Specifications

CHAPTER 5: Operation

5.7 Re-Enabling a Disconnected PS/2 Mouse

If you accidentally disconnect the shared PS/2 mouse from the Multi-Head

ServSwitch while the Switch is operating, the mouse will not work correctly when

you plug it back in. To avoid having to reboot the entire system in this situation,

the Switch has an automatic mouse-recovery system.

With the PS/2 mouse disconnected, change the channel using the Switch’s

front-panel pushbutton or the keyboard hotkeys. The Multi-Head ServSwitch

detects that the mouse has been disconnected and triggers the automatic recovery

system. Plug in the PS/2 mouse and the Multi-Head ServSwitch will re-initialize it.

Alternatively, you can reset the keyboard and mouse by holding the Switch’s

front-panel pushbutton down for five seconds to enter configuration mode, then

releasing the button, then pressing the button again while the display shows “C”.

When you do, the Switch will perform a complete power-off reset of the connected

keyboard and mouse. This function only resets the shared keyboard and mouse

that are plugged into the control port; it does not affect the status of any of the

other ports on the Switch or of the CPU connections.

5.8 Hot-Plugging Devices Into the Multi-Head ServSwitch and Re-Enabling

Disconnected CPU PS/2 Mouse Ports

We suggest that you turn off the computers that will be connected to the Multi-

Head ServSwitch before you install a Switch system. However, even if this is not

possible, most systems can be “hot-plugged” (connected to the Switch while they

are powered and operating); the PS/2 mouse-port malfunctions this usually causes

can often be overcome by using the Multi-Head ServSwitch’s mouse-restoration

functions. (The keyboard connection will normally restore itself automatically.)

Let’s take this from the top: On many computer CPUs, mouse movement will be

lost if the PS/2 mouse is unplugged and plugged back in while the CPU is

running. Mouse movement can then only be restored by rebooting the CPU. This

is because the mouse drivers only set up and enable the mouse when the CPU is

initially booted.

If you have powered down your Multi-Head ServSwitch, or if you are attempting

to hot-plug a system into it, you might be able to restore lost mouse movement

using the Multi-Head ServSwitch’s mouse-restoration functions.

Important: Mouse-restoration functions should be used with caution, because

unpredictable results might occur if the wrong mouse type is selected. If in doubt,

restore the mouse by rebooting the CPU normally.