Black Box ServSwitch KV104A-R3 User manual

KV104A-R3
KV108A-R3
For FREE Technical Support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, call 724-746-5500.
Address: 1000 Park Dr., Lawrence, PA 15055-1018 • Phone: [phone] • Fax: [phone]
World-Wide Web: www.blackbox.com • E-mail: [email protected]
© Copyright 1999. Black Box Corporation. All rights reserved.
Customer Support Information:
FEBRUARY 1999

1
THE SERVSWITCH™ FAMILY
Welcome to the ServSwitchTM Family!
Thank you for purchasing a BLACK BOX®ServSwitch™Brand KVM switch! We
appreciate your business, and we think you’ll appreciate the many ways that your
new ServSwitch keyboard/video/mouse switch will save you money, time, and
effort.
That’s because our ServSwitch family is all about breaking away from the
traditional, expensive model of computer management. You know, the one-size-
fits-all-even-if-it-doesn’t model that says, “One computer gets one user station, no
more, no less.” Why not a single user station (monitor, keyboard, and mouse) for
multiple computers—even computers of different platforms? Why not a pair of
user stations, each of which can control multiple computers? Why not multiple
user stations for the same computer?
With our ServSwitch products, there’s no reason why not. We carry a broad line
of robust solutions for all these applications. Do you have just two PCs, and need
an economical alternative to keeping two monitors, keyboards, and mice on your
desk? Or do you need to share dozens of computers, including a mix of IBM®PC,
RS/6000®, Apple®Macintosh®, Sun Microsystems®, and SGI®compatibles among
multiple users with different access levels? Does your switch have to sit solidly on a
worktable and use regular everyday cables? Or does it have to be mounted in an
equipment rack and use convenient many-to-one cables? No matter how large or
small your setup is, no matter how simple or how complex, we’re confident we
have a ServSwitch system that’s just right for you.
The ServSwitch™family from Black Box—the one-stop answer for all your
KVM-switching needs!
*
This manual will tell you all about your new ServSelect™ unit, including how to
install, operate, and troubleshoot it. For an introduction to the ServSelect, see
Chapter 2. The ServSelect product codes covered in this manual are:
KV104A-R3
KV108A-R3

2
SERVSELECT™
TRADEMARKS USED IN THIS MANUAL
BLACK BOX and the logo are registered trademarks, ServSwitch and
ServSwitch Miscellaneous are trademarks, and “The World’s Source for
Connectivity” is a service mark, of Black Box Corporation.
Apple and Macintosh are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.
IBM, PC/AT, PS/2, and RS/6000 are registered trademarks, and PC/XT is a
trademark, of International Business Machines Corporation.
Logitech is a trademark of Logitech, Inc.
Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks, and IntelliMouse is a
trademark, of Microsoft Corporation.
SGI is a registered trademark of Silicon Graphics, Inc.
Sun Microsystems is a registered trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Any other trademarks mentioned in this manual are acknowledged to be the property of the
trademark owners.

3
FCC/IC STATEMENTS
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
AND
INDUSTRY CANADA
RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE STATEMENTS
This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and if not
installed and used properly, that is, in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s
instructions, may cause interference to radio communication. It has been tested
and found to comply with the limits for a Class A computing device in accordance
with the specifications in Subpart J of Part 15 of FCC rules, which are designed to
provide reasonable protection against such interference when the equipment is
operated in a commercial environment. Operation of this equipment in a
residential area is likely to cause interference, in which case the user at his own
expense will be required to take whatever measures may be necessary to correct the
interference.
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for
compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class A limits for radio noise emission from digital
apparatus set out in the Radio Interference Regulation of Industry Canada.
Le présent appareil numérique n’émet pas de bruits radioélectriques dépassant les limites
applicables aux appareils numériques de la classe A prescrites dans le Règlement sur le
brouillage radioélectrique publié par Industrie Canada.

4
SERVSELECT™
NORMAS OFICIALES MEXICANAS (NOM)
ELECTRICAL SAFETY STATEMENT
INSTRUCCIONES DE SEGURIDAD
1. Todas las instrucciones de seguridad y operación deberán ser leídas antes de
que el aparato eléctrico sea operado.
2. Las instrucciones de seguridad y operación deberán ser guardadas para
referencia futura.
3. Todas las advertencias en el aparato eléctrico y en sus instrucciones de
operación deben ser respetadas.
4. Todas las instrucciones de operación y uso deben ser seguidas.
5. El aparato eléctrico no deberá ser usado cerca del agua—por ejemplo, cerca
de la tina de baño, lavabo, sótano mojado o cerca de una alberca, etc..
6. El aparato eléctrico debe ser usado únicamente con carritos o pedestales que
sean recomendados por el fabricante.
7. El aparato eléctrico debe ser montado a la pared o al techo sólo como sea
recomendado por el fabricante.
8. Servicio—El usuario no debe intentar dar servicio al equipo eléctrico más allá
a lo descrito en las instrucciones de operación. Todo otro servicio deberá ser
referido a personal de servicio calificado.
9. El aparato eléctrico debe ser situado de tal manera que su posición no
interfiera su uso. La colocación del aparato eléctrico sobre una cama, sofá,
alfombra o superficie similar puede bloquea la ventilación, no se debe colocar
en libreros o gabinetes que impidan el flujo de aire por los orificios de
ventilación.
10. El equipo eléctrico deber ser situado fuera del alcance de fuentes de calor
como radiadores, registros de calor, estufas u otros aparatos (incluyendo
amplificadores) que producen calor.
11. El aparato eléctrico deberá ser connectado a una fuente de poder sólo del
tipo descrito en el instructivo de operación, o como se indique en el aparato.

5
NOM STATEMENT
12. Precaución debe ser tomada de tal manera que la tierra fisica y la polarización
del equipo no sea eliminada.
13. Los cables de la fuente de poder deben ser guiados de tal manera que no
sean pisados ni pellizcados por objetos colocados sobre o contra ellos,
poniendo particular atención a los contactos y receptáculos donde salen del
aparato.
14. El equipo eléctrico debe ser limpiado únicamente de acuerdo a las
recomendaciones del fabricante.
15. En caso de existir, una antena externa deberá ser localizada lejos de las lineas
de energia.
16. El cable de corriente deberá ser desconectado del cuando el equipo no sea
usado por un largo periodo de tiempo.
17. Cuidado debe ser tomado de tal manera que objectos liquidos no sean
derramados sobre la cubierta u orificios de ventilación.
18. Servicio por personal calificado deberá ser provisto cuando:
A: El cable de poder o el contacto ha sido dañado; u
B: Objectos han caído o líquido ha sido derramado dentro del aparato; o
C: El aparato ha sido expuesto a la lluvia; o
D: El aparato parece no operar normalmente o muestra un cambio en su
desempeño; o
E: El aparato ha sido tirado o su cubierta ha sido dañada.

6
SERVSELECT™
Contents
Chapter Page
1. Specifications ............................................................................................. 8
2. Introduction ............................................................................................. 10
3. Installation ................................................................................................ 13
3.1 Basic Installation ............................................................................... 13
3.2 Cascaded Installation ........................................................................ 15
3.3 Paired Installation ............................................................................. 17
3.3.1 Configuring the Slave ServSelect ........................................... 17
3.3.2 Configuring the Master ServSelect ........................................ 19
3.3.3 Installing the ServSelects and the User Station and
Their Cabling ..................................................................... 19
3.3.4 Connecting Computers and Power to the Paired System .... 20
3.3.5 Decoupling Paired Units (Uninstalling/Deactivating
Pairing) ............................................................................... 21
4. Operation ................................................................................................. 22
4.1 Operation Overview .......................................................................... 22
4.2 Operating the ServSelect with the Shared Keyboard ..................... 23
4.2.1 Keystroke Notation ................................................................. 23
4.2.2 Keyboard-Based Switching ...................................................... 24
4.2.3 Other Keyboard Commands .................................................. 25
4.3 Operating the ServSelect with Its On-Screen Display (OSD) ........ 27
4.3.1 Activating OSD ........................................................................ 27
4.3.2 The Main OSD Window .......................................................... 28
4.3.3 The Command Menu ............................................................. 29
4.3.4 Channel Maintenance ............................................................ 30
4.3.4.A Adding New Channels to a Single ServSelect ......... 30
4.3.4.B Adding New Channels to a Paired System .............. 31
4.3.4.C Adding New Channels to a Cascade ......................... 31
4.3.4.D Deleting an Existing Channel ................................... 32
4.3.4.E Changing Channel Names and Addresses ............... 32
4.3.5 The ID Window ....................................................................... 33
4.3.5.A Changing the Size, Color, and Position of the
ID Window ............................................................ 33
4.3.5.B Setting the ID Window’s Dwell Time ....................... 33

7
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter Page
4. Operation (continued)
4.3 Operating the ServSelect with Its OSD (continued)
4.3.6 Administrator Functions ......................................................... 34
4.3.6.A Creating the Administrator Password ...................... 35
4.3.6.B Setting the Administrator’s Logout Time ................ 35
4.3.6.C Setting Up Additional Users ..................................... 36
4.4 Scanning Channels ........................................................................... 37
4.4.1 Choosing a Scanning Method ................................................ 37
4.4.2 Turning Scanning ON and OFF ............................................ 38
4.4.2.A Turning Scanning ON and OFF Through OSD ...... 38
4.4.2.B Turning Scanning ON and OFF with the SELECT/
SCAN Button (Nonsecure Mode Only) .............. 38
4.4.2.C Turning Scanning ON and OFF with Keyboard
Hotkey Commands (System Administrator or
Nonsecure Mode Only) ....................................... 38
4.4.3 Setting the Scan Dwell Time (System Administrator or
Nonsecure Mode Only) ..................................................... 39
4.4.3.A Setting the Dwell Time for Sequential Scanning .... 39
4.4.3.B Setting the Dwell Time for Alphanumeric
Scanning ................................................................ 39
4.4.4 Scanning and Security ............................................................ 39
5. Troubleshooting ...................................................................................... 40
5.1 Common Problems ........................................................................... 40
5.2 Calling Black Box .............................................................................. 45
5.3 Shipping and Packaging ................................................................... 45
Appendix A: Problem Report ........................................................................ 46
Appendix B: Rackmounting the ServSelect .................................................. 49

8
SERVSELECT™
1. Specifications
Compliance — EMI/RFI: CE (EN55022, EN50082); FCC Part 15
Subpart J Class A, IC Class/classe A;
Electrical Safety: UL 1950, CSA 22.2 No. 950, EN60950
Standards — VGA, SVGA, XGA, or XGA-2 video
Interfaces — VIDEO port: VGA/SVGA; with adapter, XGA/XGA-2;
KBD and MSE ports: IBM PS/2 peripheral input;
Lettered channel ports: Proprietary composites of:
• IBM PC/AT or PS/2 keyboard;
• RS-232 or PS/2 mouse; and
• VGA, SVGA, XGA, or XGA-2 video
Resolution — At up to 75 Hz: Up to 1024 x 768 noninterlaced;
At up to 60 Hz: Up to 1280 x 1024 noninterlaced
Maximum
Distance — 30 ft. (9.1 m) to any attached CPU; the shared monitor,
keyboard, and mouse should be plugged directly into the
unit and should not be placed farther away than their
native cables can reach.
User Controls — On-screen function menu;
Keyboard commands;
(1) Rear-mounted ON/OFF rocker switch;
(1) Front-mounted SELECT/SCAN pushbutton;
KV104A-R3: (4) Front-mounted port-selection pushbuttons;
KV108A-R3: (8) Front-mounted port-selection pushbuttons
Indicators — On-screen display;
Front-mounted:
(2) SELECT/SCAN LEDs;
(2) STATUS LEDs;
KV104A-R3: (4) CPU Power LEDs, (4) Selected CPU
LEDs;
KV108A-R3: (8) CPU Power LEDs, (8) Selected CPU
LEDs

9
CHAPTER 1: Specifications
Connectors — All rear-mounted:
(1) HD15 female for video;
(1) DB9 female reserved for future use;
(2) 6-pin mini-DIN female:
(1) for keyboard input,
(1) for mouse input
KV104A-R3: (4) DB25 male CPU ports;
KV108A-R3: (8) DB25 male CPU ports
Temperature
Tolerance — Operating: 41 to 104˚F (5 to 40 C);
Storage: –4 to 122˚F (–20 to 50 C)
Humidity
Tolerance — Up to 90% noncondensing
Enslosure — Steel
Power — Input: 100 to 240 VAC at 50 to 60 Hz from utility-power
outlet, through detachable power cord and IEC 320
male inlet, to internal transformer;
Consumption: 8 watts
Size — 1.7"H x 17.2"W x 6.5"D (4.5 x 43.7 x 16.5 cm)
Weight — 4.2 lb. (1.9 kg)

10
SERVSELECT™
2. Introduction
The ServSelect™ allows you to control as many as 64 PCs with one keyboard,
monitor, and mouse. Each computer can be up to 30 feet (9.8 m) away from the
ServSelect. The ServSelect works with IBM®PC/AT®and PS/2®systems and
100% compatible machines, with support for VGA, SVGA, XGA, and XGA-2 video.
Each unit of our 4-port model (product code KV104A-R2) and 8-port model
(product code KV108A-R2) can be directly attached to the corresponding number
of computers or subsidiary ServSelect™ or ServSwitch Multi™ units.
Here are some of the useful features of the ServSelect:
•Expansion for up to 64 computers. A ServSelect unit will support from one to
eight attached PCs (“channels”). If more than eight channels are needed,
multiple units can be cascaded together for expansion. Up to 2 tiers of units
can be connected for a total of 64 attached computers in one system.
•AutoBoot technology. The AutoBoot feature boots all attached servers during
initial power-up or after a power failure. PCs are booted transparently without
operator intervention, and may be powered up one at a time or all at once.
When the power stabilizes, a channel may be selected. The first available
channel is automatically selected upon power-up of the “base” (master)
ServSelect.
•On-screen display capability. Configure and control your ServSelect with on-
screen menuing! Name your computer channels anything you wish, then select
the desired computer from an easy-to-use menu. Secondary menus let you
configure and initiate channel scanning and other system features.
•Advanced security for total control over system access. Use the advanced
bi-level security feature to configure and control server access for every type of
user in the system. The administrator has full access privileges; individual users
can have viewing or viewing/editing capability for each attached server.
•IntelliMouse™. The ServSelect offers full support for the Microsoft®
IntelliMouse.
•OSD Configuration Utility. The OSD Configuration Utility allows the
administrator to easily configure and download a channel list with defined
users and access privileges to the entire system. This utility will also read and
save your current configuration for extra security.

11
CHAPTER 2: Introduction
•Pushbutton & keyboard switching. In addition to using the on-screen menus,
you can switch computer channels in one of three easy ways: with the
ServSelect channel pushbuttons, the SELECT/SCAN button, or a simple
sequence of keystrokes.
•Keep Alive feature. The “Keep Alive” feature allows attached servers to power
the ServSelect in case the ServSelect loses AC power. This prevents attached
PCs from locking up and keeps you from losing time and data.
•PS/2 mouse translation. For added compatibility with your current equipment,
ServSelect can “translate” the signals of your shared PS/2 mouse. Operated
through the ServSelect, your PS/2 mouse will work with any attached PC—
regardless of whether the computer is designed for a serial or PS/2 mouse!
•Built-in scanning capabilities. A built-in scanning feature allows you to
automatically “scan” (monitor) your PCs without intervention. When keyboard
activity is detected, scanning is suspended until all activity stops. Scanning then
resumes with the next channel in sequence.
•Status-indicator LEDs. Indicator LEDs give you constant readings on the status
of your ServSelect unit. Status, scanning, and channel LEDs take the guesswork
out of system operation and diagnostics.
A typical ServSelect configuration is shown in Figure 2-1 below:
Figure 2-1. A KV108A-R2 in its maximum (eight-computer) single-unit
configuration.

12
SERVSELECT™
A few compatibility issues you should be aware of:
•Mouse/keyboard: The ServSelect requires a PS/2 style mouse and keyboard. It
is known to be compatible with these mice:
IBM PS/2 style
Microsoft serial and PS/2 style (switchable) mouse in PS/2 mode
Kensington™
Logitech®Trackman™
Logitech Mouseman™ (for PS/2)
Microsoft IntelliMouse
Other manufacturers’ mice might also work with the ServSelect. If you
experience problems using an untested mouse, contact Black Box Technical
Support with the manufacturer and model number of the mouse.
•Video: If you want to use XGA or XGA-II video, you will need to purchase a
special adapter; call Black Box Technical Support.

13
CHAPTER 3: Installation
3. Installation
3.1 Basic Installation
To perform a basic (single-unit) ServSelect installation, take these steps:
1. Power down all computers that will be part of your ServSelect system.
2. Put your ServSelect, PS/2 keyboard, video monitor, and PS/2 mouse where
you want them to be.
3. Plug your monitor cable into the port labeled on the back of your
ServSelect. Plug the cables from your PS/2 keyboard and mouse into the
ports labeled and respectively. Refer to Figure 3-1 below.
Figure 3-1. User-station connections.
4. Get a computer-input cable (our product code EHN056). Plug the DB25
female connector at one end of this cable into any lettered channel port
on the rear of the ServSelect. The other end of the input cable will have five
connectors: an HD15 male connector for your video port, 5-pin DlN male
and 6-pin mini-DIN male connectors for your AT or PS/2 keyboard port
respectively, and DB9 female and 6-pin mini-DIN male connectors for your
serial or PS/2 mouse port respectively. (The 6-pin mini-DIN PS/2 mouse
connector is marked with a yellow band or mouse icon to distinguish it from
the 6-pin mini-DIN keyboard connector.) Plug these connectors into the
correpsonding ports; make sure to use only the keyboard and mouse
connectors that are appropriate for your PC, and leave the others
unconnected. Refer to Figure 3-2 on the next page.

14
SERVSELECT™
Figure 3-2. Computer connections.
5. Repeat step 4 until all computers are properly attached to the ServSelect.
6. Get the power cord that came with your ServSelect unit. Plug it into the
power inlet on the ServSelect. Make sure that the ServSelect’s power switch is
off, then plug the other end of the power cord into an appropriate AC wall
outlet. This outlet should be near the equipment and easily accessible so that
you can quickly unplug the ServSelect should you need to move or service it.
Refer to Figure 3-3 on the next page.
7. Power up your ServSelect unit first, then all attached computers.
Your ServSelect system should be ready for continuous operation.
CAUTION!
Power down the ServSelect and all attached computers, and unplug the
ServSelect as well, before you move or service the unit.

15
CHAPTER 3: Installation
Figure 3-3. Power connection.
3.2 Cascaded Installation
Take these steps to interconnect (cascade) multiple ServSelect units, using a
ServSelect’s CPU port each time, so that the ServSelects remain distinct from each
other and so that the system can be expanded beyond 16 ports (as opposed to
pairing units—see the next section):
1. Choose one of your ServSelects to be the “base unit” (the unit to which the
keyboard, mouse, and monitor will be attached). Follow steps 1 through 3 in
Section 3.1 for this unit.
2. All other ServSelects will be subsidiary “expansion units.” Place (one of) the
expansion unit(s) near the base unit (you can even stack it on top of the base
unit if you like).
3. Plug the DB25 connector of an EHN056 input cable into any available
lettered channel port on the rear of your base unit.
4. Into the port labeled on your expansion unit, plug the HD15 video con-
nector on one of the other ends of the cable. Plug the 6-pin mini-DIN PS/2
mouse connector, designated by a yellow band or mouse icon, into the
port. Plug the remaining 6-pin mini-DlN keyboard connector into the
port. (The cable’s DB9 and 5-pin DIN connectors are not used for
cascading.) Refer to Figure 3-4 on the next page.
5. If you have other expansion units, repeat steps 2 through 4 for each of them.
Be careful to plug all expansion units into the base unit only. Do not attach
any expansion units to other expansion units.

16
SERVSELECT™
Figure 3-4. Cascade connection.
6. Follow steps 4 and 5 in Section 3.1 for each of your expansion units and your
base unit (if the base unit still has any free channel ports).
7. Follow step 6 in Section 3.1 for all of your ServSelect units.
8. Power up all of your ServSelect units first, then all attached computers.
Your ServSelect system should be ready for continuous operation.
CAUTION!
Power down all of the ServSelects and all attached computers, and
unplug the ServSelects as well, before you move or service any of the
units.

17
CHAPTER 3: Installation
3.3 Paired Configuration/Installation
Rather than cascade units (see the previous section), you can take the steps
described in this section to serially interconnect (pair) two 4- or 8-port ServSelect
units—in any combination—without using any CPU ports, so that they function as
a single 8-, 12-, or 16-port box. First choose which of your ServSelects will be the
“master unit” and which will be the “slave unit.” Then configure the “slave” unit
(Section 3.3.1), configure the “master” (Section 3.3.2), permanently install both
units and the user station and cable them together (Section 3.3.3), and finally
connect your computers (Section 3.3.4). To add channels to your system later,
follow the directions in Section 4.3.4.B. To decouple paired ServSelects, see
Section 3.3.5.
IMPORTANT NOTE
Before installing a paired system, be aware that paired ServSelects can’t
be cascaded. They also can’t perform keyboard-based switching,
although all other keyboard commands and controls function normally.
This means that, in secure mode, you can only switch channels in a
paired system through the on-screen display (see Section 4.3.2).
3.3.1 C
ONFIGURING THE S
LAVE S ERV S ELECT
1. Plug your monitor cable into the port labeled on the back of your slave
ServSelect. Plug the cable from your PS/2 keyboard into the port labeled
. Refer to Figure 3-5 below.
Figure 3-5. User-station connections for configuring paired units.
2. Get the power cord that came with your slave ServSelect unit. Plug it into the
power inlet on the back of the ServSelect. Make sure that the ServSelect’s
power switch is off, then plug the other end of the power cord into an
appropriate AC wall outlet. Refer to Figure 3-3 on page 15.
3. Turn on the slave ServSelect and press the keyboard’s [Ctrl] (control) key
twice to activate the unit’s On-Screen Display system (see Section 4.3). The
Administrator Channel list will appear in a pop-up menu.

18
SERVSELECT™
4. Press the [Ctrl] key twice more to activate the Command Menu, as shown in
Figure 3-6 below.
Figure 3-6. The Command Menu.
5. Using the keyboard’s arrow keys, highlight “Administrator Functions”
and press [Enter]. This will bring up the Administrator Menu.
6. From here, highlight and select “Unit Configuration.”
7. Change the unit’s configuration to option 3, “Paired (Slave),” as shown
in Figure 3-7 below.
Figure 3-7. Setting the unit to a slave configuration.
Program Manager
ServSelect Control Panel
Command Menu
ENTER-accept ESC-previous
Select Unit Configuration
1: Tiered (default)
2: Paired (Master)
3: Paired (Slave)
Program Manager
ServSelect Control Panel
Command Menu
ENTER-accept ESC-previous
Channel Maintenance
Administrator Functions
Turn Scanning ON
Scanning Order
Sequential Scan Dwell Time
Reset Standard Mouse/Keyboard
Reset Wheel Mouse/Keyboard
Version Information

19
CHAPTER 3: Installation
8. Press [Enter] to save your selection. Next, press the [Esc] key repeatedly
to exit from the OSD system.
9. Turn off the slave ServSelect and disconnect the keyboard and monitor
from it.
3.3.2 C ONFIGURING THE
M ASTER S ERV S ELECT
1. Do steps 2 through 7 of Section 3.3.1 with the master ServSelect instead of the
slave.
2. Change the configuration of the master unit to option 2, “Paired (Master).”
Press [Enter] to save your selection, then press the [Esc] key repeatedly to
exit from the OSD system again.
3. Turn off the master ServSelect and disconnect the keyboard and monitor
from it.
3.3.3 I NSTALLING THE S ERV S ELECTS AND THE U SER S TATION AND T HEIR C ABLING
1. Get a ServSelect Pairing Cable Kit (our product code EHN056-BOND). It will
include (1) video V-cable, with two HD15 male connectors and one HD15
female connector, and (1) DB9 male to DB9 male serial cable.
2. Plug each of the V-cable’s male connectors into one of the ServSelects’
ports: one into the master unit’s, the other into the slave unit’s. Attach a
monitor to the paired units by plugging the monitor cable into the V-cable’s
female connector. Refer to Figure 3-8 below.
Figure 3-8. Attaching the Pairing Cable Kit’s V-cable.