SEPTEMBER 2002 ACU5010A ACU5011A 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 2002. Black Box Corporation. All rights reserved.
THE SERVSWITCH™ FAMILY Welcome to the ServSwitch™ Family! Thank you for purchasing a BLACK BOX® ServSwitch™ Brand KVM extender! We appreciate your business, and we think you’ll appreciate the many ways that this product will save you money, time, and effort. Our ServSwitch family is all about breaking away from the traditional, expensive model of computer management and display.
SERVSWITCH™ WIZARD EXTENDER 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.
EU DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY EUROPEAN UNION DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a class A computing device in accordance with the specifications in the European standard EN55022. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference.
SERVSWITCH™ WIZARD EXTENDER 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.
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 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.
SERVSWITCH™ WIZARD EXTENDER Contents Chapter Page 1. Specifications ............................................................................................. 8 2. Introduction ............................................................................................. 2.1 Features and Benefits ....................................................................... 2.2 Complete Packages ........................................................................... 2.3 The Extender Illustrated ........
TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 5. Page Operation ................................................................................................. 5.1 Power-Up Status .............................................................................. 5.2 The Extender’s LEDs ..................................................................... 5.3 How the Extender Uses the Keyboard LEDs ................................ 5.4 Things to Keep in Mind About the Keyboards and Mice ............ 5.
SERVSWITCH™ WIZARD EXTENDER 1.
CHAPTER 1: Specifications Connectors — ACU5010A transmitter: (1) Left-side-mounted DB25 female for CPU connection; (1) Left-side mounted 8-pin mini-DIN female expansion port for future features; (1) Right-side-mounted RJ-45 for CAT5 link to transmitter; ACU5010A receiver, ACU5011A: (2) Left-side-mounted 6-pin mini-DIN female, (1) for keyboard and (1) for mouse; (1) Left-side-mounted HD15 female for monitor; (1) Right-side-mounted RJ-45 for CAT5 link to receiver; (1) Right-side-mounted 2.
SERVSWITCH™ WIZARD EXTENDER Power (cont’d) — Consumption: ACU5010A transmitter: 0.9 watts typical, 2.5 watts maximum; ACU5010A receiver or ACU5011A: 2.5 watts maximum; Size — ACU5010A transmitter, ACU5010A receiver, ACU5011A: 1"H x 4.9"W x 3.1"D (2.5 x 12.5 x 7.9 cm); rear edge of endplate protrudes an additional 0.4" (1 cm); optional stick-on feet protrude an additional 0.1” (0.3 cm) Weight — ACU5010A transmitter, ACU5010A receiver, ACU5011A: 12.3 oz.
CHAPTER 2: Introduction 2. Introduction The ServSwitch™ Wizard Extender is designed to transfer keyboard, video, and mouse signals up to 200 meters (655 ft.) over Category 5 or higher twisted-pair cable. At its most basic, the Extender consists of a local transmitter and a remote receiver interconnected with a twisted-pair cable. The receiver connects to your keyboard, monitor, and mouse, and the transmitter connects to the computer CPU that is to be controlled.
SERVSWITCH™ WIZARD EXTENDER 2.1 Features and Benefits Some useful features of the Extender: • Enables a keyboard, monitor, and mouse to be located up to 200 meters (655 ft.) of UTP or 100 meters (330 ft.) of STP from a computer or KVM switch. • Uses a single Category 5 (or better) twisted-pair cable to carry all the keyboard, video, and mouse signals.
CHAPTER 2: Introduction • Flash-upgradeable through its keyboard ports. • Power/activity LED indicators confirm correct operation. • Robust metal cases ensure good shielding and video quality. • Supports IBM® PC compatibles, Compaq® Alpha®, SGI™, and RS/6000® computers. • “Transparent” mode enables the Extender to be used to link together most cascaded KVM-switch systems. Some useful features of the main accessories: • The Wizard Extender Chassis makes it easy to mount Extender modules in 19" racks.
SERVSWITCH™ WIZARD EXTENDER 2.2 Complete Packages The ServSwitch Wizard Extender Kit (ACU5010A) comes with: • (1) Local transmitter module; • (1) Remote receiver module; • (1) Power adapter for the receiver, including a region-specific input cord; • (1) 2-m (6.5-ft.) three-to-one cable to connect the transmitter to a computer or KVM switch; • (2) Pan-head screws for attaching the modules to the Extender Chassis; • (8) Adhesive rubber feet; and • This manual.
CHAPTER 2: Introduction 2.3 The Extender Illustrated VIEW FROM RIGHT SIDE LED shows power status and data activity RJ-45 interconnect port for twisted-pair link to receiver DIP switch for configuration 8-pin mini-DIN expansion port for optional future connections VIEW FROM LEFT SIDE DB25 SERVSWITCH/CPU port for connection to a CPU or KVM switch Figure 2-1. The Extender’s transmitter (local part of ACU5010A).
SERVSWITCH™ WIZARD EXTENDER Slots for up to 16 transmitters, receivers, and chassis power supplies Figure 2-3. The ServSwitch Wizard Extender Chassis (ACU5000A).
CHAPTER 2: Introduction 2.4 Safety Concerns As you prepare to install the ServSwitch Wizard Extender, please keep these things in mind: • The Extender is for use in dry, oil-free indoor environments only. • Make sure that the rated current draw in amperes of all of the devices plugged into the same extension cord, outlet, or circuit as your Extender equipment does not exceed the rated current in amperes of the cord, outlet, or circuit. • Do not attempt to service the Extender yourself.
SERVSWITCH™ WIZARD EXTENDER 3. Installation 3.1 What You Will Need These things must be in place before you can install your ServSwitch™ Wizard Extender: • Four-pair (eight-wire) twisted-pair cabling rated to at least Category 5. This should be long enough to reach from your Extender transmitter to the receiver, up to a maximum of 200 meters (655 feet). Other specifications for this cabling are given in the Appendix.
CHAPTER 3: Installation • If your computer CPU is farther than 2 m (6.5 ft.) from your Extender transmitter: One or more cables to replace or extend the included cable for connecting the CPU to the transmitter, up to a maximum distance of 5 m (15 ft.). You can use VGA and PS/2 extension cables such as EVNPS05 and EVNPS03. To attach a CPU with a PC/AT keyboard port, you’ll need a PS/2 to PC/AT keyboard-port adapter such as product code FA212.
SERVSWITCH™ WIZARD EXTENDER 3.2 Placement NOTE If you’d like to put an Extender module in a space in which its rackmount-enabling endplate doesn’t fit well, or if you need to remove its endplate for whatever other reason, you can do so by unscrewing the two end-mounted screws that hold it on.
CHAPTER 3: Installation You can cover one (ACU5003) or four (ACU5004) empty slots in the chassis using our Blank Chassis Panels. The ACU5003 Single Blank Panel comes with one (ACU5003) or two screws that you’ll use to secure it to the chassis in the same way you’d secure a module. The ACU5004 Quad Blank Panel should be secured with one screw in the upper left corner and one screw in the upper right corner.
SERVSWITCH™ WIZARD EXTENDER 3.3 The Installation Procedure First make sure the power adapter is unplugged and disconnected from the ServSwitch Wizard Extender’s receiver. Also make sure that (if possible) all of the devices you want to attach to your Extender system are turned off and unplugged. (If you have to “hot-plug” a powered computer into the Extender, see Section 5.6.) You don’t have to connect anything to ports on the Extender that you’re not using.
CHAPTER 3: Installation 4. Plug your monitor, keyboard, and mouse directly into the appropriately labeled connectors on the Extender receiver. Or, if you need to place them too far away to plug in directly, plug them into extension cables (see the Appendix) and run the extension cables to the connectors on the receiver. 5. Plug the output cord of the receiver’s power adapter—or a power cord from one of the output jacks of an optional Extender chassis power supply—into the receiver’s power jack. 6.
SERVSWITCH™ WIZARD EXTENDER Keyboard, mouse, and monitor plug in directly or with extension cables (see the Appendix) Receiver To included power adapter Transmitter CAT5 or higher cable, up to 200 m (655 ft.) Included three-to-one cable Computer CPU Figure 3-3. A simplified ACU5010A Wizard Extender installation.
CHAPTER 3: Installation Keyboard, mouse, and monitor plug in directly or with extension cables (see the Appendix) Receiver Remote user #1 CAT5 or higher cable, up to 200 m (655 ft.) ServSwitch Duo (KV6108SA) Optional local user #1 Local user #2 Computer CPUs connected with EHN408 cables Local users’ monitors, keyboards, and mice plug in directly or with extension cables Figure 3-4. A simplified ACU5011A Wizard Extender receiver installation.
SERVSWITCH™ WIZARD EXTENDER 4. Configuration To configure your ServSwitch™ Wizard Extender system, first you’ll need to configure any directly attached PC, as directed in Section 4.1. Then you’ll need to configure the Extender itself, as directed in the rest of this chapter. IMPORTANT NOTE Throughout the rest of this manual, the [Enter] designation refers to the main “enter” or “carriage-return” key (often labeled “↵”) on the main section of the keyboard.
CHAPTER 4: Configuration 4.2 Configuring the Extender The ServSwitch Wizard Extender ships from the factory in a default state that’s suitable for most applications, but it has a large number of configuration options. You’ll set different options using one of two different methods: • Set the 8-position DIP switches on the Extender’s receiver and transmitter (see Section 4.2.1) to select automatic or manual video compensation, the keyboard hotkey combination, and other hardware-related functions.
SERVSWITCH™ WIZARD EXTENDER Top of receiver ON OFF Bottom of receiver Position 4 OFF: Automatic video compensation (default) Position 1 OFF: Normal operation (default) Position 4 ON: Manual video compensation Position 2 ON: Upgrade mode for receiver Positions 2 & 3 OFF: Hotkeys = [Ctrl] + [Shift] (default) Position 2 OFF, 3 ON: Hotkeys = [Alt] + [Shift] Position 2 ON, 3 OFF: Hotkeys = [Ctrl] + [Alt] Positions 2 & 3 ON: Hotkeys disabled Figure 4-1. The receiver’s DIP-switch settings.
CHAPTER 4: Configuration • Position 3: If you’ve password-protected the Extender’s receiver and lost the password, move this switch position to ON to put the Extender in configuration mode when it powers up. This will allow you to reset the password, as described in Section 4.4. • Position 4: To reset the Extender without removing power from the receiver or transmitter or disconnecting any of the attached devices, move this switch position to ON, then back to OFF.
SERVSWITCH™ WIZARD EXTENDER 4.2.2 USING CONFIGURATION MODE If hotkeys are currently enabled (see Section 4.2.1), you can put the Extender in configuration mode by pressing the currently selected hotkeys along with the [Enter] key. For example, if the currently selected hotkey combination is the default pairing of [Ctrl] and [Shift], press [Ctrl] + [Shift] + [Enter] to activate configuration mode.
CHAPTER 4: Configuration they’re flashing slowly (to a minimum of one cycle per second for zero distance), the Extender is compensating at a low level suitable for shorter runs of twisted-pair cable. If they’re flashing quickly (to a maximum at which the cycling can no longer be distinguished and it looks like all the LEDs are “half on” for 200 m [655 ft.]), the Extender is compensating at a high level suitable for longer runs of twisted-pair cable. 2.
SERVSWITCH™ WIZARD EXTENDER 4. When you find the best possible picture—and finish entering any other configuration commands (see Section 4.2.2.B)—press [Enter] to save the configuration setting and exit configuration mode. The compensation setting is saved in EEPROM, so it will persist even if the Extender is powered off. For this reason, unless you change your twisted-pair cabling, you shouldn’t need to adjust this setting again. 4.2.2.
CHAPTER 4: Configuration [M] [6] [Enter] = Restore regular mouse [M] [7] [Enter] = Restore IntelliMouse • Set/clear password (see Section 4.4): [P] [Enter] (password) [Enter] = Sets the Extender’s password [P] [Enter] [Enter] = Clears the Extender’s password • [F] [1] [Enter] = Display firmware version (see Section 7.5) • [F] [2] [Enter] = Apply automatic compensation (see Section 7.1) • Report skew (see Section 7.
SERVSWITCH™ WIZARD EXTENDER 4.4 Setting a Password for the Extender There are many situations where access to corporate file servers or sensitive information needs to be controlled. In such circumstances, the ServSwitch Wizard Extender’s transmitter and the attached CPU can be locked away in a secure room or cabinet and controlled from the primary control station attached to the receiver. The Extender also has a password that you can set to prevent unauthorized use.
CHAPTER 4: Configuration If you want to remove the password after setting one, get into configuration mode, type the letter “P”, and press the [Enter] key as before, but then press [Enter] again without typing in any other characters. (If you try to lock the Extender before you’ve set a password, or after you’ve removed the password, the Extender will still blank the video, but it won’t prevent anyone from accessing the CPU.) 4.
SERVSWITCH™ WIZARD EXTENDER 5. Operation This chapter explains the general operation of the ServSwitch™ Wizard Extender. We recommend that you read this chapter carefully before starting to use the Extender; also make very sure you have read the important note at the start of Chapter 4! 5.1 Power-Up Status Under normal circumstances, the ServSwitch Wizard Extender is ready for use as soon as the transmitter and receiver power up.
CHAPTER 5: Operation 5.2 The Extender’s LEDs The ServSwitch Wizard Extender’s transmitter and receiver modules each have one LED mounted on their right sides next to their RJ-45 interconnect ports. There is a similar LED on the right side of the power-supply module. If you have the modules mounted in the Extender Chassis, this LED can be read from the front of the chassis. On all of the modules, the LED has these two states and meanings: • STEADILY LIT = The module is receiving enough power to operate.
SERVSWITCH™ WIZARD EXTENDER 5.3 How the Extender Uses the Keyboard LEDs The ServSwitch Wizard Extender also uses the LEDs on the attached keyboards to indicate various conditions. It will light the Num Lock, Caps Lock, and Scroll Lock LEDs in several different ways: • Configuration-mode indication—rolling sequence. As shown in Figure 5-1, the receiver flashes the Num Lock, Caps Lock, and Scroll Lock LEDs on the attached keyboard in sequence to show that it’s in configuration mode (see Section 4.2.2).
CHAPTER 5: Operation 5.4 Things to Keep in Mind About the Keyboards and Mice PC bootup sequence: When your PC CPUs are powered on, they communicate with any attached keyboards and mice and load the setup parameters required by their particular operating systems. It is necessary for the Extender to be attached and powered on during this sequence so that it can give the CPUs the required responses and keep track of all the modes and settings requested by each of the connected CPUs.
SERVSWITCH™ WIZARD EXTENDER 5.5 Keyboard Control: Hotkey Commands You can control several functions on the ServSwitch Wizard Extender—including CPU connection/disconnection, screen blanking, locking, and entering configuration mode—from the keyboard, using commands triggered with the Extender’s currently selected hotkey combination. All of the hotkey-control commands are invoked by holding down the two hotkeys and then pressing a command key.
CHAPTER 5: Operation Extender is locked, you will have to press [Enter] to clear those characters so that they won’t invalidate the password when you proceed to type it in. • Use {Hotkeys} + [Enter] to cause the Extender to go into configuration mode. See Section 4.2.2. Examples of how to enter these hotkey commands (assuming the hotkeys are [Ctrl] and [Shift]): • To blank the attached monitor’s video: Press and hold [Ctrl] and [Shift], press and release [0] (zero), release [Ctrl] and [Shift].
SERVSWITCH™ WIZARD EXTENDER 5.6 Hot-Plugging PS/2 Mice and Mouse Ports into the Extender and Re-Enabling Disconnected CPU PS/2 Mouse Ports It is advisable to switch off the computer systems that are going to be connected to the ServSwitch Wizard Extender before you install them.
CHAPTER 5: Operation To restore lost mouse movement on a CPU connected to the Extender: 1. At the receiver’s keyboard, select the CPU that has lost its mouse movement. 2. Enter configuration mode (see Section 4.2.2) by pressing the hotkeys followed by [Enter]. 3. To restore a PS/2 mouse connection, issue the [M] [6] [Enter] command. Or, to restore an IntelliMouse connection, issue the [M] [7] [Enter] command. 4. Press [Enter] again to exit configuration mode. 5.
SERVSWITCH™ WIZARD EXTENDER 6. Upgrading the Extender’s Firmware The ServSwitch™ Wizard Extender uses flash-rewritable program memory, and you can upgrade its firmware code by using a PC program to download new firmware into the transmitter and receiver through their keyboard connections. (The transmitter and receiver may be independently upgraded, but we highly recommend that whenever you upgrade one, you also always upgrade the other.
CHAPTER 6: Upgrading the Extender’s Firmware 3. Power down the computer that will be running the upgrade program. 4. Disconnect the twisted-pair cable and any previously connected CPU from the transmitter. 5. Connect the transmitter to the computer that will be running the upgrade program as shown in Figure 6-1. You only need to connect the keyboard strand of the three-to-one cable between the transmitter and the computer. Plug the monitor and mouse directly into their normal ports on the CPU.
SERVSWITCH™ WIZARD EXTENDER 11. Power down the Extender’s receiver and disconnect the twisted-pair cable and any previously connected keyboard from it. 12. Use standard PS/2 extension cable such as product code EVNPS03 to connect the receiver’s keyboard port to the keyboard port of the computer that will be running the upgrade program, as shown in Figure 6-2. (This is correct—the upgrade procedure reverses the normal signal flow on the CPU’s keyboard port.
CHAPTER 6: Upgrading the Extender’s Firmware 18. Reconnect the upgraded transmitter and receiver to each other and to any previously connected equipment.
SERVSWITCH™ WIZARD EXTENDER 7. Troubleshooting If your ServSwitch™ Wizard Extender is not providing sharp video, you can force it to apply automatic video compensation as described in Section 7.1. If one or more of the red, green, and blue colors in the video it’s displaying seems separated or offset, have the Extender report how much skew is occurring (and install the ServSwitch Wizard Skew Compensator, if necessary) as described in Section 7.2.
CHAPTER 7: Troubleshooting 7.2 Reporting and Compensating for Video Skew If you notice that one or more of the primary colors (red, green, or blue) in the video image displayed on your monitor has separated from the others and is horizontally offset from them on your screen—for example, if colored shadows trail bright white objects, as shown in Figure 7-1—then your Extender system might be affected by video “skew.
SERVSWITCH™ WIZARD EXTENDER • If none of the other solutions are practical or if none of them work, you can install a ServSwitch™ Wizard Skew Compensator (product code ACU5100A) between your transmitter and receiver, as shown in Figure 7-2. Receiver To included power adapter Keyboard, mouse, and monitor Skew Compensator CAT5 or higher cables, together totaling up to 200 m (655 ft.) in length Computer CPU Transmitter Figure 7-2. An Extender system with a Skew Compensator installed.
CHAPTER 7: Troubleshooting Before you install or configure a Skew Compensator—or try the other remedies— you might want to have the Extender report how much skew is occurring in your system. To do this, take these steps: 1. Make sure the transmitter and receiver are connected with the twisted-pair cable you want to use.
SERVSWITCH™ WIZARD EXTENDER The first section of the report indicates the length differences between the twisted pairs that are carrying the red, green, and blue color signals. One of the colors will have a reported length difference of “+0.0M”; this is the color carried by the shortest twisted pair. The other reported differences are how much longer the other pairs are than the shortest one.
CHAPTER 7: Troubleshooting 7.3 Other Problems and Possible Solutions Problem: Poor video quality with smearing, fuzziness, or rippling. Possible Solution: Make sure that the video compensation has been set for your system, as described in Sections 4.2.1 and 4.2.2.A. Check for video skew; see Section 7.2. Make sure your Category 5 cable is pinned and paired properly; see the Appendix.
SERVSWITCH™ WIZARD EXTENDER Problem: Compaq MX11800 model integrated keyboard and mouse only: The mouse consistently fails to boot when the Extender is connected to a PC running Windows NT® 4.0 through its PS/2 style mouse port. Possible Solutions: There are three possible solutions to this problem: 1. Use a different type of mouse. 2. Connect the Extender to your NT 4.0 PCs through an adapter and one of the PC’s serial ports rather than through its PS/2 port. 3. Select “CPU zero” while NT is booting.
CHAPTER 7: Troubleshooting 7.6 Calling Black Box If you determine that your ServSwitch Wizard Extender 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 problem.
SERVSWITCH™ WIZARD EXTENDER Appendix: Cable Guidelines NOTE The maximum supported cable lengths vary widely between devices and cables. It might be possible to use cables that are longer than those specified in this Appendix with certain computers and peripherals, but this can’t be guaranteed. If you have problems, try using shorter cables. A.
APPENDIX: Cable Guidelines 6-pin mini-DIN attaches to Wizard or cable from Wizard DB9 attaches to PC’s serial port or cable to PC’s serial port KDAT RLSD (DCD) N/C TD RD SGND TD (-12V) +5V DTR KCLK SGND -12V DSR RTS Male 5 N/C CTS N/C RI 1 6 5 Male 4 3 1 6 2 Female 6 5 Female 1 5 4 9 3 2 1 9 6 Figure A-1. The RS-232 mouse adapter’s pinout.
SERVSWITCH™ WIZARD EXTENDER A.3 Twisted-Pair Cabling Between the Transmitter and Receiver To interconnect the transmitter and receiver of your ServSwitch™ Wizard Extender, you can use either shielded twisted pair (STP) or unshielded twisted pair (UTP) rated to Category 5 or higher. It should be pinned straight-through and paired according to the TIA-568A or (preferred) -568B specification, as shown in Figure A-2.
APPENDIX: Cable Guidelines PR3 PR2 PR1 PR4 12345678 Cable Pinning: Straight-through (Pin 1 to Pin 1, 2 to 2, etc.) Cable Pairing: Pair 1: Pins 4 and 5 (differential green video and vertical sync) Pair 2: Pins 1 and 2 (differential blue video) Pair 3: Pins 3 and 6 (differential red video and horizontal sync) Pair 4: Pins 7 and 8 (keyboard and mouse data) Figure A-2. Twisted-pair cable specifications.
SERVSWITCH™ WIZARD EXTENDER TRADEMARKS USED IN THIS MANUAL BLACK BOX and the logo are registered trademarks, and ServSwitch and ServSwitch Wizard are trademarks, of Black Box Corporation. Apple and Macintosh are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. Compaq and Alpha are registered trademarks of Compaq Computer Corporation. Hewlett-Packard is a registered trademark of Hewlett-Packard. IBM, PC/AT, PS/2, and RS/6000 are registered trademarks, and PC/XT is a trademark, of IBM Corporation.
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JANUARY 2001 Remote Unit M FIBER KV R EXTENDE Power R G B 1 2 ACS235A ACS236A 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 2001. Black Box Corporation. All rights reserved.