Black Box ServSwitch CX manual

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114

Go to page of

A good user manual

The rules should oblige the seller to give the purchaser an operating instrucion of Black Box ServSwitch CX, along with an item. The lack of an instruction or false information given to customer shall constitute grounds to apply for a complaint because of nonconformity of goods with the contract. In accordance with the law, a customer can receive an instruction in non-paper form; lately graphic and electronic forms of the manuals, as well as instructional videos have been majorly used. A necessary precondition for this is the unmistakable, legible character of an instruction.

What is an instruction?

The term originates from the Latin word „instructio”, which means organizing. Therefore, in an instruction of Black Box ServSwitch CX one could find a process description. An instruction's purpose is to teach, to ease the start-up and an item's use or performance of certain activities. An instruction is a compilation of information about an item/a service, it is a clue.

Unfortunately, only a few customers devote their time to read an instruction of Black Box ServSwitch CX. A good user manual introduces us to a number of additional functionalities of the purchased item, and also helps us to avoid the formation of most of the defects.

What should a perfect user manual contain?

First and foremost, an user manual of Black Box ServSwitch CX should contain:
- informations concerning technical data of Black Box ServSwitch CX
- name of the manufacturer and a year of construction of the Black Box ServSwitch CX item
- rules of operation, control and maintenance of the Black Box ServSwitch CX item
- safety signs and mark certificates which confirm compatibility with appropriate standards

Why don't we read the manuals?

Usually it results from the lack of time and certainty about functionalities of purchased items. Unfortunately, networking and start-up of Black Box ServSwitch CX alone are not enough. An instruction contains a number of clues concerning respective functionalities, safety rules, maintenance methods (what means should be used), eventual defects of Black Box ServSwitch CX, and methods of problem resolution. Eventually, when one still can't find the answer to his problems, he will be directed to the Black Box service. Lately animated manuals and instructional videos are quite popular among customers. These kinds of user manuals are effective; they assure that a customer will familiarize himself with the whole material, and won't skip complicated, technical information of Black Box ServSwitch CX.

Why one should read the manuals?

It is mostly in the manuals where we will find the details concerning construction and possibility of the Black Box ServSwitch CX item, and its use of respective accessory, as well as information concerning all the functions and facilities.

After a successful purchase of an item one should find a moment and get to know with every part of an instruction. Currently the manuals are carefully prearranged and translated, so they could be fully understood by its users. The manuals will serve as an informational aid.

Table of contents for the manual

  • Page 1

    Ser vSwitch ™ CX USER GUIDE   ® NETWORK SER VICES ® Order toll-free in the U.S.: Call 877-877-BBOX (outside U.S. call 724-746-5500 ) FREE technical 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 Drive, Lawrence, P A 15055-1018 W eb site: ww[...]

  • Page 2

                1 ® Contents - page 2 Contents I ntroduction ServSwitch CX features - front and rear ..................................... 5 What’ s in the box.....................[...]

  • Page 3

                2 ® HT Contents - page 3 Operation The front panel controls ........................................................... 48 ServSwitch CX models ......................[...]

  • Page 4

                3 ® HT Appendix 3 - VNC viewer connection options ......................... 90 Colour/Encoding ................................................................... 90 [...]

  • Page 5

                4 ® I ntr oduction Thank you for choosing the ServSwitch CX series from Black Box. Each of the four models have been designed to take full advantage of CA Tx structur[...]

  • Page 6

                5 ® ServS witch CX featur es - front and r ear The ServSwitch CX units pack a great deal of functionality into a compact space. All models occupy a single 1U rack spa[...]

  • Page 7

                6 ® CO MPUTER USER AUX VN C 100 DAT LNK PW R 1 2 3 4 What ’ s in the bo x ServSwitch CX or ServSwitch CX with IP 30W power adapter and country- specific power lead[...]

  • Page 8

                7 ® I nstallation M ounting The ServSwitch CX units offer two main mounting methods: • Supplied four self-adhesive rubber feet • Supplied rack brackets Connection[...]

  • Page 9

                8 ® Connections The ServSwitch CX and CX with IP units provide a gr eat deal of flexibility in their configurations. This chapter details the various connections th[...]

  • Page 10

                9 ® Local user A locally connected video monitor , keyboard (and mouse) ar e requir ed during the initial configuration. These are also useful during normal use to a[...]

  • Page 11

                10 ® Remote user (via CX R emote extender) Up to four users can be placed a maximum of 300 metres (980 feet) from the ServSwitch CX unit. Remote users are connected v[...]

  • Page 12

                11 ® Global user (IP network port) The ServSwitch CX with IP models provide an autosensing Ethernet IP port that can operate at 10 or 100Mbps, according to the networ[...]

  • Page 13

                12 ® Serv er system (via SAM) Each server system is connected to the ServSwitch CX unit via a Server Access Module (SAM) and standard category 5, 5e or 6 cabling. SAM[...]

  • Page 14

                13 ® M odem/ISDN port The ServSwitch CX with IP models provide a serial port to allow you to connect either a modem or ISDN terminal adapter . This can be used as a p[...]

  • Page 15

                14 ® P ower in connection The ServSwitch CX unit is supplied with a single 30W power adapter which is sufficient to supply any configuration of the unit. All ServSw[...]

  • Page 16

                15 ® 8 IN IN IN IN OUT OUT OUT 8 8 8 7 7 7 7 6 6 6 6 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 VNC 100 DATLNK AUX 1 COMPUTER 2 3 4 PW R USER P ower control port The Ser[...]

  • Page 17

                16 ® Cascading multiple units The ServSwitch CX (with IP) units support up to sixteen or twenty four directly connected server systems, however , this is by no means [...]

  • Page 18

                17 ® Ho w cascade connections operate The method for cascading ServSwitch CX units is straightforward and requir es no har dware settings or lengthy configuration pr[...]

  • Page 19

                18 ® SAM SAM SAM SAM Group 43 at cascade level 1 Group 41 at cascade level 2 Port at cascade level 2 01 The unique address of this host is: The unique address of this[...]

  • Page 20

                19 ® 3 Connect the other end of the cascade link cable to one of the CA Tx USER PORTS sockets on the rear panel of the lower unit. Due to the way in which ports withi[...]

  • Page 21

                20 ® U sing cascaded servers In use, cascaded servers can be accessed using exactly the same methods as for those connected directly to the ServSwitch CX. However , b[...]

  • Page 22

                21 ® OPTIONS 1 20 12 4 19 11 3 18 10 2 17 9 1 3 2 24 16 8 23 15 7 22 14 6 21 13 5 4 5V 5V WARNING ! RJ45 CONNECTORS ON THIS PANELARE FOR CONNECTION TO KVM EQUIPMENT O[...]

  • Page 23

                22 ® Configuration Almost all configuration and operational aspects of the ServSwitch CX units are controlled via on-screen menu displays. Ov erall initial configu[...]

  • Page 24

                23 ® S E R V SW I T C H CX C o mp u t e r P o r t C o mp u t e r 1 0 1 C o mp u t e r 2 0 2 C o mp u t e r 3 0 3 C o mp u t e r 4 0 4 C o mp u t e r 5 0 5 C o mp u t [...]

  • Page 25

                24 ® Configuration menus lay out The menu options are arranged as shown her e: For a description of each option within the Configuration menus, see Appendix 1 for m[...]

  • Page 26

                25 ® Registering users (edit user list) T o cr eate/edit user accounts 1 Display the Configuration menu . Note: Y ou must be logged-in as the ADMIN user . 2 Highligh[...]

  • Page 27

                26 ® Registering serv ers (edit computer list) T o cr eate/edit server entries 1 Display the Configuration menu . Note: Y ou must be logged-in as the ADMIN user . 2 [...]

  • Page 28

                27 ® Video compensation The ServSwitch CX units allow server systems to be placed up to 50m (160 feet) away and remote users to be extended by a maximum of 300m (980 [...]

  • Page 29

                28 ® Serv er video compensation The video compensation for connected servers is achieved using the main menu. Although the compensation can be applied from any local,[...]

  • Page 30

                29 ® T o apply r emote user video compensation 1 Ensure that the video image from the server to be used has been corr ectly compensated. See Server video compensation[...]

  • Page 31

                30 ® T o use skew adjustment 1 Display a skew patter n on the appropriate server . Y ou can either use the supplied skew pattern or create your own: Using the supplie[...]

  • Page 32

                31 ® 3 As appropriate, press either the R, G or B keyboar d keys to select the appropriate colour channel. Corr esponding keyboard indicators will flash rapidly to s[...]

  • Page 33

                32 ® A utoscanning The ServSwitch CX provides an autoscan mode that switches between the connected servers in sequence. This mode is useful to allow users and adminis[...]

  • Page 34

                33 ® S av in g an d r est or in g co nfi gu rat io n se tt in gs The ServSwitch CX can store up to 512 server names and 16 sets of user access rights (ServSwitch CX [...]

  • Page 35

                34 ® What to do if the ADMIN passwor d has been forgotten If the ADMIN password becomes mislaid or forgotten, you will not be able to access the ServSwitch CX to add [...]

  • Page 36

                35 ® H ot plugging and mouse r estoration It is strongly r ecommended that you switch off a server befor e attempting to connect it to the ServSwitch CX. However , if[...]

  • Page 37

                36 ® Initial IP configuration IP models of the ServSwitch CX family possess a further collection of configuration options related specifically to IP networking. It[...]

  • Page 38

                37 ® T o configur e IP details from a global user location 1 Use either the VNC viewer or a standard web browser to make r emote contact with the ServSwitch CX with [...]

  • Page 39

                38 ® Encryption settings The ServSwitch CX with IP offers a gr eat deal of flexibility in its configuration and this extends equally to its encryption settings that[...]

  • Page 40

                39 ® VNC 100 DA TLNK AUX 1 COMPUTER 2 3 4 PWR USER Internet SAM VNC 100 DA TLNK AUX 1 COMPUTER 2 3 4 PWR USER Internet SAM N etworking issues Thanks to its robust sec[...]

  • Page 41

                40 ® VNC 100 DA TLNK AUX 1 COMPUTER 2 3 4 PWR USER Internet CAM Placing ServS witch CX with IP behind a router or fir ewall A possible point of contention between th[...]

  • Page 42

                41 ® T o discover a DHCP-allocated IP addr ess Once a DHCP server has allocated an IP address, you will need to know it in order to access the ServSwitch CX with IP v[...]

  • Page 43

                42 ® Placing ServS witch CX with IP alongside the fir ewall ServSwitch CX with IP is built from the gr ound-up to be secure. It employs a sophisticated 128bit public[...]

  • Page 44

                43 ® P o wer switching configuration Power switch configuration comprises two main steps: • Configure the POWER CONTROL serial port to the same speed as used by [...]

  • Page 45

                44 ® The KVMADMIN utility Particularly useful for complex ServSwitch CX configurations and the control of remote installations, KVMADMIN is a powerful administration[...]

  • Page 46

                45 ® P erforming upgrades The ServSwitch CX and CX with IP units are fully r econfigurable via flash upgrades, as are the individual Server Access Modules that ar e[...]

  • Page 47

                46 ® 9 - Commence the upgrade T o begin the upgrade process, click the Upload Now button. The pr ogress will be shown within the dialog. Should you decide not to cont[...]

  • Page 48

                47 ® U pgrading Ser vS witch CX with IP models The ServSwitch CX with IP models are upgraded via global connection (thr ough the IP network port). Upgrades are digita[...]

  • Page 49

                48 ® LOCAL USER REMOTE USER CX R GLOBAL USER IP SERVER SYSTEM SAM ® 724-746-5500 ® Operation The front panel controls ServS witch CX models COMPUTER button and nume[...]

  • Page 50

                49 ® S E R V SW I T C H CX U s er N a m e : P a s sw o r d : P or t 1 l o g in E s c- S c r S av e S E R V SW I T C H CX C o mp u t e r P o r t C o mp u t e r 1 0 1 C[...]

  • Page 51

                50 ® T o select a server using hotkeys 1 Simultaneously pr ess and hold and . Note: The and keys when pressed in combination are called ‘hotkeys’ and they signal [...]

  • Page 52

                51 ® T o select a server using the on-scr een menu 1 Select the on-screen menu in one of three ways: • By simultaneously pressing and then releasing . • By pressi[...]

  • Page 53

                52 ® Logging in and out The ServSwitch CX features a straightforwar d security system that helps to prevent unauthorised access to some, or all connected servers. If [...]

  • Page 54

                53 ® The r eminder banner As many server screen layouts can appear very similar , the ServSwitch CX provides a r eminder banner option that indicates which server por[...]

  • Page 55

                54 ® P ower switching (via configuration menu) When used in conjunction with optional power switch boxes, the ServSwitch CX with IP allows you complete remote contr [...]

  • Page 56

                55 ® OR OR SERVER SYSTEM SAM ® 724-746-5500 ® Global user access Global users access the ServSwitch CX with IP using a viewer and a link. There are two types of vie[...]

  • Page 57

                56 ® IMPORT ANT : During login, if you see a warning message similar to the one shown here, then stop and do not pr oceed. Global user access via VNC viewer The VNC v[...]

  • Page 58

                57 ® Global user access via web br owser Y ou can use a s tand ar d W eb br ows er ( sup port ed v ers ions ) to gai n a cces s to th e Ser vSwi tch CX with IP and it[...]

  • Page 59

                58 ® U sing the viewer windo w The viewer window gives you the ability to view and control the ServSwitch CX with IP and its host server(s). Its operation is almost i[...]

  • Page 60

                59 ® Host selection The Hosts button on the menu bar provides the quickest and most efficient way to switch between host servers. This is because the button is close[...]

  • Page 61

                60 ® Access mode - shar ed/private Up to five users can be simultaneously logged-on (four global users plus one local or remote user) and during normal operation, al[...]

  • Page 62

                61 ® Mouse Control This option displays a mouse control dialog and is useful when the r emote cursor is failing to respond corr ectly to your mouse movements, even af[...]

  • Page 63

                62 ® Click to send the code Enter the code here Keyboard Contr ol This option displays a keyboard contr ol dialog and is useful for sending keyboard combinations (to [...]

  • Page 64

                63 ® Video Settings This dialog provides access to all of the key video settings that determine image quality and link performance. Threshold The threshold is ef fect[...]

  • Page 65

                64 ® If y ou need to enter a por t number Usually , when you make a network connection to the ServSwitch CX with IP (either using the VNC viewer or a Web br owser) yo[...]

  • Page 66

                65 ® Viewer encryption settings The web browser viewers and VNC viewers (of level 4.0b5S or higher) of fer four encryption options. The resulting actions of certain o[...]

  • Page 67

                66 ® F ur ther infor mation This chapter contains a variety of information, including the following: • Getting assistance - see below • T roubleshooting - see rig[...]

  • Page 68

                67 ® Appendix 1 – Configuration menus The ServSwitch CX configuration menus allow a range of settings to be made both to the installation as a whole and to parts [...]

  • Page 69

                68 ® F unctions The Functions menu contains a collection of procedur es that affect various aspects of ServSwitch CX operation. Only the Admin user is granted access [...]

  • Page 70

                69 ® U ser P r efer ences The User Prefer ences are system operating parameters that are independently selectable for each user and affect only their scr een. Screen [...]

  • Page 71

                70 ® Global P refer ences Global prefer ences are available only to the Admin user and allow settings to be made that affect all users attached to the ServSwitch CX. [...]

  • Page 72

                71 ® Global P refer ences (continued) OSD Dwell Time Settings: 1, 2, 3, 5, 10 SECONDS After a successful server channel change the ServSwitch CX will display a confi[...]

  • Page 73

                72 ® Setup O ptions Setup options are available only to the Admin user and consist of key settings that are normally made only during the initial installation stage. [...]

  • Page 74

                73 ® Setup O ptions (continued) Automatic Logout Settings: DISABLED, ENABLED The ServSwitch CX enables you to restrict access to your servers on a login basis. If a u[...]

  • Page 75

                74 ® Advanced O ptions Advanced options are available only to the Admin user and consist of settings that are related to specialist ar eas such as power control and D[...]

  • Page 76

                75 ® Configur e IP port Available only on ServSwitch CX with IP models, the IP port configuration menu allows you to determine settings that relate dir ectly to the[...]

  • Page 77

                76 ® Net Mask Also often called the ‘subnet-mask’, this value is used alongside the IP address to help define a smaller collection (or subnet) of devices on a ne[...]

  • Page 78

                77 ® M odem Configuration This page allows you to configure the COM1 serial port located at the rear of the ServSwitch CX with IP . Server IP / Client IP When a use[...]

  • Page 79

                78 ® Clearing IP access control This option removes all entries fr om the IP access control featur e within the ServSwitch CX with IP . What is IP access control? The[...]

  • Page 80

                79 ® Appendix 2 - Configuration pages via view er This section covers the configuration pages that are available to global admin users, using either the VNC viewer [...]

  • Page 81

                80 ® U ser accounts This page allows you to manage up to sixteen separate accounts. The first of the sixteen accounts is the admin account and is the only account wi[...]

  • Page 82

                81 ® U nit configuration This page provides access to a selection of both basic and advanced settings for the ServSwitch CX with IP . Many of the settings displayed [...]

  • Page 83

                82 ® Advanced unit configuration Cl ic k t hi s bu tt on to d is pl ay a d va nc ed o pt i on s th at d o n ot n or ma ll y r e qu ir e a lt er a ti on . Mouse Laten[...]

  • Page 84

                83 ® T ime & date configuration This page allows you to configure all aspects r elating to time and date within the ServSwitch CX with IP unit. Timezone speci?[...]

  • Page 85

                84 ® N etwork configuration This page allows you to configure the various aspects of the IP port and its relationship with the local network. MAC address Media Acce[...]

  • Page 86

                85 ® Setting IP access control The golden rule with this feature is ‘Include befor e you exclude’ or to put it another way ‘Arrange allowed addresses in the lis[...]

  • Page 87

                86 ® Serial port configuration This page provides all access to settings concerned with the two serial ports (modem and power control) that ar e situated at the rear[...]

  • Page 88

                87 ® H ost configuration This page provides the opportunity to configur e various details for each of the host systems that may be connected to the ServSwitch CX wi[...]

  • Page 89

                88 ® P or t Dir ect Port Direct is totally transpar ent communication system that allows supporting devices to communicate with each other . Using the keyboard connec[...]

  • Page 90

                89 ® Logging and status This screen pr ovides various details about the user activity on the ServSwitch CX with IP unit. T o get her e 1 Using VNC viewer or a browser[...]

  • Page 91

                90 ® Appendix 3 - VNC viewer connection options When you are connecting to the ServSwitch CX with IP using the VNC viewer , a number of options are available. Colour/[...]

  • Page 92

                91 ® Inputs Enable all inputs When selected, allows keyboard, mouse and clipboard data to be transferred between server and viewer systems. Disable all inputs (view-o[...]

  • Page 93

                92 ® Scaling No Scaling No attempt is made to make the screen image fit the viewer window . Y ou may need to scroll horizontally and/or vertically to view all parts [...]

  • Page 94

                93 ® I dentities This feature helps your VNC viewer to confirm that a revisited ServSwitch CX with IP is genuine and not another device masquerading as a ServSwitch [...]

  • Page 95

                94 ® Appendix 4 - VNC viewer windo w options Click the VNC icon in the top left corner of the viewer window (or press F8) to display the window options: Standard wind[...]

  • Page 96

                95 ® Appendix 5 - B ro wser viewer options When you are connecting to the ServSwitch CX with IP using a Web br owser , a number of options are available. There ar e f[...]

  • Page 97

                96 ® Appendix 6 – A ddr esses, masks and ports IP address, network masks and ports ar e all closely linked in the quest for one device to find another across dispa[...]

  • Page 98

                97 ® N et masks - the binary explanation T o r eally understand the operation of a net mask it is necessary to delve deeper into the life blood of servers – binary [...]

  • Page 99

                98 ® Calculating the mask for IP access control The IP access control function uses a standar d IP address and a net mask notation to specify both single locations an[...]

  • Page 100

                99 ® VNC 100 DATLNK AUX 1 COMPUTER 2 3 4 PWR USER Internet W eb server P or ts If you accept the analogy of IP addresses being rather like telephone numbers, then thi[...]

  • Page 101

                100 ® Appendix 7 – C able and connector specifications RS232 serial mouse to PS/2 conv erter cable 5 1 CLK DCD NC NC NC 1 2 DA T RXD 2 5 TXD GND 3 4 GND Female 6 5[...]

  • Page 102

                101 ® M ulti-head synchronisation cable MASTER end 9pin D-type male SLA VE end 9pin D-type male MASTER end 9pin D-type male SLA VE1 end 9pin D-type male Use this cabl[...]

  • Page 103

                102 ® Appendix 8 – H otkey sequence codes These codes are used when defining hotkey switching sequences (macr os) for host servers and allow you to include almost [...]

  • Page 104

                103 ® Appendix 9 – S uppor ted video modes The following video modes are supported and can be automatically configur ed by the ServSwitch CX units. If a recognised[...]

  • Page 105

                104 ® Safety infor mation • For use in dry , oil free indoor envir onments only . • Both the ServSwitch CX and its power supply generate heat when in operation an[...]

  • Page 106

                105 ® End user licence agr eement PLEASE READ THIS AGREEMENT CAREFULL Y . THIS AGREEMENT CONCERNS ENHANCED VNC VIEWER SOFTW ARE (“the SOFTW ARE”) FOR USE WITH THE[...]

  • Page 107

                106 ® Radio F r equency Energy A Category 5 (or better) twisted pair cable must be used to connect the units in order to maintain compliance with radio fr equency ene[...]

  • Page 108

                107 ® FCC r equirements for telephone-line equipment 1 The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has established rules which permit this device to be directly conne[...]

  • Page 109

                108 ® N ormas Oficiales M exicanas (NOM) electrical safety statement Instrucciones de seguridad 1 T odas las instrucciones de seguridad y operación deberán ser le?[...]

  • Page 110

                109 ® www .ctxd.com Documentation by: © 2007 Black Box Corporation All trademarks are acknowledged. Black Box Corporation, 1000 Park Drive, Lawrence, P A 15055-1018,[...]

  • Page 111

                110 ® HT I ndex A Access local and remote users 49 via dial up link 64 Access control configuration 85 mask calculation 98 Access mode shared & private 60 Accoun[...]

  • Page 112

                111 ® Hotkeys changing 24 selecting computers 50 Hotkey sequences 88 codes and macros 102 Hot plugging 35 HTTP port initial setup 36 local setting 76 remote setting 8[...]

  • Page 113

                112 ® U Unit Configuration 75,81 Unit name local setting 75 remote setting 81 Upgrade firmware 45 Username remote logon 56 User accounts 80 User list editing 25 Use[...]

  • Page 114

                113 ® BlackBo x subsidiar y contact details Country Web Site/Email Phone Fax United States www .blackbox.com 724-746-5500 724-746-0746 Austria www .black-box.at +43 1[...]