Owners Manual

Tiering The Avocent iKVM Switch From An Analog KVM
Switch
The Avocent iKVM switch can be tiered from analog KVM switches such as the Dell 2160AS and 180AS, as well as many Avocent analog
KVM switches. Many switches may be tiered without the need for a SIP.
The cabling requirements for specific external switches are as follows:
• Dell PowerConnect 180AS, 2160AS (version 1.0.3.2 or later) or Avocent Autoview 2020, 2030 (version 1.6.0.4 or later): Seamless
tiering using ACI port and Cat 5 cable
• Avocent Autoview 1400, 1500, 2000, 1415, 1515, 2015u: Avocent USB SIP (DSRIQ-USB) required with Cat 5 cable
Before connecting the iKVM switch to a supported analog switch, you must set the display in slot order, and set the Screen Delay Time to
1 or more seconds:
1. Press <Prnt Scrn> to launch the iKVM Switch OSCAR.
2. Click Setup > Menu. The Menu dialog box is displayed.
3. Select Slot to display servers numerically by slot number.
4. Set a screen delay time of at least 1 second.
5. Click OK.
Setting the Screen Delay time to 1 second allows you to soft switch to a server without launching OSCAR.
NOTE: Soft switching allows you to switch servers using a hot key sequence. To soft switch to a server, press <Prnt
Scrn> and type the first few characters of its name or number. If you have a Delay Time set and you press the key
sequences before that time has elapsed, OSCAR does not display.
Configuring The Analog Switch
1. Press <Prnt Scrn> to launch the iKVM Switch OSCAR.
2. Click Setup > Devices > Device Modify.
3. Select the 16-port option to match the number of blades in your system.
4. Click OK to exit OSCAR.
5. Press <Prnt Scrn> to verify that the settings have taken effect. The slot number of the blade to which the iKVM switch is now
attached must be expanded to display each of the slot locations of the blades in the system. For instance, if the iKVM switch is
attached to slot 1, it must be displayed as 01-01 to 01-16.
6. Connect the Avocent iKVM switch to a supported analog switch:
If the switch does not require a SIP to connect to the iKVM, connect a Cat 5 (or newer) cable to the RJ-45 ACI port on the iKVM
module. Connect the other end of this cable to the ARI port on the external switch.
If the analog switch requires a USB SIP, connect an Avocent USB SIP to the iKVM, then connect a Cat 5 (or newer) cable to the SIP.
Connect the other end of this cable to the ARI port on the external switch.
7. Connect both the analog switch and the system to an appropriate power source.
8. Turn on the system.
9. Turn on the external analog switch.
NOTE:
If the external analog switch is powered up before the system, it may result in only one blade being displayed in
the analog switch OSCAR, instead of 16. If this behavior occurs, shut down and restart the switch so that the entire
complement of blades is recognized.
NOTE: In addition to the steps outlined above, some external analog switches may require you to perform additional
steps to ensure that the iKVM switch blades are displayed in the external analog switch OSCAR. For more information,
see the external analog switch documentation.
Initial system configuration 27