Advantech CSW-8 User manual

19" Rackmount CompuSwitch 1
Part No. 2002000800 1st Edition
Printed in Taiwan February 1999
CSW-8 CompuSwitch w/8-Channel
Copyright Notice
This document is copyrighted, December 1998, by Advantech Co., Ltd. All rights are reserved.
Advantech Co., Ltd. reserves the right to make improvements to the products described in this
manual at any time without notice.
No part of this manual may be reproduced, copied, translated or transmitted in any form or by any
means without the prior written permission of Advantech Co., Ltd. Information provided in this
manual is intended to be accurate and reliable. However, Advantech Co., Ltd. assumes no respon-
sibility for its use, nor for any infringements of the rights of third parties which may result from its
use.
Acknowledgments
CSW-8 is a trademark of Advantech Co., Ltd.
NOTE:
The information in this document is provided for reference only. Advantech does not assume any liability
arising out of the application or use of the information or products described herein. This manual is subject to
change without notice.

219" Rackmount CompuSwitch
Introduction
CSW-8, the CompuSwitch enables the efficient control of multiple computers, any combination of
PC/ATs, and PS/2s from only one keyboard, monitor, and mouse. The CSW-8 is a 8-channel Model
connects and controls up to 8 computers.
Features
1. Dedicated keyboard and mouse emulators to ensure automatic booting and
proper operation of each computer.
2. VGA, SVGA, and XGA video support.
3. SCAN function to automatically cycle through all channels at a selectable scan rate
from 1 to 16 seconds by using push buttons on the front panel and from 1 to 99 seconds
by using Hot Key command.
4. SKIP function to automatically bypass channels without a powered computer connected.
5. Simple operation either from the CompuSwitch front panel or from the keyboard using Hot
Key commands.
Specifications
Dimensions 482mm(W) x 193mm(D) x 44mm(H)
19" (W) x 7.6" (D) x 1.73" (H)
Weight 9.5 Kg (20.9 lbs.)
Power Powered by connected computer through the keyboard port.
DC Power Input 6V/500mA Adapter (optional)
Operating Temp. 0-50oC (32-122oF)
Accessory There are 8 package inside one CSW-8
(Cable Kit) Each Package includes one Cable & two DC Adapter
Cable : DB25(M) to HD15(M)+2x mini-DIN6(M), Length :2M/6.5ft
DC Adapter 1 : DIN6(F) to DB9(F) with screw
(PS/2 mouse transfer to serial mouse)
DC Adapter 2 : DIN6(F) to DIN5(M)
(PS/2 Keyboard trnasfer to AT keyboard)

19" Rackmount CompuSwitch 3
Installation
Connections are provided for either a 6-pin PS/2-style or a 5-pin Extended AT-style keyboard. Do
not connect both keyboards simultaneously. Because the Hot Key Mode operation (page 6) re-
quires full PS/2 keyboard functions, a PS/2-style or an Extended AT-style keyboard, which supports
these functions, is recommended.
You may simultaneously connect PS/2 and AT computers to CompuSwitch with the appropriate
cables. However, only a PS/2 mouse can be used with CompuSwitch to operate the computers.
The following procedures will show you how to install the CompuSwitch :
1. Plug the monitor, keyboard, and PS/2 mouse into the ports marked VGA monitor,PS/2 or AT
keyboard, and PS/2 mouse on the CompuSwitch rear panel. Refer to figure 1.
Caution: Make sure that all computers are powered OFF before they are connected to
CompuSwitch.
2. Using the appropriate CompuSwitch cable, connect the 25-pin connector to any channel on the
CompuSwitch rear panel .
Figure2: CompuSwitch cable connections
Figure 1: The rear view of CSW-8

419" Rackmount CompuSwitch
3. Plug the cables: video, keyboard, and mouse connectors into the computer ports.
Caution : CompuSwitch is automatically powered on when at least one connected
computer is powered ON.
4. Power on the computer. Both the light above the Skip button and the light above the connected
channel button on the CompuSwitch front panel will be on.
5. The video from the connected computer will be displayed on the monitor. Operate the keyboard
and mouse as if they were connected directly to the computer.
6. After you have verified that one computer is functioning properly, connect the remaining com
puters by following steps 2 to 4.
You may now begin using CompuSwitch.
Operation
Operate CompuSwitch from the front panel or directly from the keyboard using hot key commands.
The lights on the front panel always indicate the operation status.
Note: Numbered channel buttons have two functions. When the Scan light is OFF,
the buttons are used to Select channels. When the Scan light is ON, the buttons
are used to Set scan rate.
Front Panel Operation
The front panel of the CompuSwitch 8-channel model has buttons marked 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and
buttons marked Scan and Skip.
Select a channel
The select a channel function selects the specific computer for viewing and operation. Ensure the
light above the Scan button is off (toggle on/off). Press the button (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8) corre-
sponding to the desired channel. The light above the button will be on and the video from the
computer connected to that channel will be displayed. You may now operate the computer using
the keyboard and mouse.
Scan channels
Automatically cycles through the channels at a preselected scan rate, displaying each computer's
video. Default scan rate is set at 3 seconds. To activate, press the SCAN button (toggle on/off). The
light above the SCAN button will be on and the unit will begin scanning.
Set scan rate
Adjusts the scan rate interval. Activate the SCAN function. The light above the SCAN button will be
on. Press the numbered button that corresponds to the desired scan rate. The light above the
button will blink twice to acknowledge the setting and scanning will contiune at new interval set.
Skip
Restricts channel selection to active channels only (i.e., channels with powered computers con-
nected). To activate, press the SKIP button (toggle on/off). The light above the button will be on
and only active channels will be selected.

19" Rackmount CompuSwitch 5
Hot Key Mode Operation
In Hot Key Mode, the CompuSwitch captures and interprets all keystrokes as front panel functions.
No keystrokes pass to computer(s). Hot Key Mode operation requires the keyboard with Code Set
3 mode either a PS/2-style or an AT-style.
Activate Hot Key Mode
To activate Hot Key Mode, press <Scroll Lock> twice rapidly. The three LEDs (Num Lock, Caps
Lock and Scroll Lock) on the keyboard will blink continuously, twice per second. CompuSwitch is
now in Hot Key Mode. To quit Hot Key Mode at any time, press <ESC>.
Select a channel
Press <c> and then press the key with the channel number of the connected computer; press
<ENTER>. The light above the corresponding button on the front panel will be ON to indicate the
channel selected. For example, select channel 2 by pressing <c> <2> <ENTER>. You may also
step through the channels up or down(increment or decrement). Press the "Up" or "Right" arrow to
increment. Press the "down" or "Left" arrow to decrement. The light above the button will indicate
the channel selected.
Scan channels
Press <s> (toggle on/off). When Scan is activated, the light above the Scan button will be ON and
CompuSwitch will begin scanning.
Set scan rate
Press <s> and then press the key with the number that corresponds to the desired Scan rate (1 to
99 seconds). Press <ENTER>. A light above one of thenumbered channel buttons will blink twice to
acknowledge the setting, and scanning will start at the new rate.
Skip
Press <k> (toggle on/off). When Skip is activated, the light above the Skip button will be ON and
only active channels will be selected.
CAPS LOCK
SCR
LOCK
SCR
LOCK
ENTER
ESC
K
ENTER
(n)C
S
SENTER (n)
NUM
LOCK ENTER
SCR
LOCK ENTER
Quit Hot Key Mode
Activate Hot Key Mode
Select Channel Number
Increment Channel Number
Toggle SKIP On/Off
Decrement Channel Number
Make CAPS LOCK key the new Hot Key Mode activator
Toggle SCAN On/Off
Enable SCAN, Set SCAN RATE interval (n=1-99)
Make NUM LOCK key the new Hot Key Mode activator
Make SCR LOCK key the new Hot Key Mode activator
Figure 3: CompuSwitch Hot Key reference Chart

619" Rackmount CompuSwitch
Dimensions UNIT = mm
Change the Hot Key Mode activator
To change the Hot Key Mode activator, first enter Hot Key Mode. Then press either <Scroll Lock>,
<Caps Lock>, or <Num Lock>. Press <Enter>. The selected key will now be the new Hot Key
Mode activator
Quit Hot Key Mode
To quit Hot Key Mode at any time, press <ESC>. The LEDs on the keyboard will stop blinking, and
the keyboard reverts to normal function. If while in Hot Key Mode you do not operate the keyboard
for 30 seconds, CompuSwitch automatically quits Hot Key Mode.
Figure 4: CompuSwitch dimensions