Belkin OMNIVIEW P72115 User manual

Front Photo:
Front Title:
Belkin Components
OmniView PS/2 4-Port
“P” Part Number:
P72115
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Introduction:
Thank you for purchasing Belkin Components’ OmniView PS/2 4-Port keyboard/video/mouse (KVM) switch!
Now, you can control multiple computers from just one keyboard, mouse and monitor. No more messy
server rooms, cluttered cables, or cramped cubicles. With the OmniView, you are in complete control!
Compatible with both PS/2 and serial mice, and DIN5 or MiniDIN6 keyboard connectors, the OmniView is
the ultimate in flexibility. Simply use standard keyboard, mouse, and VGA cables to interface to the
computers. Belkin offers these cables in complete kits for even more convenience.
With the OmniView, you can boot up each computer without encountering any keyboard or mouse errors.
The intelligent circuitry emulates keyboard signals to prevent aborted boot sequences or lost mouse control,
often found when using manual KVM switchboxes. Furthermore, the OmniView can be
cascaded for even
more control, up to 64 computers!
Control, convenience, efficiency. All of which, come standard with the Belkin OmniView.
Check the end of this booklet for more information on OmniView accessories!
Features:
•Allows a user to control over as many as 64 computers from one keyboard, mouse and monitor
•Supports both PS/2 and serial mice simultaneously
•Supports both PS/2- and AT-style keyboards
•Supports VGA, SVGA and Multisync monitors
•Uses standard cables
•Pushbutton or keyboard hot-key sequence switching
•Auto scan mode and quick last/next switching modes for even more convenience
•Audible feedback when switching
•Recalls CAPS LOCK, NUM LOCK, and SCROLL LOCK keys’ status for each computer automatically
•Front-panel status LEDs
•Works with other OmniView accessories (MAC Adapter, FootSwitch and RackMount kit)
•No software required
•One year product warranty
Package Contents:
4-Port OmniView PS/2 F1D066
9VDC, 600mA power supply F1D065-PWR
This manual P72115

Technical Specs:
Console Connectors
Keyboard: DIN-5 female for AT-style keyboard
Mini-DIN-6 female for PS/2 style-keyboard
Mouse: DB-9 male for serial mouse
Mini-DIN-6 female for PS/2 mouse
Monitor: HD-DB-15 female for VGA monitor
Computer Port Connectors
Keyboard: DIN-5 female for AT-style keyboard
Mini-DIN-6 female for PS/2 style-keyboard
Mouse: DB-9 female for serial mouse
Mini-DIN-6 female for PS/2 mouse
Monitor: HD-DB-15 male for VGA monitor
Power Supply 9VDC, 600mA
Dimensions
Width: 10 inches (25.4 cm)
Height (with feet): 3.25 inches (8.26 cm)
Depth: 7.13 inches (18.11 cm)
Weight 6.82 lbs. (1.82 kg)
Operating Temperature 0~40 deg. C
Storage Temperature -20~60 deg. C
Humidity 0-80% RH, non-condensing

Hardware Installation:
1. Make sure you have the right cables!
Before attempting to connect anything to the OmniView or the computers, make sure you have the
appropriate cables and adapters (if necessary):
•PS/2 mouse or PS/2 keyboard cable
Mini-DIN-6 male to male
Part # F2N036-xx
•Serial mouse cable
DB-9 male to female, with thumbscrews
Part # F2N209-xx-T
•AT keyboard cable
DIN-5 male to male
Part # F3A510-xx
•Standard VGA cable
HD-DB-15 male to female, with thumbscrews
Part # F2N025-xx-T
•High-resolution / long distance VGA cable
Double-shielded, coaxial; HD-DB-15 male to female, with
thumbscrews
Part # A3H981-xx-T
•AT to PS/2 keyboard adapter
DIN-5 female to Mini-DIN-6 male
Part # F2N017, F2N017-xx
•PS/2 to AT keyboard adapter
Mini-DIN-6 female to DIN-5 male
Part # F2N018, F2N018-xx
NOTE: The “-xx” in the part number denotes cable length in feet.

OmniView Cable Kits
Belkin also offers complete OmniView Cable Kits. These include one keyboard, one mouse and the
VGA cable for convenience.
Select the appropriate one based on the type of mouse your computer uses. If the keyboard cable
does not match with the port, simply attach one of the keyboard adapters mentioned above.
OmniView PS/2 Cable Kit (for computers that use a PS/2 mouse)
Part # A3X982
•2 x PS/2 male to male cables for keyboard and mouse (Part # F2N036-06)
•1 x HD-DB-15 male to female cable with thumbscrews for VGA (Part # F2N025-06-T)
OmniView AT Cable Kit (for computers that use a serial mouse)
Part # A3X932
•1 x DIN-5 male to male cable for keyboard (Part # F3A510-06)
•1 x DB-9 male to female with thumbscrews for serial mouse (Part # F2N209-06-T)
•1 x HD-DB-15 male to female cable with thumbscrews for VGA (Part # F2N025-06-T)
2. Turn off all the computers, the monitor, and make sure the OmniView is not powered up
before connecting or disconnecting any cables. DANGER: Attaching or disconnecting
keyboards from computers when powered may trip the “pico fuse”, thereby permanently losing all
keyboard control on the computer. If your OmniView is NOT cascaded (you are using only one
OmniView), DIP switch 3 should be OFF (up), and switch 4 must be ON (down). You can set DIP
switches 1 and 2 according to the table shown in the “Scan Mode” section.
3. Connect the monitor to the OmniView. Using the cable that is attached or is included with the
monitor, attach it to the HD-DB-15 female port on the
console section of the OmniView.
4. Connect the keyboard to the OmniView. Using the cable that is attached or is included with the
keyboard, attach it to either one of the keyboard ports on the
console section of the OmniView. If
you have a PS/2 keyboard, plug it into the Mini-DIN-6 connector. If you have an AT-style
keyboard, plug it into the DIN-5 connector.

5. Connect the mouse to the OmniView. Simply attach the mouse cable into the appropriate port on
the console section of the OmniView.
NOTE: If your computers ALL have PS/2 mice, you MUST use a PS/2 mouse on the console. If
your computers ALL have serial mice, you MUST use a serial mouse on the console. However, if
you have a mixture of computers, some of which have PS/2 mice and other have serial mice, you
MUST have both a serial and a PS/2 mouse on the OmniView console. Using just one combo
mouse will not work, and neither would attaching a combo mouse adapter on a non-combo mouse.
Hence, you will have one keyboard, one monitor and
two mice.
6. Connect a computer to the OmniView.
•Attach the female end of the VGA cable into the computer’s HD-DB-15 port, and the female end
into a HD-DB-15 port on the OmniView.
•Attach the keyboard cable (either PS/2 or AT-style) into the keyboard port of the computer.
Plug in the opposite end into the appropriate port on the OmniView.
•Attach the mouse cable into the mouse port of the computer and into the OmniView, as above.
If the computer is using a serial mouse, connect the male end of the cable into a DB-9 serial
port on the computer, and plug in the female end into the serial mouse port on the OmniView.
DO NOT use combo mouse adapters on the mouse cable, as doing so would not work and may
cause data corruption when the computers are running. This is because PS/2 and serial mouse
signals are completely different and incompatible with each other.
7. Double check all the cabling and make sure that all the cables are securely inserted and screwed in
where possible. Power up the OmniView, then you are ready to boot up all the connected
computers!

Cascading OmniViews
OmniViews can be cascaded for control over more than 4 computers. The table below shows how many
computers can be controlled from one keyboard, mouse and monitor using OmniView PS/2 4-Port units.
Number of Number of
OmniViews Computers
11 to 4
25 to 7
38 to 10
411 to 13
514 to 16
617 to 19
720 to 22
823 to 25
926 to 28
10 29 to 31
11 32 to 34
12 35 to 37
13 38 to 40
14 41 to 43
15 44 to 46
16 47 to 49
17 50 to 52
18 53 to 55
19 56 to 58
20 59 to 61
21 62 to 64
When OmniViews are cascaded, they should follow a tree configuration, not having more than three levels
deep. The console (keyboard, mouse and monitor) is connected to the singular, top-level OmniView. See
the figure below for more information:
NOTE: OmniViews on the second and third level must have all their DIP switches set to OFF.

IMPORTANT: Cascade Cable Kit
There is a special cable kit that MUST be used when cascading two OmniView PS/2 4-Port units together.
The part # is A3X1185-06. It includes the following cables:
•1 x DIN-5 male to male cable for keyboard (Part # F3A510-06)
•1 x DB-9 male to female with thumbscrews for serial mouse (Part # F2N209-06-T)
•1 x Mini-DIN-6 male to male for PS/2 mouse (Part # F2N036-06)
•1 x HD-DB-15 male to female cable with thumbscrews for VGA (Part # F2N025-06-T)
Note: In any cascading situation, the DIN-5 male to male keyboard cable MUST be used to connect one
OmniView to another. If a Mini-DIN-6 cable is used to cascade the keyboard signals, the data transfer is
not reliable, and the entire set-up may fail. However, it is perfectly okay to use the Mini-DIN-6 cable to
cascade the PS/2 mouse signals.
Connecting one OmniView into another is just like connecting a computer into an OmniView. Simply connect
the cascaded OmniView’s console port to one of its “parent” OmniView’s free ports, as below:
Usage:
Selecting which computer to operate can be done in two different ways - either by pressing the front-panel
pushbutton, or by entering the hot-key sequence.
•Pressing the pushbutton in front simply cycles through every port on the OmniView, as shown by the
solid green light on any of the “PC Ports” 1 through 4.
To select a computer on cascaded OmniViews, press the button to select the port where the cascaded
OmniView is connected. Then, select the port on the cascaded OmniView where the desired computer
is connected.
•Entering the hot-key sequence allows direct port access from the keyboard, even through cascaded
OmniViews. The procedure is very simple, and easy to remember:
1. Press <ALT>+<CTRL>+<SHIFT> all at the same time, then release.
2. Press the port number of the computer you wish to control. If you have cascaded OmniViews,
you will have to press two (or three) numbers,
x y z , where x is the port on the top level
OmniView,
y is the port on the second level OmniView, and z is the port on the third level
OmniView. Press the correct key (or keys in succession), then release.
3. Press <ENTER>, then release.
You should hear a beep to confirm the OmniView has switched to the desired port. For example,
pressing <ALT>+<CTRL>+<SHIFT> 1 2 3 <ENTER> selects Port 1 on the top level OmniView, Port 2

on the second level OmniView, and Port 3 on the third level OmniView. The OmniView filters out the
hot-key sequences, preventing unwanted characters from appearing in the computer’s applications.
Scan Mode
The OmniView can be set for automatic scan mode. In scan mode, the OmniView switches from one
computer to the next in regular time intervals set by the DIP switches. When the OmniView is in scan
mode, there is no keyboard control passed to the displayed computers. This is necessary because
switching is handled by the OmniView, not the operator.
Note: Scan mode will continue indefinitely, until the <SPACE> bar is pressed and scan mode is terminated.
Also, the OmniView will only scan to ports that have computers enabled on it.
•To invoke scan mode, the following hot key sequence must be entered:
<ALT>+<CTRL>+<SHIFT> 0 <ENTER>
You will then hear a beep to confirm scan mode is taking place, and this can be verified visually by the
flashing lights on the currently selected computer port.
Setting the scan time on each port is done through the DIP switches found on the back of the OmniView:
DIP Switch Number Scan Time
1234(seconds)
ON ON OFF ON 3
OFF ON OFF ON 10
ON OFF OFF ON 20
OFF OFF OFF ON 40
Quick Last/Next Switching mode
Quick Last/Next switching mode is similar to scan mode, except the operator has control over the switching.
In this mode, the operator can press either one of the shift keys to switch to the adjacent computer
previous or after the currently selected port. There is also no keyboard control during this mode, but the
mouse is still completely operable.
Note: Quick Last/Next switching mode will continue indefinitely, until the <SPACE> bar is pressed and is
terminated.
•To invoke quick Last/Next switching mode, the following hot key sequence must be entered:
<ALT>+<CTRL>+<SHIFT> 9 <ENTER>
You will then hear a beep to confirm quick Last/Next switching mode is taking place, and this can be
verified visually by the slow blinking light on the currently selected computer port.
•To select the next adjacent computer, press the RIGHT side <SHIFT> key.
•To select the previous adjacent computer, press the LEFT side <SHIFT> key.

Troubleshooting:
WARNING!
Make sure that all equipment is turned off when connecting or disconnecting
any cables. Plugging and unplugging cables while the computer or OmniView
are powered could potentially damage the computer, the OmniView, or both.
VIDEO
Q: What are the tech specs for the video section of the OmniView?
•Compatible with VGA, SVGA and Multisync monitors
•Monitor Support: RGB Analog, Horizontal Sync, Vertical Sync
•VGA Bandwidth: 100 MHz
•VGA Resolution max: 1024 x 768
Q: The monitor is fuzzy or I am getting ghosting or shadowing. What do I do?
•Check cable connections
•If shadowing only happens from one computer, try swapping the cables
•If possible, try a lower video resolution and/or refresh rate
•For high resolutions and/or long distances, use A3H981-xx-T cable, where “-xx” denotes the length
of the cable in feet
Q: I have a Monochrome monitor and it is not working. Why not?
•The OmniView supports SVGA, VGA, and Multisync monitors only
KEYBOARD
Q: The Keyboard is not detected, or a keyboard error is received during boot-up.
•Check cable connections
•Make sure the keyboard works when it is connected directly to the computer
•Make sure you are using the correct power supply, it should be 9VDC 600mA
•If you are cascading OmniViews, make sure you are using DIN-5 male to male cable to connect the
keyboard ports between OmniViews
•Try a different keyboard
Q: I am unable to select ports on the OmniView using the keyboard combinations.
•For Cascaded OmniViews make sure that all DIP switches on all levels other than the top level are
all OFF.
•When cascading OmniViews, the DIN-5 male to male cable MUST be used for the keyboard, not the
PS/2 male to male cable.
Q: I have some computers that are AT-style keyboards and some that are PS/2-style keyboard, can I
connect them both to the OmniView?
•Yes.
Q: I am trying to cascade OmniViews but the lower level OmniViews are not working and/or are not
responding to the port selections or "Hot Keys".
•Make sure that DIP switch 3 of the top level OmniView is set to OFF (or up). On all of the
OmniViews below the top level, all DIP switches need to be OFF (or up).
•When cascading OmniViews, the DIN-5 male to male cable MUST be used for the keyboard, not the
PS/2 male to male cable.
Q: I have the OmniView in scan mode and it skips ports that do not have anything connected to it.

•That is correct, the OmniView will only scan ports that have computers connected to it. It knows
that something is connected to it by the power coming from the keyboard port.
MOUSE
Q: How do I control several computers if some use serial mice and others use PS/2?
•The OmniView PS/2 supports either PS/2- or AT-style (serial) mice. Note that the OmniView does
not convert from one type to the other. If you wish to use PS/2 mice on some PCs and serial mice
on others, you must attach
two mice, one of each type, to the console port on the top-level
OmniView. This allows control of multiple computers from one monitor, one keyboard, and
two
mice.
Q: The mouse is not detected upon boot-up or the mouse is lost or acts erratically when switching ports.
•Check all cable connections.
•Do not move the mouse when switching and also give it a second or two after switching before
moving the mouse.
•Check DIP switch settings. All should be ON except switch 3 to use a non-cascaded OmniView.
•Check the mouse driver, it should be the same as the type of mouse attached to the OmniView.
•Make sure you are using the correct power supply, it should be 9VDC 600mA.
•If you are cascading OmniViews make sure you are using a DIN-5 male to male cable to connect
the keyboard ports between the OmniViews.
•If you are using Windows95 or Windows3.1, remove any unnecessary mouse drivers from DOS
configuration files (config.sys and autoexec.bat).
•If the problem continues, try a different mouse.
•Boot up the computer with the its port selected on the OmniView
Technical notes on specific devices:
IBM ThinkPad:
•IBM ThinkPads use a proprietary interface for keyboards and mice, which may cause the mouse not to
release from the port the ThinkPad is connected to. There are several solutions to this problem:
1. Use a serial mouse to control all the computers, including the ThinkPad.
2. Use a dedicated mouse for the ThinkPad, either PS/2 or serial will work fine.
3. Disable the built-in pointer on the ThinkPad.
4. If you have the ThinkPad on one port on the OmniView and you are using a PS/2 mouse, you
may have to do the following: Select a port the ThinkPad is NOT on. If mouse control is lost,
“tap” on the ThinkPad’s pointing device, and mouse control will be regained for that computer.
Microsoft Intellimouse (the mouse with the wheel):
•Using this mouse can sometimes cause erratic mouse movement or loss of the mouse when switching
ports on the OmniView from one computer to another. The solution for this is to not move the mouse
when switching and also give it a second or two after the switch is made. Reasons for this reaction is
still not known.