Avocent Emerge MPX Installation and maintenance instructions

Emerge®Digital Extender
System
Installer/User Guide

USA Notification
Warning: Changes or modifications to this unit not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance
could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to
Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference
when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate
radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause
harmful interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause
harmful interference in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own expense.
European Union
Warning: This is a class A product. In a domestic environment this product may cause radio interference in which
case the user may be required to take adequate measures.
Canadian Notification
This class A digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.
Cet appareil numérique de la classe A est conforme à la norme NMB-003 du Canada.
Safety and EMC Approvals and Markings
USA (UL, FCC), Canada (cUL), Germany (TUV), European Union (CE), Japan (VCCI), Russia (GOST) and
Korean (MIC)

Emerge®Digital Extender
System
Installer/User Guide
Avocent, Emerge and the Avocent logo are registered trademarks of
Avocent Corporation or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. All
other marks are the property of their respective owners.
2008 Avocent Corporation. 590-704-501E

Instructions
This symbol is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance
(servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying the appliance.
Dangerous Voltage
This symbol is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated dangerous voltage within the
product’s enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.
Power On
This symbol indicates the principal on/off switch is in the on position.
Power Off
This symbol indicates the principal on/off switch is in the off position.
Protective Grounding Terminal
This symbol indicates a terminal which must be connected to earth ground prior to making any other
connections to the equipment.

iii
Chapter 1: Product Overview.......................................................................................... 1
Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 1
Emerge digital extender system features .................................................................................... 1
Transmitter features ................................................................................................................... 3
User station features................................................................................................................... 3
User station modes ..................................................................................................................... 5
Safety Precautions ............................................................................................................................. 6
Chapter 2: Installation ..................................................................................................... 9
Installing the ECMS2000 user station ............................................................................................... 9
Needed to install the ECMS2000 user station ............................................................................ 9
Needed for non-standard installations ....................................................................................... 9
Mounting option ......................................................................................................................... 9
Installation options .......................................................................................................................... 10
Point-to-point installation ........................................................................................................ 10
Connecting power..................................................................................................................... 14
Networked installation.............................................................................................................. 14
Installing the ECMS4000 User Station............................................................................................ 17
Needed to install the ECMS4000 user station .......................................................................... 17
Needed for non-standard installations ..................................................................................... 17
Mounting option............................................................................................................................... 17
Installation options .......................................................................................................................... 17
Connecting power..................................................................................................................... 20
Networked installation.............................................................................................................. 21
Chapter 3: Operations ................................................................................................... 25
Overview .......................................................................................................................................... 25
LED identification .................................................................................................................... 25
Accessing the System ....................................................................................................................... 26
OSD functions .................................................................................................................................. 26
Displaying system information using the OSD......................................................................... 26
The Serial Menu............................................................................................................................... 30
Accessing the serial menu......................................................................................................... 31
Navigating the serial menu....................................................................................................... 33
TABLE OF CONTEN TS

iv Emerge Digital Extender System Installer/User Guide
Configuring Network Settings.......................................................................................................... 33
Detecting a transmitter IP address........................................................................................... 40
Authentication .................................................................................................................................. 42
Flash Upgrading your Emerge digital extender system .................................................................. 45
Restoring Factory Default Settings.................................................................................................. 49
Resetting the Emerge Digital Extender System ............................................................................... 49
Viewing System Information ............................................................................................................ 50
Configuring Video Input Settings .................................................................................................... 52
Session Retry Settings ...................................................................................................................... 54
Configuring the OSD Hotkey Sequence........................................................................................... 55
OSD Inactivity Timeout ................................................................................................................... 56
Audio Performance Settings ............................................................................................................ 58
Appendices..................................................................................................................... 61
Appendix A: Technical Specifications ............................................................................................. 61
Appendix B: Factory Default Settings ............................................................................................. 71
Appendix C: Technical Support ....................................................................................................... 73
Appendix D: Troubleshooting.......................................................................................................... 74
Appendix E: Login Error Messages................................................................................................. 78
License Information ....................................................................................................... 81

1
Product Overview
Introduction
The Emerge digital extender system, which includes a transmitter and a user station, provides users
with a full workstation desktop experience from anywhere on the corporate TCP/IP network, while
maintaining the workstations securely housed in a corporate data center. Desktop users can access
keyboard, mouse, video, audio and USB mass storage devices from remote workstations via the
Emerge digital extender system.
NOTE: References to the Emerge digital extender system in this document refer to both the receiver
(ECMS2000 or ECMS4000 user stations) and the transmitter. The ECMS2000 transmitter accompanies the
ECMS2000 user station, while the ECMS4000 transmitter accompanies the ECMS4000 user station.
Emerge digital extender system features
Security
The Emerge digital extender system supports Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) over a TCP/IP
connection. All media streams transmitted between the ECMS user station and the transmitter are
encrypted. Password protection is also provided to control access to all administration functions,
such as network configuration.
Support for keyboards and mice
All standard USB and PS/2 keyboards (up to 109 keys) and mice (up to 5 buttons) are supported by
the Emerge digital extender system. The Emerge digital extender system also allows for mix and
match of USB and PS/2 peripherals. For example, it is possible to use a USB keyboard in
conjunction with a PS/2 mouse. The default keyboard and mouse drivers of the remote workstation
are fully supported. This enables the Emerge digital extender system to support 2, 3 and 5-button
mice with scroll and tilt-wheel capability. Composite mouse and keyboard devices are also
supported.
Flash upgradable
Upgrade your firmware at any time using the XMODEM or HTTP protocols to ensure that your
Emerge digital extender system is always running the most current version available. Both the
transmitter and the ECMS user station are Flash upgradable. Upgrades can also be carried out via
CHA PTER
1

2Emerge Digital Extender System Installer/User Guide
the DM2000 Manager appliance. See the Emerge® DM2000 Manager Installer/User Guide for
more information.
Ethernet addressing
The ECMS user station and the transmitter are IP-addressable devices, giving you the flexibility to
locate back-racked workstations anywhere within your enterprise and at any distance from your
desktop users. The ECMS user station and the transmitter use standard network protocols to
transfer data between the remote workstation and the peripheral devices located at the user’s desk.
The ECMS user station can operate on a network connection of 100 Mbps or 1 Gbps. For optimum
performance, a 1 Gbps connection is recommended.
USB support
The ECMS user station is compatible with the USB 2.0 standard and provides four USB 2.0
compliant ports that can be used to access USB keyboards and mice. Hot-plugging of USB devices
is supported.
NOTE: A hub cannot be used to expand the number of USB ports available.
The ECMS2000 transmitter provides two USB interfaces:
• One is a low/full speed port that is used for all keyboard and mouse peripheral devices
interfacing with the target workstation, along with providing power for the ECMS2000
transmitter.
NOTE: The cable labled 2 is low speed, while the cable labled 1 is high speed.
• The other is a high-speed port that is used for virtual media (mass storage devices) peripheral
devices interfacing with the target workstation, along with proving power for the ECMS2000
transmitter (power supply option available only with the ECMS2000 transmitter).
NOTE: The ECMS4000 transmitter provides a single USB interface, and uses an integrated hub within the
transmitter.
Video
Video of 24-bit color depth up to a resolution of 1280 x 1024 at 60 Hz is supported by the
ECMS2000 user station and ECMS2000 transmitter. Both CRT and flat-panel LCD monitors are
supported, and can be connected to the Emerge digital extender system via a DVI-I video
connector. VGA monitors can be attached to the system by using a DVI to VGA adaptor. The
system supports DDC version 2B.
The ECMS4000 user station and ECMS4000 transmitter support 24-bit color depth up to a
resolution of 1920 x 1200 at 60 Hz. DVI-D PC video sources are supported at the transmitter. Since
DVI-I is supported at the receiver, a VGA adaptor can be used to connect to a VGA monitor.

Chapter 1: Product Overview 3
Transmitter features
The transmitter connects externally to the video, audio and USB ports of the remote workstation.
The ECMS2000 transmitter is attached directly to the remote workstation and draws its power
directly from two USB ports on the remote workstation. The ECMS4000 transmitter is powered by
an external power supply.
NOTE: If the remote workstation cannot supply the required power to the ECMS2000 transmitter or if two USB
connections are not available, an external power supply can be obtained from Avocent.
The transmitter captures, compresses and encrypts the workstation’s media streams and transmits
them to the receiver over a standard TCP/IP network.
Multiplatform support
The transmitter is connected to the remote workstation via USB connectors. This enables the
ECMS user station to interoperate seamlessly with PC, Sun®and Macintosh®target workstations.
PC, Sun and Macintosh USB keyboards can be connected to the ECMS user station. PS/2
keyboards and mice can also be used.
Screen aspect ratio
The transmitter can be configured through the serial console to allow either normal aspect
resolutions or wide screen resolutions as the preferred setting on its EDID table.
User station features
The ECMS user station enables the desktop user’s keyboard, mouse, video, audio and mass storage
devices to connect to the target workstation via a network connection to the transmitter that is
directly connected to the target workstation.
Multiplatform support
You can attach the ECMS user station to workstations running the following operating systems:
• Microsoft®Windows®
• Linux®
• SolarisTM
• Microsoft Windows Vista®
• Mac OS®
The default keyboard drivers for these operating systems are supported by the ECMS user station.
Flexible installation
The ECMS user station provides you with the following flexible installation features:
• The ECMS user station can be desk mounted or mounted on the back of a monitor
• Installation requires no new drivers or software

4Emerge Digital Extender System Installer/User Guide
• Standard UTP cabling makes installation simple and keeps costs low
On-Screen Display (OSD)
The ECMS user station includes an OSD that allows you to view information about the
configuration of your system.
Operations administration and maintenance
The ECMS user station incorporates a serial menu that allows you to perform administration and
maintenance tasks for both the ECMS user station and the transmitter. Examples of tasks you can
perform include configuration of network settings and firmware Flash upgrades.
Virtual media
Mass storage devices, such as removable drives and external CD-ROM drives, can be attached to
the ECMS user station and will function as if they are directly connected to the remote workstation.
Data can be both read from and written to these mass storage devices. You can connect both a
removable drive and an external drive to an ECMS user station.
The transfer speed between the mass storage device and the remote workstation is dependant on the
Ethernet network. A 1 Gbps connection is required for high-performance virtual media transfer.
The system is capable, however, of operating over a 100 Mbps Ethernet connection.
The following mass storage devices are supported:
• Removable drives
• External USB hard drives
• External USB CD-ROM drives
• External USB DVD-ROM drives
• USB memory sticks
Hot-plugging of USB mass storage devices is supported.
NOTE: The system supports the default drivers for mass storage devices.
Audio
The ECMS2000 user station supports CD-quality stereo from the remote workstation to peripheral
speakers, and mono-quality audio from a peripheral microphone to the remote workstation. The
ECMS4000 user station supports a CD-quality stereo from the remote workstation to peripheral
speakers.
Bandwidth usage (ECMS2000 user station only)
It is possible to restrict the aggregate bandwidth used on the Ethernet link from the serial console.
The bandwidth options are:
• Unlimited

Chapter 1: Product Overview 5
• 100 MBits/s
• 50 MBits/s
• 20 MBits/s
• 10 MBits/s
User station modes
The Emerge Digital Extender System can operate in Extender Mode, Desktop Mode or Matrix
Mode. The ECMS user station interfaces to a DHCP server. The user station and transmitter can
obtain their IP address data from a DHCP server in any of the three modes.
Extender Mode
In Extender Mode, when the ECMS user station is turned on, a connection is automatically
established with the remote workstation via the transmitter.
Desktop Mode
In Desktop Mode, when the ECMS user station is turned on, the OSD enables the user to log in.
Once logged in, users will automatically be connected to their allocated computer.
Matrix Mode
In Matrix Mode, when the ECMS user station is turned on, the OSD enables the user to log in.
Once logged in, the OSD displays all computers a user can access.
NOTE: A DM2000 Manager appliance is required to enable both Desktop Mode and Matrix Mode.

6Emerge Digital Extender System Installer/User Guide
Figure 1.1: Emerge Digital Extender System - Desktop Mode
Safety Precautions
To avoid potential video and/or keyboard problems when using Avocent products:
• If the building has 3-phase AC power, ensure that the workstation and monitor are on the same
phase. For best results, they should be on the same circuit.
Table 1.1: Figure 1.1 Descriptions
Number Description
1 Rack Mounted PC
and Transmitter
2 Gigabit Ethernet
Switch
3 DM2000 Manager
Appliance
4 User Station
5 Ethernet LAN
1
2
3
4
5

Chapter 1: Product Overview 7
To avoid potentially fatal shock hazard and possible damage to equipment, please observe the
following precautions:
• Do not use a 2-wire extension cord in any Avocent product configuration.
• Test AC outlets at the workstation and monitor for proper polarity and grounding.
• Use only with grounded outlets at both the workstation and monitor. When using a backup
Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), power the workstation and the transmitter off the same
supply.
NOTE: The AC inlet is the main disconnect.

8Emerge Digital Extender System Installer/User Guide

9
Installation
Installing the ECMS2000 user station
Before installing your ECMS2000 user station, refer to the list below to ensure that you have all the
items necessary for installation.
NOTE: For installation of the DM2000 Manager appliance, see the Emerge®DM2000 Manager Installer/User
Guide.
Needed to install the ECMS2000 user station
• ECMS2000 transmitter (ordered separately)
• External power supply for the ECMS2000 user station
• IEC power cord
• ECMS2000 User Station Quick Installation Guide
• Three-wire serial cable or null modem cable (not supplied)
Needed for non-standard installations
• To connect a VGA monitor to the ECMS2000 user station: a DVI to VGA adaptor (not
supplied)
• To connect the ECMS2000 transmitter to a remote workstation that has VGA video output: a
VGA to DVI-I adaptor (not supplied)
• To connect the ECMS2000 transmitter to a remote workstation that has DVI-D video output: a
DVI-D to DVI-I adaptor (not supplied)
• If the remote workstation is unable to supply sufficient power to support the ECMS2000
transmitter: an optional power supply, available from Avocent
Mounting option
The ECMS2000 user station mounts to the rear of a flat panel monitor via a mounting plate
accessory.
NOTE: Mounting accessories are ordered separately. Contact Avocent for more information.
CHA PTER
2

10 Emerge Digital Extender System Installer/User Guide
Installation options
CAUTION:To reduce the risk of electric shock or damage to your equipment, disconnect the power from the
ECMS2000 user station by unplugging the power supply from the electrical outlet. To reduce the risk of electric
shock or damage to your equipment, turn on the remote workstation and the ECMS2000 user station in the order
described in the following procedures.
You can install the Emerge digital extender system with the ECMS2000 user station either by a
point-to-point or networked configuration.
Point-to-point installation
The following instructions will enable you to install your Emerge digital extender system in a
point-to-point configuration. In a point-to-point configuration, no administrator setup of the
ECMS2000 transmitter or the ECMS2000 user station is required. This enables you to install the
system quickly, directly out-of-the-box. However, in the point-to-point configuration, you can
install only one ECMS2000 transmitter and ECMS2000 user station pair on a subnet and you must
locate both on the same subnet as well.
Figure 2.1: Point-to-Point Installation (ECMS2000 User Station)
Table 2.1: Figure 2.1 Descriptions
Number Description
1 ECMS2000
Transmitter
2 Remote Workstation
3 ECMS2000 User
Station
1
3
2

Chapter 2: Installation 11
To connect the ECMS2000 transmitter:
Before connecting the ECMS2000 transmitter to the remote workstation, ensure that the resolution
and the refresh rate of the remote workstation are supported by the ECMS2000 user station. Set the
screen resolution and refresh rate of the remote workstation. Unsupported settings will cause blank
video at the user station.
NOTE: Go to www.avocent.com for updated information on supported resolutions and refresh rates.
NOTE: The ECMS2000 transmitter requires two USB ports on the remote workstation to operate correctly. The
ECMS2000 transmitter draws electrical power from these USB ports.
1. Turn off the remote workstation.
2. The ECMS2000 transmitter has two USB connectors. Connect each of these connectors to a
corresponding USB port on the remote workstation.
3. Connect the video connector on the ECMS2000 transmitter to the appropriately labeled port on
the back of the workstation.
NOTE: A VGA-only workstation can be connected to the ECMS2000 transmitter using a VGA to DVI-I adaptor.
You must configure the ECMS2000 transmitter video settings for VGA through the serial menu.
4. Connect the ECMS2000 transmitter’s audio and microphone connectors to the appropriately
labeled ports on the back of the workstation.
NOTE: For CD-quality audio, you must configure the ECMS2000 transmitter and the user station using the serial
menu.
5. Connect one end of the UTP cable to the ECMS2000 transmitter’s RJ-45 connector and turn on
the workstation.
6. Route the other end of the UTP cable to the location you have chosen for the ECMS2000 user
station. If necessary, you can extend the UTP cable via junctions or a hub (subject to normal
Ethernet cabling practices).

12 Emerge Digital Extender System Installer/User Guide
Figure 2.2: ECMS2000 Transmitter
To connect the ECMS2000 user station:
1. Connect your keyboard, monitor, mouse and other peripherals cables to the appropriately
labeled ports on the back of the ECMS2000 user station.
2. Connect the UTP cable to the RJ-45 port on the back of the ECMS2000 user station.
Table 2.2: Figure 2.2 Descriptions
Number Type of Connector
1 USB
2 Video
3 Mic
4 Line-out
1
2
34

Chapter 2: Installation 13
3. Turn on the ECMS2000 user station. A connection will be automatically established with the
remote workstation.
NOTE: VGA monitors can be connected to the ECMS2000 user station by using a DVI-I to VGA adaptor.
Figure 2.3: ECMS2000 User Station and ECMS2000 Transmitter Installation
Table 2.3: Figure 2.3 Descriptions
Number Description
1 ECMS2000 User Station
2 Microphone Port
3 Speaker Port
4 External Power Supply
5 PS/2 Port
6 Serial Port
7 Remote Workstation
2
3
6
9
7
1
8
45

14 Emerge Digital Extender System Installer/User Guide
Connecting power
The ECMS2000 user station features an external power supply. A DC power jack is located on the
rear of the ECMS2000 user station.
NOTE: Use only the power supply provided by Avocent.
To connect power to the ECMS2000 user station:
1. Plug the external power supply’s 2.5 mm connector into the DC power jack on the rear of the
ECMS2000 user station.
2. Connect the detachable IEC power cord to the power supply.
3. Plug the IEC power cord into an appropriate wall outlet.
Networked installation
The following instructions will enable you to install your ECMS2000 user station and ECMS2000
transmitter in a networked configuration. In this installation, multiple ECMS2000 transmitters and
ECMS2000 user stations are attached via the same Ethernet network. In this case, it is important for
each unit to be configured with a unique IP address.
NOTE: In Desktop and Extender Modes, the ECMS2000 user station and ECMS2000 transmitter can obtain their
IP address data from a DHCP server.
ECMS2000 transmitters and ECMS2000 user stations may be configured for use on a single subnet
or for use across routers. Use of routers, however, will cause a slight increase in end-to-end
latencies, which may not be acceptable for all applications.
8 Local Peripherals
(attached via USB)
9 ECMS2000 Transmitter
Table 2.3: Figure 2.3 Descriptions (Continued)
Number Description