Black Box SERVSWITCH Series User manual

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 ServSwitch™ Spectra, including
how to install, operate, and troubleshoot it. For an introduction to the Spectra, see
Chapter 2. The ServSwitch Spectra product codes covered in this manual are:
SW681A
SW681A-K
This manual also includes information about the Spectra’s Mounting Plate, but it
comes with its own installation sheet. Its product code is:
MP681A

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SERVSWITCH™ SPECTRA
TRADEMARKS USED IN THIS MANUAL
BLACK BOX and the logo are registered trademarks of Black Box Corporation.
Apple and Macintosh are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.
IBM, PC/AT, PS/2, RS/6000, and ThinkPad are registered trademarks, and
PC/XT is a trademark, of International Business Machines Corporation.
Microsoft, Windows , and IntelliMouse are registered trademarks or trademarks of
Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
Sun and Sun Microsystems are registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in
the United States and other countries.
Any other trademarks mentioned in this manual are acknowledged to be the property of the
trademark owners.

3
FCC/IC STATEMENTS, EU DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
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.
EUROPEAN UNION DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
This equipment complies with the requirements of the European EMC Directive
89/336/EEC.

4
SERVSWITCH™ SPECTRA
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.

5
NOM STATEMENT
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.
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
SERVSWITCH™ SPECTRA
Contents
Chapter Page
1. Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
2.1 The Complete Package . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
2.2 Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
2.3 The External Controls,
Indicators, and Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3. Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
3.1 The Spectra’s Optional Mounting Plate . . . . 18
3.2 Things to Keep in Mind Before You Install . 18
3.3 Connecting the Monitor, Keyboard,
and Mouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
3.4 About the CPU Cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
3.5 Connecting the CPUs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
3.6 Powering Up the System and Switching
from the Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
4. Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
4.1 Keyboard-Command Summary . . . . . . . . . . . 30
4.2 Select a CPU or Switch to the Other CPU . . . 34
4.3 Start/Stop Scanning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
4.4 Stop/Restart Audio Switching . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

7
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Contents
Chapter Page
4.5 Send Null Byte to Resynchronize Mouse
(CPUs with PS/2 Mouse Ports Only) . . . . . . 36
4.6 Reset Computer’s Mouse Port . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
4.7 Identify ROM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
4.8 Keep Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
4.9 Set Scan-Delay Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
4.10 Set Mouse Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
5. Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
5.1 Resetting the Spectra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
5.2 Restoring Factory-Default Settings . . . . . . . . 46
5.3 Common Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
5.3.1 CPU Doesn’t Boot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
5.3.2 Can’t Switch Ports from Keyboard . . . . 48
5.3.3 Typed Characters Are Wrong
or Missing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
5.3.4 Mouse Driver Doesn’t Load . . . . . . . . . 50
5.3.5 Can’t Access Mouse Functions . . . . . . . 50
5.3.6 Mouse Gets Out of Sync . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
5.3.7 Mouse Doesn’t Move Pointer/Cursor . 51
5.3.8 Display is Fuzzy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
5.3.9 Video Not Synchronized
or Wrong Color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

8
SERVSWITCH™ SPECTRA
Contents
Chapter Page
5.3.10 Can’t Access High-Resolution Mode . . .53
5.3.11 CPUs Lock Up When
Windows 3.x Loaded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
5.3.12 Spectra Doesn’t Work
with Docking Station . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
5.3.13 Spectra Doesn’t Work with
Dongle-Protected Software . . . . . . . . . 54
5.3.14 Spectra Doesn’t Work
with IBM ThinkPad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
5.4 Calling Black Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
5.5 Shipping and Packaging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Appendix A: NVRAM Factory Defaults . . . . . . . . . . 57
Appendix B: Surface-Mounting the Spectra . . . . . . 59
Appendix C: Commands for Advanced Users . . . . . 64
C.1 Set Keyboard Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
C.2 Set Keyboard Typematic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

9
CHAPTER 1: Specifications
1. Specifications
Hardware and System Software
Requirements — Refer to Section 3.2
Compliance — CE, FCC Part 15 Subpart J Class A, IC
Class/classe A
Standards — With standard Serv cabling: VGA video;
With standard Serv cabling (minimal) or coaxial cabling
(recommended): SVGA video; With coaxial cabling: XGA
video
Interfaces — Video (pinned as VGA, standards listed above);
IBM PS/2 keyboard and mouse — with adapters, also
supports IBM PC/AT keyboards and CPUs with PC/AT
keyboard ports, as well as (when EHN408 cables are
used) CPUs with serial-mouse ports; 3.5-mm stereo audio
Resolution and Refresh Rate — With standard CPU-
Extension Cable: Up to 1024 x 768 noninterlaced at
up to 75 Hz;
With coaxial CPU-Extension Cable: Up to 1600 x 1280
noninterlaced at up to 100 Hz; Maximum

10
SERVSWITCH™ SPECTRA
Distance — Up to 20 ft. (6.1 m) of CPU-Extension Cable
from the ServSwitch Spectra to either attached CPU,
but this will depend on the type of cable, the CPU,
the monitor, and the video resolution
User Controls — Keyboard commands;
Top-mounted CPU-selection pushbutton;
Rear-mounted reset pushbutton
Indicators — (2) Front-mounted selected-CPU LEDs
Connectors — All rear-mounted:
To user station:
(1) HD15 female to VGA monitor;
(2) 6-pin mini-DIN female:
(1) to PS/2 keyboard, (1) to PS/2 mouse;
(1) 3.5-mm jack to speakers/headphones; To CPUs:
(2) HD15 female to video-output ports;
(4) 6-pin mini-DIN female:

11
CHAPTER 1: Specifications
(2) to PS/2 keyboard ports, (2) to PS/2 mouse ports;
(2) 3.5-mm jack for audio-output ports Maximum
Altitude — 10,000 ft. (3048 m)
Temperature Tolerance — 32 to 131˚F (0 to 55˚C)
Humidity Tolerance — 5 to 80% noncondensing
Enclosure — High-impact plastic
Power — 5 VDC at up to 1 amp from the keyboard-power
leads of the attached computers
Size — 6.2"H x 2.7"W x 5"D (15.7 x 6.9 x 12.7 cm)
Weight — Net: 1 lb. (0.5 kg); Shipping: 2 lb. (0.9 kg)

12
SERVSWITCH™ SPECTRA
2. Introduction
Thank you for choosing a ServSwitch™ Spectra! We
designed it with your needs in mind, and we hope it will
will simplify your life by helping you organize your two-
computer application. With your ServSwitch Spectra,
you can use one keyboard, monitor, and mouse to access
two different IBM®compatible PCs, so you can cut down
on the clutter on your desk and save money on
equipment.
2.1 The Complete Package
The only extra things that come with the basic
ServSwitch Spectra (product code SW681A) are a
mounting plate and this manual. The ServSwitch
Spectra Kit (SW681A-K) also includes two standard 10-ft.
(3-m) CPU-Extension Cables. (The Cables are available
separately as product code EHN404-0010.) If anything is
missing or arrived damaged, contact Black Box.

13
CHAPTER 2: Introduction
2.2 Features
Some of the useful features of your ServSwitch Spectra:
• You can access two IBM PC type computer CPUs
with one keyboard, monitor, and mouse.
• Smooth, safe, microprocessor-controlled keyboard
and mouse switching.
• Mouse can be any 2- or 3-button PS/2 type by
Microsoft®or Logitech®, including a PS/2 “wheel
mouse” such as the Microsoft IntelliMouse®.
• Support for VGA, SVGA, and XGA video at
resolutions up to 1600 x 1280 pixels, at refresh rates
up to 100 Hz (although XGA requires coaxial cables).
• It uses some of the power that the attached
computers would normally send to their keyboards,
so you don’t have to plug it into an AC outlet.
• You can select the CPU you want with your keyboard
or the button on top of the Spectra.
• Front-panel LEDs show which CPU is selected.
• The unit keeps track of the Num Lock, Caps Lock,
Scroll Lock, and keyboard-mode settings for each
CPU.

14
SERVSWITCH™ SPECTRA
• It can scan (switch back and forth between)
between the two CPUs every 1 to 15 seconds.
• Its “screen saver” function can turn off idle
video after 1 to 999 seconds.
• Advanced users can program the keyboard’s
typematic rate and delay.
• Some settings for each CPU can be permanently
saved in nonvolatile memory.
• A mounting plate is included for permanently
surface-mounting the Spectra.
2.3 The External Controls, Indicators, and Connectors
There’s a pushbutton on the top of the ServSwitch
Spectra that you can press to switch between the two
CPUs. There’s also a pair of LEDs on the Spectra’s front
panel labeled with the Roman numerals “I” and “II”
that
tell you whether the corresponding CPU is selected
(“I” for CPU 1, “II” for CPU 2).
All cable connections are made at the ServSwitch
Spectra’s rear panel, which also holds the Spectra’s reset
switch. To familiarize yourself with the Spectra’s rear-panel
components and what they’re used for, refer to Figure 2-1
and the descriptions that follow on the next page.

15
CHAPTER 2: Introduction
Figure 2-1. The rear panel of a ServSwitch Spectra.
Reset
switch
CPU 2
area
CPU 1
area
User-
station
area

16
SERVSWITCH™ SPECTRA
Panel Label Component Description
(Monitor) HD15 F Plug your monitor’s video
cable into this port.
(Video HD15 F Run cable from CPU 1’s
from CPU 1) video-output port to this ports.
(Video HD15 F Run cable from CPU 2’s
from CPU 2) video-output port to this port.
(Keybd.) 6-pin mini- User area: Plug your
keyboard into this port.
DIN F Each CPU area: Run cable
from the CPU’s keyboard
port to this port.
(Mouse) 6-pin mini- User side: Plug your mouse
into this port.
DIN F Each CPU area: Run cable
from the CPU’s mouse
port to this port.
(Audio) 3.5-mm User side: Plug your speakers
stereo F or headphones into
this port.
Each CPU area: Run cable
from the CPU’s audio-
output port to this port.

17
CHAPTER 2: Introduction
(unlabeled Pushbutton To reset the Spectra and
reset button, the attached keyboard and
upper left) mouse, press and release
this button (see Section
5.1). To restore the Spectra
to its factory-default settings,
hold down both this button
and the CPU-selection
button on top of the Spectra
(see Section 5.2).

18
SERVSWITCH™ SPECTRA
3. Installation
3.1 The Spectra’s Optional Mounting Plate
The ServSwitch Spectra is slightly topheavy and can
sometimes tip over when all of the CPU cables and
user-station devices are connected to it. If you want to,
you can mount the Spectra more firmly on a flat surface
with its included mounting plate. For directions on
doing this, see Appendix B.
3.2 Things to Keep in Mind Before You Install
• Any CPU you connect to the ServSwitch Spectra
must meet these guidelines:
– It needs to be IBM PC compatible, not Apple
Macintosh or some other non-PC hardware type.
The Spectra can support many older PCs, but
it probably won’t work with computers made
before about 1989.
– It needs to have a VGA style video port (a D-
shaped HD15 connector with three rows of five
pin sockets).

19
CHAPTER 3: Installation
– It needs to have a PC/AT or PS/2 style keyboard
port (a round 5-pin DIN or 6-pin mini-DIN
connector). To attach a 5-pin DIN PC/AT
keyboard port, you’ll need a keyboard-port
adapter such as product code FA212.
–
It needs to have a PS/2 style mouse port (a round
6-pin mini-DIN connector)
or a serial mouse port
(a D-shaped DB9 or DB25 connector with nine
or twenty-five pins respectively). To attach a serial
mouse port, you’ll need coaxial CPU-Extension
Cable (EHN408)—standard cable doesn’t carry
all of the necessary wires—and a mouse-port
adapter such as product code FA312.
• Some older IBM ThinkPad®laptops handle mouse
data differently from other computers, in a way
that the Spectra doesn’t support. So we don’t
recommend attaching older ThinkPad computers
to the Spectra, either directly or through docking
stations. Some newer models should work OK, but
there’s no good way to tell other than by trial and
error. (You can’t damage your equipment by
trying—if you have the wrong kind of ThinkPad,
it just won’t work.)

20
SERVSWITCH™ SPECTRA
• Any monitor you connect to the Spectra needs to
be able to support the highest video resolution and
refresh rate that either of your CPUs can generate.
For example, if one of your computers only needs
its monitor to display 640 x 480 pixels at 60 Hz, but
the other one needs its monitor to display 1280 x
1024 pixels at 75 Hz, make sure to use a monitor
that can display at least 1280 x 1024 pixels at 75 Hz.
• Any keyboard you attach to the Spectra should
be a standard type. The Spectra doesn’t support
keyboards with special power keys, sleep-mode keys,
embedded touchpads or microphones, etc.
Also, whereas older
keyboards have 101 or 102
keys, keyboards designed specifically
for Microsoft
Windows®95, Windows 98, and Windows 2000 have
104 or 105 keys. 101-/102-key keyboards don’t have
the Windows Start ( ) and Windows Application
( ) keys, and there’s no way they can perform the
functions of those keys. Similarly, there’s no way
you can use a two-button mouse to perform all of
the functions of a three-button mouse. For these
reasons, we recommend that you use a Windows
keyboard if any of your applications require the
Windows keys, and use a three-button mouse if any
of your applications require the center mouse button.