CAT5 Smart KVM Extender User Guide International HQ Jerusalem, Israel Tel: + 972 2 535 9666 minicom@minicom.com www.minicom.com North American HQ Linden, New Jersey Tel: + 1 908 4862100 info.usa@minicom.com German Europe Zurich, Switzerland Tel: + 41 1 455 6220 info.german@minicom.com Italy Rome Tel: + 39 06 8209 7902 info.italy@minicom.com Customer support - support@minicom.com 5UM30096 V2.
1. What is the CAT5 Smart KVM Extender system? The CAT5 Smart KVM Extender system from Minicom is an advanced KVM switch that performs the following functions: • Extends KVM control over a computer* up to a distance of 110m / 360ft • Gives 2 users at 2 workstations control of 1 computer* • A 2-port KVM Switch for 1 or 2 users * Wherever the word ‘computer’ appears in this guide it can equally refer to a KVM switch. 2.
. The Smart KVM Extender units The figures below illustrate the Transmitter and Receiver units. To computer’s Video card SYSTEM CAT5 SMART Extender To computer’s Mouse port 6VDC To computer’s Keyboard port MINICOM www.minicom.
COMPUTER USER CAT5 PICTURE SMART Extender SYSTEM 6VDC MINICOM www.minicom.
Computer Keyboard port Computer Monitor port Keyboard Monitor USER COMPUTER Computer Mouse port Mouse Figure 5 Receiver rear panel Picture adjuster Power connector 6VDC PICTURE SYSTEM System cable Figure 6 Receiver side panel 4
4. Pre-installation instructions Disconnect all computers from the electrical power supply. Place cables away from fluorescent lights, air conditioners, and machines that are likely to generate electrical noise. 5. The Smart KVM Extender cables The Transmitter comes with built-in KVM cables that connect to the computer’s Video card, Mouse and Keyboard ports. The 3 in 1 CPU cable The 3 in 1 CPU cable –illustrated below – is only used when the Receiver connects to a computer.
6. Using the Smart KVM Extender as an Extender Connect the system as in Figure 8 to use the Smart KVM Extender as an Extender. Extend the KVM workstation from the computer up to a distance of 110m/360ft. Connect the system as described below. P110 Transmitter To System port CAT5 To User Mouse port SMART CAT5 FTP cable Extender MINICOM To User Monitor port www.minicom.
Connecting the Transmitter Connect the Transmitter built-in cables to the computer as follows: Connect the purple Mouse connector to the computer’s mouse port. Connect the green Keyboard connector to the computer’s Keyboard port. Connect the blue Video connector to the computer’s Video card. Connecting the CAT FTP System cable Connect the CAT FTP System cable to the System ports of the 2 Smart Extender units.
P 110 SD User 2 P110 SD User 1 To Monitor port CAT5 FTP cable CAT5 SMART Up to 110m / 360ft Extender To Mouse port TRANSMITTER MINICOM 6VDC To Keyboard port www.minicom.com Transmitter CAT5 SMART SD Extender DESKPRO Ω MINICOM RECEIVER www.minicom. com Receiver Computer Figure 9 Giving 2 users access to 1 computer Connecting the KVM workstation for user 2 Connect a monitor, keyboard and mouse to the ports on the Transmitter’s side panel.
9. Using the Smart KVM Extender as a 2-port KVM Switch Figure 10 illustrates the system connected to 2 computers and 2 workstations. User 1 can access his local computer or the remote computer. User 2 can only access his local computer. The connections are the same as in Figure 9, with the addition of the 3 in 1 CPU cable that connects a 2nd computer to the Receiver.
10. Smart KVM Extender connected to a KVM Switch and computer rack In Figure 11 user 1 can access a computer rack through a KVM Switch or the local computer. User 2 can access the computer rack. To connect the KVM Switch to the computers see the KVM Switch User Guide. SD P110 User 2 SD User 1 S YSTEM CAT5 cable Extender USER CAT5 SMART COMPUTER P110 P ICTURE CAT5 SMART Extender 6VDC 6VDC SYS TEM MINICOM TRANSMITTER ww w.minicom.com Transmitter MINICOM RECEIVER ww w.minicom.
11. Smart KVM Extender connected to 2 Phantom systems In Figure 12 two users have access to two Phantom systems. User 1 has access to both systems while user 2 can access only the Phantom system he’s connected to. To connect the Phantom systems to the computers see the Phantom User Guide. SD P 110 P 1 10 SD User 1 User 2 Transmitter SYSTEM CAT5 Extender USER CAT5 SMART Extender SYSTEM 6VDC PICTURE MINICOM TRANSMITTER COMPUTER CAT5 SMART www.minicom.
12. Operating the Smart KVM Extender Once the system is connected there are 2 ways to switch between the 2 computers / KVM workstations. • On the Receiver press the Select button • On the keyboard press Shift followed by + or -.
Timeout When there are 2 workstations in the system you can gain control at each workstation when the other workstation is idle for 2 seconds. This timeout period can be altered in the settings mode to between 1-99 seconds, as explained below. Locking KVM control When there are 2 users using the system, either user can override the Timeout feature and retain control indefinitely. Do so by locking the system so that only one user has control. To lock control: On the keyboard press Shift followed by F12.
To enter the Settings mode: Press Shift then, F2. Release Shift before pressing F2. All 3 keyboard LEDs glow when in the Settings mode. Changing the hotkey You can change the hotkey from Shift to Alt or Ctrl. Once changed, all references in this Guide to Shift now refer to the new hotkey.
Making advanced adjustments The Smart KVM Extender operates with: • Windows, Linux, Novell or UNIX systems • 2 or 3 or 5 button PS/2 mouse, Intellimouse or Wheel mouse When connected and switched on as set out above, the Smart KVM Extender automatically operates with the computer and mouse types connected to it.
Set the keyboard mode setting to: • PC when operating Intel based computers. • UC when operating UNIX computers in console mode. • UG when operating UNIX computers in graphics mode. Mouse driver settings when replacing a computer For Type the letters Wheel mouse or Intellimouse IN 2 or 3 button mouse PS 5-button mouse EP Set the mouse setting to IN when the computer has an operating system that supports Wheel mouse functionality: (Windows 98 and Linux*).
Viewing the settings View the settings and firmware revision in any text editor. To view the settings: 1. Before entering to the Settings mode switch the keyboard layout to English. 2. Open any text editor, e.g. Notepad. 3. Press Shift, followed by F2 to enter the Settings mode. 4. Press F. The settings appear in the text editor. Exiting the Settings mode To save changes and exit the Settings mode: Press Esc.
A summary of the Settings mode operations Operation Press Enter Settings mode Shift, F2 Exit and save changes Change Hotkey to Alt Esc HA Change Hotkey to Ctrl HC Change Hotkey to Shift HS Change the Timeout period T, xx (01-99) Enabling lock control EL Disabling lock control DL Keyboard setting – PC PC Keyboard setting – UNIX console mode UC Keyboard setting – graphics mode UG Mouse setting - Wheel mouse or Intellimouse IN Mouse setting – 2/3-button mouse PS Mouse setting – 5-butt
14. Cascading Smart Extenders Cascade two or more Smart Extenders to get more than one remote workstation working from one computer. One possible configuration is shown on the diagram below. Smart Extender Transmitter 1 Smart Extender Transm itter 2 S YSTEM CAT5 S YSTEM CAT5 SM ART SMART M IN ICOM ww w. min icom .com TRANS MITTE R TRAN SMI TTE R 6 VDC Extender 6 VDC E xten der MIN ICO M ww w .min icom .
Transmitter Power adapter To ensure mouse and keyboard functionality connect an external power adapter +6VDC 2A to the second Smart Extender Transmitter unit – see the figure above. Switching on Switch the system on in the following order: 1. The second Smart Extender Transmitter unit 2. The rest of the system, including the shared computer.
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