Minicom DX DX 432 User manual

International HQ
Jerusalem, Israel
Tel: + 972 2 535 9666
[email protected]
North American HQ
Linden,New Jersey
Tel: + 1 908 4862100
[e-mail]
European HQ
Dübendorf, Switzerland
Tel: + 41 1 823 8000
[e-mail]
Italy
Rome
Tel: + 39 06 8209 7902
[e-mail]
www.minicom.com Customer support - [e-mail]
© Copyright Minicom Advanced Systems Ltd. 5UM20121 V1.3 9/04
DX System
Operating Guide
Rackit®Technology Corporation
274 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Tel:[phone] • Fax:[phone]
1.800.636.3434
www.RackitTechnology.com
Technology Corporation
®
Supported by:

DX SYSTEM
1
Table of Contents
Getting started .............................................................................. 2
1. The initial cascade wizard..................................................................... 2
2. Logging in .............................................................................................. 4
Configuring the DX system.......................................................... 5
3. Configuring individual output ports..................................................... 6
4. Configuring individual input ports ....................................................... 8
Cascading the DX system ............................................................ 9
5. Adding / editing secondary level KVM devices................................... 9
6. The General Settings window............................................................. 14
Creating Users and Groups ....................................................... 16
7. Defining Group access rights............................................................. 18
Arranging devices ...................................................................... 21
8. The Servers window ............................................................................ 21
9. Creating a new folder .......................................................................... 22
10. Saving changes ................................................................................... 22
11. Deleting and renaming folders ........................................................... 22
12. Adding devices to a folder.................................................................. 23
13. Viewing the servers/devices............................................................... 23
Operating the DX system ........................................................... 24
14. Viewing devices ................................................................................... 24
15. Adjusting the picture quality .............................................................. 24
16. Power on/off reboot............................................................................. 24
17. Connect - Private ................................................................................. 25
18. Disconnect User .................................................................................. 25
Updating the DX Central............................................................. 26
19. System requirements for the DX Central Update software .............. 26
20. Running the DX Central Update software.......................................... 26
21. Updating the DX User unit and X-RICCS ........................................... 27
22. Verifying the X-RICC version numbers.............................................. 28
23. Updating the firmware......................................................................... 29
24. Viewing the log .................................................................................... 29
25. Resetting the DX Central..................................................................... 30
USB / SUN Combo keys ............................................................. 31
Technical specifications ............................................................ 32
Appendix A: Pin assignments ................................................... 34

OPERATING GUIDE
2
Getting started
1. The initial cascade wizard
Once the system is connected and powered on, the Configuration Wizard box appears
on the screen of the DX User. See Figure 1.
Figure 1 The Configuration Wizard box
Important!
To define the Slave (second level cascade – see diagram below), you must physically
connect a DX User unit to the Slave. The initial cascade wizard appears and the
procedure outlined here must be followed.
POWER
100-250 VAC 50/60 H z
www.minicom.com
ETHERNET
SERIAL
SERVICEI
0
1234
18 19 2017
SERVER
567 8
22 23 2421
123 4
6785
USER 9101112
26 27 2825
13 14 15 16
30 31 3229 DX Central
- Primary level
DX Central
- Secondary level
Cascade
Server
POWER
100-250 VAC 50/60 H z
www.minicom.com
ETHERNET
SERIAL
SERV ICE
I
0
1234
18 19 2017
SERVER
5678
22 23 2421
123 4
6785
USER 9101112
26 27 2825
13 14 15 16
30 31 3229
Figure 2 Cascaded DX Centrals
1. Where the DX User connects to cascaded DX Central units check Cascaded DX
configuration. Otherwise click Single DX configuration.

DX SYSTEM
3
2. Click . If the DX system is cascaded the DX Network Configuration box
appears. See Figure 3.
Figure 3 The DX Network Configuration box
3. Type in the network parameters for this DX Central unit and click . The
Define DX status box appears. See Figure 4.
Figure 4 The Define DX status box
4. Select the status and click . When defining a Slave unit the following box
appears.
Figure 5 Primary DX unit IP address box
5. Type in the IP address of the Primary DX Central unit.

OPERATING GUIDE
4
6. Click . The Login screen appears see below.
2. Logging in
Once the system is connected and powered on, the Login screen appears on the monitor
of each DX User. See Figure 6.
Figure 6 The Login screen
Type the default username ‘admin’ and password ‘admin’. The Main screen appears.
See Figure 7. The screen initially shows no devices. The system must be configured.
Devices
appear
here
Created folders
appear here
Toolbar icons
Figure 7 The Main screen

DX SYSTEM
5
Configuring the DX system
You must configure the devices connected to the DX system.
From the View menu choose DX System Configuration. The DX System
Configuration window appears. See Figure 8.
List of DX Central
units and KVM
switches
Information of
currently selected
unit
Output ports to devicesInput ports from DX Users
Figure 8 The DX System Configuration window
You can view the rear ports of the DX Central units and KVM switches attached to the
system.
To view a unit:
From the list on the left, click a unit. A picture of the unit’s rear panel ports appears.
The ports are color coded as outlined by the list of RICC Types.
Note! Place the mouse cursor over a button. A tool tip appears showing the name of the
device connected to that port.

OPERATING GUIDE
6
3. Configuring individual output ports
Configure individual devices connected to the DX Central output ports.
To configure individual output ports:
1. In the DX System Configuration window click an output port on the picture of the
switch. The Computer Port Configuration box appears, see Figure 9.
Figure 9 The Computer Port Configuration box
The General tab elements
Name – Type a name for the connected device. This name appears below the device in
the Servers and devices window.
Type – Select the appropriate X-RICC connected to the port.
Note! When selecting an X-RICC RS232 type, you must also input the terminal
settings.
Timeout – Type a timeout period after which another User can take control of the
device. By default it is 60 seconds.
KB Mode – Select the appropriate keyboard mode. By default the keyboard mode is
set to PS for Intel based computers.
For the other systems set the KB mode as follows:
• U1 for HP UX
• U2 for Alpha UNIX, SGI, Open VMS
• U3 for IBM AIX
To apply the changes to the selected port click .

DX SYSTEM
7
To apply the changes to all output ports click .
The Cascade box elements
When you cascade the DX system, click the Cascade checkbox to un-gray the Cascade
tab.
Click the Cascade tab. The Cascade box appears see Figure 10.
Figure 10 The Cascade box
Device name – Select the secondary level cascaded switch from the Drop-down list.
Input Port No – If the secondary level KVM switch is a DX Central, from the Drop-
down list select the input port number of the secondary level DX Central.
To apply the changes to the selected port click .
To apply the changes to all output ports click .

OPERATING GUIDE
8
4. Configuring individual input ports
Although the input ports in the DX Management console appear to be un-configured,
the DX system does recognize the connected DX Users. Configure the input ports to
display the DX User icon.
To configure the input ports:
1. In the DX System Configuration window click an input port on the picture of the
switch. The Configuration box appears see Figure 11.
2. From the Drop-down box choose the DX User unit.
Figure 11 The Configuration box
Cascaded DX Central units
3. When the DX Central is a secondary level cascaded unit, click the Cascade
checkbox to un-gray the Cascade tab. Click the Cascade tab. The Cascade box
appears see Figure 12,
Figure 12 Cascade box
Device name – Select the cascaded KVM switch from the Drop-down list.
Output Port No - From the Drop-down list select the output port number of the
primary DX Central to which the secondary level unit is connected.

DX SYSTEM
9
Cascading the DX system
When cascading DX Central units or other KVM switches, you must configure them in
the DX System Configuration window – see Figure 8. Where the switch is not
cascaded you can ignore this section and goto page 14.
5. Adding / editing secondary level KVM devices
The table below explains the DX Management console Toolbar buttons.
Button Function
Add unit
Delete unit
Edit unit
To add a new KVM switch:
Click . The Add New KVM Device box appears. See Figure 13.
Figure 13 The Add New KVM Device box

OPERATING GUIDE
10
The General tab elements
Name – Type a name for the new device.
Type – From the Drop-down list select the new device type. If it doesn’t appear in the
list, it can be added (explained below - To add new…).
Users / Servers – Displays the maximum number of users and servers for the device
Description – type a description of the device. This will appear in the Description box
in the DX System Configuration window. See Figure 8.
MAC Address – Type in the MAC address of the KVM device.
To add new…- To add a type of device that does not appear in the Type Drop-down
menu:
1. Click . The Add New Device Type box appears. See Figure 14.
Figure 14 The Add New Device Type box
2. Type a name for the new device and select the number of input and output ports.
Figure 15 below illustrates input and output ports.

DX SYSTEM
11
POWER
100-250 VAC 50/60 Hz
www.minicom.com
ETHERNET
SERIAL
SERVICE
I
0
12 34
18 19 2017
SERVER
5678
22 23 2421
1234
6785
USER 9101112
26 27 2825
13 14 15 16
30 31 3229
DX Central - Primary level
New KVM switch -
Secondary level
Input port
Output port Connects to
server - 1 level
down
Cascade
X-RICC
To Server
Figure 15 Input and output ports
3. Click OK. The new device type is added to the Type Drop-down menu.
To edit…_ To remove a device or change the number of input and output ports for a
device type:
1. Click or . The currently selected device Properties box opens.
See Figure 16.
Figure 16 The Properties box
2. Choose the number of input and output ports (see Figure 15) and click
.
To remove the device type from the Drop –down list, click or .

OPERATING GUIDE
12
The Cascade Inputs tab elements
You must define the cascade level position of the new switch in the overall
configuration of the system. You do this by defining the cascade connections to the
input and output ports.
Click the Cascade Inputs tab. The following box appears.
Figure 17 The Cascade Inputs box
Left Port No. A row appears for each input port of the new switch.
Name – From the Drop-down list select the switch to which the new switch is cascaded
1 level up.
Right Port No – Select the port number of the 1 level up switch to which the new
switch is connected.
Do the above for each cascaded port.
Click OK.
The Cascade Outputs tab elements
Click the Cascade Outputs tab. The following box appears.

DX SYSTEM
13
Figure 18 The Cascade Outputs box
Left Port No. A row appears for each output port of the new switch.
Name - From the Drop-down list select the device to which the new switch is
connected 1 level down.
Right Port No – Select the port number of the 1 level down device to which the new
switch is connected.
Do the above for each cascaded port.
Click OK.
Note! Once you have manually input the cascaded ports at one level you do not have to
repeat the process at the levels above or below.
Configuring individual output and input ports
Configure the individual output and input ports of cascaded units as explained in
sections3and 4 on pages 6 and 8 above.
Note! When configuring the output ports of a non-DX switch you must define the
hotkey to access the device. See the switch’s User guide for the correct hotkey.
To input the hotkey:
1. Click . The HotKey box opens.
2. Press the hotkey keys on your physical keyboard. The keys appear in the HotKey
box.
3. Click Assign. The hotkey is assigned.

OPERATING GUIDE
14
6. The General Settings window
From the Tools menu click Settings, the General Settings appear. See Figure 19.
Important!
Some of the elements in this window must be configured BEFORE using the DX
system. Failure to do so will make the system inoperative.
Figure 19 The General Settings window
General Settings elements
Name – Name given when configuring the DX unit. Recommended to give the unit a
name that reflects its position in the system e.g. Primary DX.
MAC – MAC address
Hotkey to Local PC – Define a hotkey to access a local PC connected to the DX
Central.
To define a hotkey:
Press . Press any 2 keyboard-keys. These keys appear in the box.
Click Save.
Hotkey to AIM – Once you have logged into the DX system you can invoke the DX
Management software screen by pressing a hotkey. For example, when switched to a
device, press the hotkey to invoke the AIM. Define the hotkey in the same way as
above.

DX SYSTEM
15
Security elements
Security Off – When checked, there is no login screen. ALL Users have access to
control and power devices.
To again display the login screen:
From the File menu choose Log off. The Login screen appears and the Administrator
can enter his password.
Security On – When checked security access levels are as set by the Administrator
Security High – When checked Users must login every time they exit and re-enter the
AIM.
Lock configuration – When checked, the system will only recognize the current
devices configured. Any changes in the devices physically connected will not be
recognized by the system.
IP/Cascade Settings elements
IP Address – Type a Static IP address in the usual dot notation.
Subnet mask – Type the net mask of the local network.
Default Gateway – Type a Default Gateway address. Where the DX system is
accessible from networks other than the local one, this IP address must be set to the
local network router's IP address.
Configure cascade options – When you want to change cascade status of the DX
system click . The Cascade configuration box appears. Make the desired
change.
Figure 20 Cascade configuration box
Time Settings
Set the time and date.

OPERATING GUIDE
16
Creating Users and Groups
From the View menu choose Users and Groups.
The Users and Groups window appears. See Figure 21.
Figure 21 Users and Groups window
By default there are 3 Groups in the Groups column. Each Group has specific access
rights that cannot be altered.
The 3 default groups are:
Group Access rights
Administrators Full access and power management of all computers.
Plus all DX Functions:
Adding and removing devices
Creating Users and Groups.
Setting time date and IP address.
Power Users Full access and power management of all computers
Users Full access to all computers
An Administrator can create new Groups with different access rights.
When a Group is highlighted all the Users in the group appear in the Users column. In
the Administrators Group there is 1 default Administrator (admin).
The table below explains the functions of the Toolbar buttons.

DX SYSTEM
17
Button Function
Add User
Add group
Delete
Properties
Save
Creating a User
To create a User:
Press . The Users box appears. See Figure 22.
Figure 22 The Users box
The User box elements
User Name – Type a name for the User. This name appears below the User’s icon in
the Users and Groups window.
Full Name - Type a full name for the User.

OPERATING GUIDE
18
Description – Type a description of the User.
Password/Confirm password – Type a password and confirm it. This can be left
blank.
An Administrator can create a new group for the User and define unique access rights
or he can place the User into a predefined group with predefined access rights.
To create a new group for the User:
Check Create private group for the User.
To place the User into a predefined group:
1. Check Select group and choose the desired group from the Drop-down menu.
2. Click OK. The new User is created. An icon with the User name below it appears in
the Users column. See Figure 21 above.
3. Save changes.
Editing information in the User box
An Administrator can edit all the elements that appear in the User box, including the
password.
To display a User box:
1. Double-click the User icon.
2. Edit and click OK.
3. Save changes.
7. Defining Group access rights
An Administrator defines the access rights of Groups in the following way.
Double-click the Group icon or click . The General information box appears. See
Figure 23.

DX SYSTEM
19
Figure 23 The General information box
The General information box elements
Group name – Edit the Group name here
Timeout – After a period of non-activity the system automatically logs out. Type a
timeout period in seconds in this box. Once Timeout activates click anywhere on the
screen to display the Login box.
By default the Timeout value is 60 meaning there is a Timeout period of 1 minute.
Private connection – When checked, it gives the User the option to prevent other
Users from viewing computers accessed by members of this group.
Description – type a description of the group
The Access box
Click the Access tab, the Access box appears. See Figure 24
List of
devices
Figure 24 The Access box
Here the Administrator defines the access rights for each connected device.