment complies with the requirements of the European EMC Directive 89/336/EEC with respect to the EN55022 (Class B), EN50082-1, and EN60555-2 standards, as well as the Low Voltage Directive.
NOM STATEMENT NORMAS OFICIALES MEXICANAS (NOM) ELECTRICAL SAFETY STATEMENT 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. Todas las advertencias en el aparato eléctrico y en sus instrucciones de operación deben ser respetadas. 4. Todas las instrucciones de operación y uso deben ser seguidas. 5.
SERVSWITCH™ BRAND CAT5 KVM MICRO EXTENDER 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 salen del aparato. 14. El equipo eléctrico debe ser limpiado únicamente de acuerdo a las recomendaciones del fabricante. 15.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Contents Chapter Page 1. Quick Start Guide ...................................................................................... 9 2. Specifications ........................................................................................... 10 3. Introduction ............................................................................................. 13 3.1 Compatibility ..................................................................................... 14 3.2 Key Features ....
SERVSWITCH™ BRAND CAT5 KVM MICRO EXTENDER Contents (continued) Chapter 7. 8. Page Operation ................................................................................................. 7.1 Keyboard and Mouse Emulation ..................................................... 7.2 Normal Operation and Keyboard Typematic Rate ......................... 7.3 The Scroll-Lock Reset ....................................................................... 7.4 Correcting the PS/2 Mouse If It Gets Out of Sync .....
CHAPTER 1: Quick Start Guide 1. Quick Start Guide When you configure the ServSwitch™ Brand CAT5 KVM Micro Extender, you only need to answer two questions: • How far will the CAT5 cabling run between the Extender’s Local and Remote Units? If will be 25 m (80 ft.) or less, you don’t need to set anything. If it will be 25 to 50 m (80 to 160 ft.), move DIP switch 1 on the bottom of the Remote Unit to the DOWN (ON) setting.
SERVSWITCH™ BRAND CAT5 KVM MICRO EXTENDER 2.
CHAPTER 2: Specifications Maximum Distance — 5 m (15 ft.) from the Local Unit to the attached CPU or KVM switch; 5 m (15 ft.) from the Remote Unit to the attached monitor, keyboard, and mouse or KVM switch; 50 m (160 ft.) between Local and Remote Units Dual-Access (ACU3009A) model only: 5 m (16 ft.) from the Local Unit to the attached keyboard, mouse, and monitor NOTE With high-quality cables, it might be possible to run farther than 5 m (15 ft.) from the Extender to attached equipment.
SERVSWITCH™ BRAND CAT5 KVM MICRO EXTENDER Humidity Tolerance — 5 to 90% noncondensing Enclosure — Steel Power — Local Unit: 5 VDC at up to 120 mA from CPU’s keyboard port; Remote Unit: From desktop power supply (certified to meet the relevant international safety standards): Input: 100 to 240 VAC at 50 to 60 Hz from utilitypower outlet, through detachable power cord and IEC 320 male inlet, to external transformer; Output (isolated from mains ground): 9 VDC regulated, at up to 1 amp, from transformer to
CHAPTER 3: Introduction 3. Introduction By using the Local and Remote Units that together make up the ServSwitch™ Brand CAT5 KVM Micro Extender, you can place your VGA monitor, keyboard, and mouse as far as 50 meters (160 ft.) from the PC’s CPU. The Local and Remote Units are interconnected with a single industry-standard Category 5 UTP or STP 4pair cable. All keyboard, mouse, and video signals are fully buffered to ensure consistent remote operation of your PC.
SERVSWITCH™ BRAND CAT5 KVM MICRO EXTENDER 3.1 Compatibility The ServSwitch Brand CAT5 KVM Micro Extender is designed to operate in various environments and with a mix of hardware from different manufacturers. During development, this product was extensively tested with a wide variety of hardware. However, please note that it is impossible for us to guarantee that the Micro Extender will interoperate correctly with every keyboard, mouse, monitor, and motherboard variant currently on the market.
CHAPTER 3: Introduction 3.2 Key Features The ServSwitch Brand CAT5 KVM Micro Extender has a number of useful features which contribute to the transparent remote operation of your PC. Some of the more important ones are: • Distance up to 50 m (160 ft.) Operate your PC from the next room or all the way down the hall. • Adjustable video equalization Compensates for the loss of image quality caused by the signal passing through more than 25 m (80 ft.) of cable.
SERVSWITCH™ BRAND CAT5 KVM MICRO EXTENDER 4. Checklist of System Components 4.1 The Complete Package These items should be included with your ServSwitch™ Brand CAT5 KVM Micro Extender package (please contact Black Box right away if any are missing or damaged): • (1) Micro Extender Local Unit. • (1) Micro Extender Remote Unit. • (1) 9-VDC 1-amp power-supply transformer and output cord. • (1) Power-supply input cord suitable for your country or region. • (1) 1-m (3.3-ft.
CHAPTER 4: Checklist of System Components 4.2.1 TO CONNECT A CPU TO THE LOCAL UNIT You’ll use the three-in-one KVM-extension cable included with the ServSwitch™ Brand CAT5 KVM Micro Extender. 4.2.2 TO CONNECT A SERVSWITCH FAMILY KVM SWITCH TO THE LOCAL UNIT’S CPU PORT You would do this to extend the distance you can run from the KVM switch to a monitor, keyboard, and mouse.
SERVSWITCH™ BRAND CAT5 KVM MICRO EXTENDER 4.2.2.B Switches Whose User Ports Are Compatible Composite Interfaces The user ports of some ServSwitch family KVM switches are composite (all-in-one) interfaces that are compatible with the Local Unit’s CPU port. On these switches, the user ports are DB25 connectors pinned out the same way as the DB25 connector on the Local Unit.
CHAPTER 4: Checklist of System Components 4.2.3 TO CONNECT A MONITOR, KEYBOARD, AND MOUSE TO THE REMOTE UNIT OR TO THE USER PORTS ON THE DUAL-ACCESS LOCAL UNIT You’ll be plugging the monitor, keyboard, and mouse directly into the corresponding user ports on the Remote Unit or Dual-Access Local Unit. 4.2.4 TO CONNECT A SERVSWITCH FAMILY KVM SWITCH TO THE REMOTE UNIT OR TO THE USER PORTS ON THE DUAL-ACCESS LOCAL UNIT You would do this to extend the distance you can run from the KVM switch to a CPU.
SERVSWITCH™ BRAND CAT5 KVM MICRO EXTENDER 4.2.4.B Switches Whose CPU Ports Are Compatible Composite Interfaces The CPU ports of some ServSwitch family KVM switches are composite (all-in-one) interfaces that are compatible with the CPU port on the Extender’s Local Unit. On these switches, the CPU ports are DB25 connectors pinned out the same way as the DB25 connectors on the Local Unit.
CHAPTER 4: Checklist of System Components 4.2.5 TO CONNECT THE LOCAL UNIT TO THE REMOTE UNIT To interconnect the Local and Remote Units of the Micro Extender, you’ll need industry-standard structured cabling (Category 5 UTP or STP, 4-pair) terminated with RJ-45 plugs. This cable is not included with the Extender. Order CAT5 patch cables such as our product code EYN737MS or CAT5 bulk cable such as our EYN840A.
SERVSWITCH™ BRAND CAT5 KVM MICRO EXTENDER 5. Configuration There are a pair of DIP switches on the bottom of the Remote Unit of the ServSwitch™ Brand CAT5 KVM Micro Extender. You might need to set these differently if you are running CAT5 cable to longer distances or if you need to use the Scroll Lock key on your keyboard for something other than an Extender reset. 5.
CHAPTER 6: Installation 6. Installation To install your ServSwitch™ Brand CAT5 KVM Micro Extender system, first testplace it (if you want to) as described in Section 6.1, then attach devices as described in Section 6.2, then finish your installation as described in Section 6.3. 6.
SERVSWITCH™ BRAND CAT5 KVM MICRO EXTENDER 6.2.1 ATTACHING A CPU TO THE LOCAL UNIT’S CPU PORT Run the included KVM-extension cable from the Local Unit’s CPU port to the keyboard, video, and mouse ports on your PC. CPU Included KVMextension cable Local Unit Figure 6-1. Attaching a CPU to the Local Unit’s CPU port. 6.2.2 ATTACHING A SERVSWITCH FAMILY KVM SWITCH TO THE LOCAL UNIT’S CPU PORT The way you’ll do this will depend on what kind of user ports the KVM switch has: multiple connectors (see Section 6.2.
CHAPTER 6: Installation 6.2.2.B Attaching a Switch with a Single Compatible User-Port Connector Run a ServSwitch-to-ServSwitch Expansion Cable (product code EHN284) from the Local Unit’s CPU port to one of the KVM switch’s user ports, which will be DB25 connectors. Regular ServSwitch (KV3108SA-R4) (To CPUs) ServSwitch-toServSwitch Expansion Cable (EHN284) Local Unit Figure 6-3. Attaching a KVM switch with a single compatible user-port connector to the Local Unit’s CPU port. 6.2.2.
SERVSWITCH™ BRAND CAT5 KVM MICRO EXTENDER 6.2.3 ATTACHING A MONITOR, KEYBOARD, AND MOUSE TO THE REMOTE UNIT OR DUALACCESS LOCAL UNIT Plug the monitor, keyboard, and mouse directly into the matching ports on the Remote Unit or Dual-Access Local Unit. Remote Unit Figure 6-5. Attaching user equipment to the Remote Unit.
CHAPTER 6: Installation 6.2.4 ATTACHING A SERVSWITCH FAMILY KVM SWITCH TO THE REMOTE UNIT OR TO THE DUAL-ACCESS LOCAL UNIT’S USER PORTS The way you’ll do this will depend on what kind of CPU ports the Switch has: multiple connectors (see Section 6.2.4.A), single connectors compatible with the Local Unit’s (see Section 6.2.4.B), or single connectors that aren’t compatible with the Local Unit’s (see Section 6.2.4.C). (Refer to the listings in Section 4.2.4 for which switch models are in which category.) 6.2.
SERVSWITCH™ BRAND CAT5 KVM MICRO EXTENDER 6.2.4.B Attaching a Switch with a Single Compatible CPU-Port Connector Run the included KVM-extension cable from one of the switch’s CPU ports to the monitor, keyboard, and mouse ports on the Remote Unit or Dual-Access Local Unit. If you’ve already used the included extension cable to attach a CPU or switch to the Local Unit’s CPU port, use a similar cable such as product code EHN230.
CHAPTER 6: Installation 6.3 Finishing Your Installation To finish installing your Micro Extender system after attaching devices to it as described in Section 6.2, take these steps: 1. Attach the output cord of the Remote Unit’s power supply to the Unit’s power jack. Then plug the IEC 320 end of the power supply’s input cord into the IEC 320 inlet on the power supply’s transformer. Finally, plug the other end of the input cord into a utility (mains) power outlet.
SERVSWITCH™ BRAND CAT5 KVM MICRO EXTENDER 5. If the Local Unit’s LED shows that the link between the Units appears to be working, make sure that the remote keyboard functions and that you’re getting video at the remote site. 6. Make sure the remote mouse functions. (If your PC normally boots up in DOS, you will need to run Windows or some application that supports the mouse.) If everything works in your test setup, repeat the above steps for your actual installation.
CHAPTER 7: Operation 7. Operation 7.1 Keyboard and Mouse Emulation The ServSwitch™ Brand CAT5 KVM Micro Extender uses a microprocessor to emulate the presence of a directly connected keyboard and mouse for the attached PC. This means that you don’t have to connect a keyboard or mouse to the PC in order for it to boot; in fact, the PC will boot with only the Local Unit connected.
SERVSWITCH™ BRAND CAT5 KVM MICRO EXTENDER 7.3 The Scroll-Lock Reset When a ServSwitch™ Brand CAT5 KVM Micro Extender system is set to its factory defaults, you can press and release the Scroll Lock key once on the keyboard attached to the Remote Unit (or twice on the keyboard attached to a Local Unit in a Dual-Access system—see Section 7.5) in order to reinitialize the keyboard and the associated mouse after you detach and reconnect either of them.
CHAPTER 7: Operation If this happens in some mouse extender/switch systems, the only solution is to either kill and reload the mouse driver or reboot the PC. But the Micro Extender has a feature you can use to painlessly recover from this kind of glitch. First try to reset the mouse by pressing and releasing Scroll Lock on the keyboard as described in Section 7.3. If this doesn’t work, send the “Null Mouse Command” in order to resynchronize the CPU’s mouse port: 1.
SERVSWITCH™ BRAND CAT5 KVM MICRO EXTENDER 7.5 Shared User Access (Dual-Access Systems Only): The Inactivity Timeout and Private Mode Because two user stations (one local, one remote) can be attached for each CPU, the Dual-Access Extender system has these “shared access” features: • The two stations normally contend for access.
CHAPTER 7: Operation Very few applications today make extensive or important use of the Scroll Lock key. But if you are using such an application on a PC attached to the Extender, you can force the Extender to pass Scroll Lock through to the PC, disabling both Private Mode and the reset function (see Section 7.3) by setting DIP switch 2 on the Remote Unit to OFF (see Section 5.2).
SERVSWITCH™ BRAND CAT5 KVM MICRO EXTENDER 8. Troubleshooting 8.1 Common Problems This section discusses difficulties that people sometimes have with the ServSwitch™ Brand CAT5 KVM Micro Extender, and suggests possible remedies. If the recommended actions don’t help, or if you don’t see your problem here, or if your problem keeps recurring, call Black Box Technical Support as directed in Section 8.3. 8.1.1 KEYBOARD The PC boots correctly with no error messages but the keyboard does not work at all. 1.
CHAPTER 8: Troubleshooting Connecting a keyboard to the Remote Unit has an adverse effect on the remote video. Try using a newer keyboard. (Some older keyboards require too high a current for the Remote Unit to properly drive the video signal.) I’m not using a keyboard, but the Extender doesn’t work at all. See Section 8.1.5. 8.1.2 MOUSE There is a mouse cursor/pointer on the screen, but the mouse does not work. 1.
SERVSWITCH™ BRAND CAT5 KVM MICRO EXTENDER The mouse is behaving erratically. 1. Press Scroll Lock (once at the remote station, twice at the local station in a Dual-Access system) to reset the keyboard and mouse (see Section 7.3). 2. Issue the Null Mouse Command up to three times (see Section 7.4). 3.
CHAPTER 8: Troubleshooting 8.1.4 VIDEO The picture is not sharp, or is badly smeared. 1. DIP switch 1 on the Remote Unit might not be set for the correct distance. See Section 5.1. 2. Check the interconnect cable between the Micro Extender’s Local and Remote Units. Is it solid-core cable, rated as Category 5? Is it intact along its length and securely connected at both ends? And is it wired correctly? (Compare the cable’s specs with those listed in Section 4.2.
SERVSWITCH™ BRAND CAT5 KVM MICRO EXTENDER I only need video—not keyboard or mouse control—but I can’t get a picture. Even if you are only using the Micro Extender for video extension—to drive video to a remote monitor—the Micro Extender’s Local Unit must still be attached to the PC’s keyboard port, because that’s where it gets its power.
CHAPTER 8: Troubleshooting 8.1.5 POWER I don’t need to use keyboards in my application, but the Extender doesn’t work at all unless I have a keyboard line running from the Local Unit to the PC or KVM switch. The Extender’s Local Unit normally operates using the 5 volts of DC power that the attached CPU or KVM switch supplies on its keyboard and mouse ports.
SERVSWITCH™ BRAND CAT5 KVM MICRO EXTENDER 8.2 General Questions About the Micro Extender Is it possible to use an interconnection cable longer than 50 meters (160 feet)? The standard-from-the-factory Micro Extender has been designed to produce acceptable results with SVGA resolutions at the maximum cable length of 50 m (160 ft.). You can try running cable farther, but not very far beyond 50 m the video quality begins to degrade rapidly.
CHAPTER 8: Troubleshooting When using UTP, what’s the best way to make sure that the system does not suffer from any interference? The Micro Extender is designed to withstand high levels of interference while driving signals over UTP. To further reduce the potential for interference, consider taking these actions: a) Make sure that the Micro Extender’s Remote Unit, the remote monitor or KVM switch, and the local CPU or KVM switch are all connected to the same utility-power (mains) phase.
SERVSWITCH™ BRAND CAT5 KVM MICRO EXTENDER 8.3 Calling Black Box If you determine that your ServSwitch™ Brand CAT5 KVM Micro Extender is malfunctioning, do not attempt to alter or repair it 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 problem.
APPENDIX: Cable Pinning/Pairing Appendix: Cable Pinning/Pairing The cable you will use to interconnect the Local and Remote Units of your ServSwitch™ Brand CAT5 KVM Micro Extender should be terminated with RJ-45 plugs and should be wired according to the EIA/TIA-568 standard (preferably 568B rather than 568A). See Section 4.2.5 for a more complete set of cable recommendations.
NOTES
NOTES
NOTES