ATEN CS-88A manual

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Table of contents for the manual

  • Page 1

    User Manual CS-88 A 2002-12-27[...]

  • Page 2

    Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential in stalla tion . This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy, and if not insta[...]

  • Page 3

    Packing List The complete Master View CS-88A package consists of: M 1 CS-88A KVM Switch M 1 Power Adapter M 1 Rack Mounting Kit M 1 User Manual M 1 Quick Start Guide Check to make sure that the unit was not damaged in shipping. If you encounter a problem, contact your dealer. Read this manual thoroughly and follow the installation and operation pro[...]

  • Page 4

    Contents Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Hardware Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .[...]

  • Page 5

    Overview The Master View CS-88A KVM Switch is a control unit that allows access to multiple computers from a single console (keyboard, monitor, and mouse). Before the development of the Master View, the only way to cont rol multiple computer configurations from a single console was through a complex and costly network. Now, with the Mast er View CS[...]

  • Page 6

    Features M Controls 8 Computers From a Single Console M Cascadable From Any Port To Three Levels for Control of Up to 512 Computers From a Single Console M Administrator/User Password Authorization for Enhanced Securit y Prot ect ion (PSP) M Intelligent OSD (On Screen Display) and Hotkey Switching for Ef ficient System Handling M No Software Requir[...]

  • Page 7

    Hardware Requirements Console M A VGA, SVGA, or Multisync monit or capable of the highest resolut ion that you will be using on any computer in the installation. M A PS/2 style mouse M A PS/2 style keyboard Computer The following equipment must be installed on each computer: M A VGA, SVGA or Multisync card. M A 6-pin mini-DIN (PS/2 style) mouse por[...]

  • Page 8

    Cables Use of substandard cables may damage the connected devices or degrade overall performance. For optimum signal integrity and to simplify the layout, we strongly recommend that you use the following high quality CS Custom Cable sets: Cable Purpose Part Number Connecting Switc h to Computer 2L-1001P/C (1.8m) or 2L-1003P/C (3m) Cascading Master [...]

  • Page 9

    Introduction Front View 1. Port Selection Switches Press a switch to access the computer attached to the corresponding port. M Pressing Buttons 1 and 2 simultaneously for 3 seconds performs a Keyboard and Mouse Reset . M Pressing 7 and 8 simultaneously starts Auto Scan Mode (see p. 30). 2. Port LEDs The Port LEDs are built into the Port Selection S[...]

  • Page 10

    Rear View 1. Power Jack The unit is designed to be non-powered (external power is not required - its operating power comes from the computers). In general, the only time that external power is necessary is when you daisy chain it, or if operation becomes erratic because the unit isn’t obtaining enough power from the computer connections. If you c[...]

  • Page 11

    Installation Before you Begin Single Station Installation In a Single Stage installation, there are no additional Mast er View’s cascaded down from the first unit. To set up a single stage installation do the following: 1. Plug your keyboard, mouse, and monitor into the unit’s Console Ports. 2. Use KVM cable sets (as described in the Cables sec[...]

  • Page 12

    Two Stage Installation To control even more computers, up to eight additional Mast er View CS-88A units can be cascaded from the CPU ports of the First Stage unit . The cascaded Master Views that connect back to the First Stage unit are considered Second Stage units. As many as 64 computers can be controlled in a complet e two stage installation. A[...]

  • Page 13

    Three Stage Installation The procedures for setting up a three stage installation are essentially the same as for a two stage installation. With a three stage setup, as many as 512 computers can be controlled in a complete installation. A table showing the relation between the number of computers and the number of Master View units needed to contro[...]

  • Page 14

    4. Plug the power adapter cable into the Master View’s Power Jack, then plug the adapter into an AC power source. 5. Repeat these steps for any other Third Stage units you wish to connect. 6. Plug in the power adapters for all the Second Stage Master View units. 7. Plug in the power adapter for the First Stage Master View unit. 8. Turn on the pow[...]

  • Page 15

    Operation Hot Plugging The Master View CS-88A supports hot plugging. Components can be removed and added back into the installation by unplugging and replugging their cables from their respective ports without the need to shut the swit ch down. For hot plugging to work properly, the following procedures must be observed: M Hot Plugging CPU Ports: W[...]

  • Page 16

    Powering Off and Restarting If it becomes necessary to Power Off one of the Master View units, before starting it back up you must do the following: 1. Shut down all the computers that are attached to the unit. If there are Master View stations cascaded down from it, all the cascaded stations and the computers attached to them must be shut down, as[...]

  • Page 17

    Port ID Numbering Each CPU Port on a Master View installation is assigned a unique Port ID . You can directly access any computer on any level of the installation by specif ying the Port ID of the CPU port that the computer is connect ed to - eit her with the Hotkey port selection method, or wit h the OSD. The Port ID is a one, two, or three digit [...]

  • Page 18

    Port Selection The Master View CS-88A provides three methods to obtain instant access to any computer in your installation: Manual, Hotkey , and OSD. M Manual Simply press the appropriate Port Selection Switch on the Master View’s front panel. After you press the switch, the Select ed LED lights to indicate that the port has the KVM focus. The OS[...]

  • Page 19

    Hotkeys Hotkey Port Control Hotkey Port Control allows you to provide KVM focus to a particular computer directly from the keyboard. The Master View CS-88A provides the following Hotkey Port Control features: M Selecting the Active Port M Auto Scanning M Skip Mode M Invoking Hotkey Mode 1. All Hotkey operations begin by invoking Hotkey Mode . Invok[...]

  • Page 20

    M Selecting the Active Port Each CPU port is assigned a Port ID (see Port ID Numbering , p. 13). You can directly access any computer on the installation with a Hot key combination that specifies the Port ID of the CPU Port that the comput er is connected to. The steps involved are: 1. Invoke Hotkey Mode (see p. 15) 2. Key in the Port ID The Port I[...]

  • Page 21

    M Auto Scanning Auto Scan automatically switches among all the active CPU Port s that are accessible to the currently logged on User at regular intervals (see Scan Mode of the OSD F3 SET function, p. 26), so that he can monit or their act ivity automatically. Setting the Scan Interval: The amount of time Auto Scan dwells on each port is set wit h t[...]

  • Page 22

    Starting Auto Scan: To start Auto Scanning, key in the following Hotkey combinat ion: 1. Invoke Hotkey Mode (see p. 15) 2. Key in [A] After you press A , you automatically exit Hot key Mode, and ent er Aut o Scan Mode. 3. To exit Auto Scan Mode, press [Esc] or [Spacebar] Note: While Auto Scan Mode is in effect, ordinary keyboard and mouse functions[...]

  • Page 23

    M Skip Mode This feature allows you to switch between computers in order to monitor them manually. You can dwell on a particular port for as long or as little as you like - as opposed to Auto Scanning, which automatically switches af ter a fixed interval. To invoke Skip Mode, key in the following Hotkey combination: 1. Invoke Hotkey Mode (see p. 15[...]

  • Page 24

    Hotkey Beeper Control The Beeper (see Activate Beeper, p. 28) can be Hotkey toggled On and Off. To toggle the Beeper, key in the following Hotkey combination: 1. Invoke Hotkey Mode (see p. 15) 2. Key in [B] After you press [B], the Beeper toggles On or Off. The Command Line displays Beeper On or Beeper Off for one second; then the message disappear[...]

  • Page 25

    OSD Operation OSD Overview The On Screen Display (OSD) is used to handle all computer control and switching procedures. All procedures start from the OSD Main Menu. To pop up the Main Menu, tap the [Scroll Lock] key twice. Note: You can optionally change the Hotkey to the Ctrl key (see OSD Hot key , p. 25), in which case you would tap [Ctrl] twice.[...]

  • Page 26

    OSD Navigation M To move up or down through the list one line at a time, use the Up and Down Arrow Keys. If there are more entries than appear on the screen, the screen will scroll. M To move up or down through the list one screen at a time, use the [Pg Up] and [Pg Dn] keys. If there are more entries than appear on the screen, the screen will scrol[...]

  • Page 27

    OSD Functions OSD functions are used to configure and control the OSD. For example, you can: rapidly switch to any port; scan selected ports only; limit the list you wish to view; designate a port as a Quick View Port; create or edit a port name; or make OSD setting adjustments. To access an OSD function: 1. Press the Function Key that corresponds [...]

  • Page 28

    M F2 LIST: Many of the OSD functions only operate on the computers that have been selected for Listing (displaying) on the Main Screen. This function lets you broaden or narrow the scope of which ports are selected for Listing. The submenu choices and their meanings are given in the table below: Choice Meaning ALL Lists all of the ports on the inst[...]

  • Page 29

    M F3 SET: This function allows each User and the Administrator to set up their own working environment. A separate profile for each is stored by the OSD and is activated according to the Username that was provided during Login. To change a setting: 1. Move the highlight bar to it, then press [Enter] 2. After you select an item, a submenu with furth[...]

  • Page 30

    (F3 SET: continued) Setting Function PORT ID DISPLAY MODE Selects how the Port ID i s displayed: the Port Number al one ( PORT NUMBER ); the Port Name alone ( PORT NAME ); or the Port Number plus the Port Name ( PORT NUMBER + PORT NAME ). The de f a u l t i s PORT NUMBER + PORT NAME. SCAN DURATION Determines how long the foc us dwells on each port [...]

  • Page 31

    M F4 ADM: F4 is an Administrator only function. It allows the Administrator to configure and control the overall operation of the OSD. To change a setting use the Up and Down Arrow Keys to move the highlight bar to it then press [Enter] . In order for this item to appear on the OSD Main Screen, a login with the Administrator’s Username and Passwo[...]

  • Page 32

    (F4 ADM: continued) Setting Function EDIT PORT NAMES To help remember whi ch computer is attached to a parti cular port, every port can be given a name. Thi s function allows the Administrator to create, modi fy, or delete port names. Note: Only the Ports currentl y chosen for the LIST vi ew on the main OSD screen (s ee p. 24), show up here. To Edi[...]

  • Page 33

    (F4 ADM: continued) Setting Function SET QUICK VIEW PORTS This function lets the Administrator select which Ports to include as Quick View ports. Note: Only the Ports currentl y chosen for the LIST vi ew on the main OSD screen (s ee p. 24), show up here. M To select/desel ect a port as a Quick Vi ew Port, use the Navigation Keys to move the highlig[...]

  • Page 34

    M F7 SCAN: Pressing [F7] invokes Auto Scan Mode. This function allows you to automatically switch among the available computers at regular intervals so that you can monitor their activity without having to take the trouble of switching yourself. M The selection of computers to be included for Auto Scanning is made with the Scan Mode setting under t[...]

  • Page 35

    Appendix Computer Connection Table The following tables indicate the relationship between the number of Master View Units and the number of computers that they control: MVs Computers MVs Computers MVs Computers MVs Computer s 1 8 20 134 - 141 39 267 - 274 58 400 - 407 2 8-15 21 141 - 148 40 274 - 281 59 407 - 414 3 15 - 22 22 148 - 155 41 281 - 288[...]

  • Page 36

    Stacking and Rack Mounting M Stacking CS-88A devices can be stacked one on top of the other using the stacking brackets that come already attached to the unit. Note that there is a top and bottom half to each bracket. The top half has a convex surface; the bottom half has a concave surface. Line up the four bottom brackets of the top unit with the [...]

  • Page 37

    M Rack Mounting To rack mount the unit do the following: 1. First remove the stacking brackets by unscrewing them from the unit, as shown in the diagram below: 2. Next screw the mounting brackets into the sides of the unit, as shown in the diagram below: 3. Slide the unit into the rack and secure it to the rack. 2002-12-27 CS-88A User Manual 33[...]

  • Page 38

    Clear Login Information If you are unable to perform an Administrator login (because the Username and Password information has become corrupted, or you have forgotten it , for example), you can clear the login information with the following procedure: 1. Power off the switch and open the case. 2. Short the jumper J22 (labeled Restore Default Passwo[...]

  • Page 39

    Troubleshooting Symptom Possible Cause Action Erratic behavior. Unit not receiving enough power under self-powered operation. Use the Power Adapter that was s upplied with the unit to provide Pressing the Hotkeys gets no response. The connection from the selected port to the target computer has been broken, or the computer is turned OFF. Check the [...]

  • Page 40

    Specifications Function Specification Computer Connections Direc t 8 Max 512 (via Cascade) Port Selection Front Panel Switc hes Hotkeys On Screen Display LEDs Power 1 (Blue) On Line Port 8 (Orange) Selected Port 8 (Green) Connectors Keyboard 1 x 6 pin mini -DIN female - Console 8 x 6 pin mini -DIN female - CPU Ports Mouse 1 x 6 pin mini-DIN female [...]

  • Page 41

    OSD Factory Default Settings The factory default settings are as follows: Setting Default OSD Hotkey [Scroll Lock] [Scrol l Lock] Port ID Display P osition Upper Right Corner Port ID Display Durati on 3 Seconds Port ID Display Mode The Port Number plus the Port Name Scan Duration 5 Seconds Scan Mode All Screen Blanker 0 (Off) Logout Timeout 0 (Off)[...]