Black Box ACS335A User manual

Control a CPU from as much as 1 kilometer away
across safe, secure fiber optic cable!
Control a CPU from as much as 1 kilometer away
across safe, secure fiber optic cable!
ServSwitch Fiber Optic KVM Extenders
© 2007. All rights reserved. Black Box Corporation.
FREE 24-hour Tech Support: 724-746-5500
blackbox.com

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FEATURES
• Fiber optic KVM extension for IBM
compatible PC CPUs.
• Drive keyboard, video, and mouse
signals over multimode fiber cable
as far as 0.6 miles (1 km).
• Support a variety of video types at
up to 1280 x 1024 resolution.
• Include both local and remote units.
• Dual access. Use your computer at either
location!
• A serial RS-232 and bidirectional stereo
audio version is also available.
• Fiber optic cable makes them perfect
for industrial settings and environments
with high EMI/RFI.
• Fiber signals are also immune to
lightning strikes and power surges.
• Work with 50- or 62.5-micron multimode
cable with ST®connectors.
• Status LEDs and the remote unit’s seven-
segment diagnostic display make
troubleshooting easy.
• Intelligent PS/2 keyboard and mouse
emulation prevents PC lockup.
Use these extenders to control a remote CPU—even one that’s a kilometer away!
OVERVIEW
Sure you can use copper KVM extenders to access and
control a CPU from the next room or the next building. But
what if you need to work with a CPU a half mile away, or if
you need more security, or if you have to run cable right past
a generator?
You need ServSwitch™Fiber Optic KVM Extenders. They
greatly extend the distance between a computer CPU and
a keyboard, mouse, and monitor—especially in electrically
noisy environments.
Normal keyboard-, video-, and mouse-extension cables—
and the extenders that use them—can only go so far, and
electromagnetic noise can limit their distance and reliability.
But with a fiber optic solution like the ServSwitch Fiber
Optic KVM Extender, these concerns are a thing of the past.
You can leave a CPU in a secured cabinet or data center while
you operate it from a convenient remote user station.
Using at least three multimode fiber strands, the extender
system can reach as far as 0.6 miles (1 km) on either 62.5-µm
or 50-µm fiber. Fiber extension technology ensures perfect
monitor image quality—even at the farthest possible
distances supported!
Each ServSwitch Fiber Optic KVM Extender kit consists of
two main components: a local module that you attach to an
IBM®PC compatible CPU and a remote unit that you attach to
the remote keyboard, monitor, and mouse console. We even
offer a version for connecting stereo audio and serial devices,
such as touch screens, to your KVM fiber optic extender setup.
And because the extenders support dual access, you
can add a KVM console on the local end, too. That enables
you to operate the PC from either the local or remote
user station.
Or, if you prefer, you can use the local KVM ports to feed
into a BLACK BOX®KVM switch.
The ServSwitch Fiber Optic KVM Extenders are compatible
with all standard keyboards and all standard 2-button,
3-button, and wheel mice. Intelligent PS/2 keyboard and
mouse emulation ensures that your PCs don’t lock up.
Locating a CPU away from your workstation has a number
of advantages. For instance:
• In industrial applications, you can protect delicate server
circuitry against dust, debris, moisture, and equipment
vibration and keep data communications safe from
potential interference (emitting from induction furnaces
or current or load generators, for example).
• In environments where data security is the highest
priority, you can protect against data theft and
unauthorized installation of software.
• It also simplifies the setup, maintenance, configuration
and administration of server management workstations.
In addition to industrial applications, ServSwitch Fiber
Optic KVM Extenders can be deployed in:
• Call centers where you need to co-locate a number of
user’s computers.
• Retail or similar settings where you need to keep CPUs
secure and apart from monitors in kiosks and digital
signage displays, as well as user stations in publically
accessible areas.
• Any application where you require remote access control
of mission-critical servers and the cable connecting local
and remote stations must be reliable and offer a high
level of security.
No matter what their application, our compact KVM
extenders feature an unobtrusive footprint, so you can set
them up for operation in tight work spaces or data centers.
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Local KVM
workstation
Remote KVM
console
Multimode fiber cable(s)
with at least (3) strands,
up to 1 km (0.6 mi.) long
ACS335A
Local Module
ACS335A
Remote Module
PC CPU

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For both ACS335A and ACS335A-AS versions:
✦ Local unit
✦ Remote unit
✦ Zip-style VGA CPU cable, 6-ft. (1.8-m), with
HD15 male/female and (2) 6-pin mini-DIN male/male
✦ (2) power supplies and cords
✦ User’s manual
ACS335A-AS also includes:
✦ Serial CPU cable, 6-ft. (1.8-m), DB9 female/DB9 male
✦ Audio CPU cable, 6-ft. (1.8-m), stereo jack/
3.5-mm stereo jack
WHAT‘S INCLUDED
The ServSwitch Fiber Optic KVM Extenders‘ keyboard
and mouse interfaces are standard PS/2®type interfaces,
so you can attach just about any standard PS/2 compatible
keyboard and mouse to the unit. To attach a PC/AT®style
keyboard with a 5-pin DIN connector to the extender, you’ll
need a keyboard adapter (to order, call our FREE Tech
Support).
The extenders come with zip-style cable for making VGA
connections to your server; the audio/serial model comes
with serial and audio CPU cables, too.
For monitoring operation, the remote module has a
seven-segment display that continuously indicates link status.
In addition, Device Ready LEDs on both local and remote units
inform you of their operational status, so you can trouble-
shoot at either end.
The ServSwitch Fiber Optic KVM Extenders support all
VGA graphics cards and VGA resolutions up to 1280 x 1024
@ 75 Hz. You can use them to transfer RGB as well as VGA
(RGBVH) signals and, if necessary, convert signals to transfer
RGB to VGA or from VGA to RGB. All you have to do is make
a simple jumper adjustment on the extenders’ motherboards.
There’s no need to worry about the video getting horribly
distorted at either end of the fiber optic link. By default, the
KVM extenders operate with an automatic gain control (AGC)
function enabled. With AGC enabled, the gain of each color
signal is fixed to give colors the same white level (0.7 Vpp),
and most video problems are cleaned up automatically.
In some applications, it may be necessary to switch off
the AGC so you can optimize video (to remedy a chromatic
aberration, for instance). For this, you just need to flip internal
jumpers and tweak the manual brightness and contrast
potentiometer dials on the rear panel of each unit. You can
also attenuate the optic budget to raise the optical loss to a
value that corrects any unstable image. (To do this, you need
fiber pigtail coupling connectors. For details, call our FREE
Tech Support.)
The seven-segment display aids with troubleshooting video
gain. For instance, if it shows an ”F,” you’ve adjusted the
contrast on the unit too high and, with AGC no longer
possible, you need to readjust the gain.
Technically Speaking
Extend serial data and stereo audio, too.
To add RS-232 serial and audio extension capabilities
to your KVM-over-fiber extender application, order the
ACS335A-AS version of the ServSwitch Fiber Optic KVM
Extender. The circuit boards on its local and remote units
support transmitting bidirectional stereo audio and
full-duplex 19-kbps serial data across the interconnecting
fiber cable.
The serial ports on the ACS335A-AS support extending
TX, RX, RTS, CTS, DTR, and DSR serial signals (and, in some
cases, RI and DCD signals, for which a wiring adapter may
be required.) You can connect either one serial device
requiring hardware handshaking or—using breakout
cable—up to three simple 2-wire serial devices (TX/RX
only). No user adjustments are required for the serial
connection.
For multimedia capability, connect a set of speakers
or a headset or microphone to a workstation linked to
the remote unit. The extenders transmit stereo audio
bidirectionally and simultaneously across the fiber cable
link. The extender local unit sends audio digitally (as part
of a 16-bit, 38.4-KHz signal) for near-CD sound quality at
the remote end of the fiber interconnection.
The line-level interface is designed to receive output
from a sound card or other line-level source and connect
to a set of powered speakers at the remote console. No
further setup is required unless a microphone is connected
to the remote unit (in which case, you just need to ensure
that your sound card is set up and wired to provide
sufficient amplification).

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TECH SPECS
Cable Required — 62.5/125-µm or 50/125-µm multimode fiber optic cable
with at least (3) or (5) strands and terminated with ST connectors
Optical Budget Total (Typical) — –5 dBm
Optical Center Wavelength — 850 nm
Resolution (Maximum) — 1280 x 1024 @ 75 Hz
Video Compatibility — RGBHV with 0.7-Vpp RGB signals plus TTL 5-V
horizontal/vertical synchronization signals; RGB with 0.7-Vpp RGB
signals with the G signal carrying (composite) synchronization signals
CE Approval — Yes
Connectors — Local unit: Keyboard and mouse: (4) 6-pin mini-DIN F;
Monitor: (1) HD15 M, (1) HD15 F;
Interconnect: ACS335A: (3) ST;
ACS335A-AS: (5) ST;
ACS335A-AS local unit also includes: Audio: (2) 3.5-mm jacks;
Serial: (1) DB9 F (RS-232);
Remote unit: Keyboard and mouse: (2) 6-pin mini-DIN F;
Monitor: (1) HD15 F;
Interconnect: ACS335A: (3) ST;
ACS335A-AS: (5) ST;
ACS335A-AS remote unit also includes: Audio: (2) 3.5-mm jacks;
Serial: (1) DB9 M (RS-232)
Indicators — (1) 7-segment display on remote unit;
(1) Device Ready status LED on local and remote unit
Temperature Tolerance — Operating: 41 to 113°F (5 to 45°C);
Storage: -13 to +140°F (-25 to +60°C)
Humidity Tolerance — Up to 80%, noncondensing
Power —90–240 VAC, 47–63 Hz, autosensing, external, with IEC 320
connector and cord
Size — Each unit: 1.7"H x 7.1"W x 5.2"D (4.3 x 18 x 13.2 cm)
Weight — Each unit: 2.6 lb (1.2 kg)
Item Code
ServSwitch Fiber Optic KVM Extender ACS335A
with Serial and Bidirectional Stereo Audio ACS335A-AS
To connect an extender to the demarc, order…
ServSwitch Fiber Patch Cable, (5) Color-Coded 62.5/125-µm
Multimode Strands plus Spare, ST Male to Male
For PC 1-m (3.2-ft.) EFN235-1
5-m (16.4-ft.) EFN235-5
For indoor runs between extenders or demarcs, order…
Terminated Fiber Optic Breakout Cable, ST-ST
Custom Lengths 6-Fiber EFN1006A-ST
For outdoor runs between demarcs, order…
Loose-Tube Multistrand 62.5 Multimode Fiber Cables Bulk
(Unterminated), Custom
6-Fiber EXN3006A
12-Fiber EXN3012A
Armored Loose-Tube Outside-Plant Fiber Cables, Bulk
(Unterminated) for Extreme Conditions, 1000-ft. (304.8-m)
6-Fiber EXN4070A-1000
12-Fiber EXN4075A-1000
NOTE: Versions of these cables with other fiber counts are
also available. For more information, see blackbox.com, or call
our FREE Tech Support.
You may also need…
19" Rackmount Kit for ACS335A or ACS335A-AS
for 1 Extender RMK235
for 2 Extenders RMK235-2
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tech support line is closed.
According to a survey by Data Communications
magazine, 90% of network managers surveyed say
that getting the technical support they need is extremely
important when choosing a vendor. But even though
network managers pay anywhere from 10 to 20% of their
overall purchase price for a basic service and support
contract, the technical support and service they receive falls
far short of their expectations—and certainly isn’t worth
what they paid.
At Black Box, we guarantee the best value and the
best support. You can even consult our Technical Support
Experts before you buy if you need help selecting just
the right component for your application.
Don’t waste time and money—call Black Box today.
Why Buy From Black Box? Exceptional Value.
Exceptional Tech Support. Period.
ACS335A-AS