2 of 5
10/1/2007
#10573
724-746-5500
blackbox.com
FEATURES
• Access and switch between CPUs or
serial devices from a single KVM station.
• Connects up to 1000 servers or CPUs to
a console user station.
• Switch via keyboard commands, menu
list, or commands through serial port.
• Video resolution up to 1600 x 1280.
• Supports async serial devices.
• Control access by grouping users
by profiles.
• Modular design for expandability. Use
Expansion Card to extend to other units.
Three ServSwitch Console Plus Chassis in a Bus Topology
OVERVIEW
Do you want to access multiple serial devices (such as PCs
and servers) via a single keyboard, monitor, and mouse
(KVM)? The ServSwitch Console Plus lets you switch among
servers, CPUs, routers, hubs, UNIX devices, and other serial
devices. It’s unique because it allows you to not only switch
between CPUs and servers, but also serial devices.
The advanced distributed design of a single ServSwitch
Console Plus enables access to multiple (4, 8, or 16, depending
on the model you order) asynchronous serial devices from the
same console interface. Or, if you daisychain ServSwitch units,
you can connect up to 1000 servers, CPUs, or other serial devices.
The switch effectively acts as a dumb terminal with an
eight-page scroll buffer to enable easy monitoring of your
serial equipment. You don’t need to jump between user
stations to access both servers and serial devices.
Multiplatform capability.
The ServSwitch Console Plus works with PC, Mac
®
, Sun
®
,
UNIX
®
, Linux
®
, and USB systems. Mix platforms in a single
installation and switch between them all.
From a central KVM station, connect either 4, 8, or 16
servers or CPUs (depending on the model you order). Once
connected, use the attached computers and all the functions
and applications with it from a single KVM station that serves
as a central access point for your system.
The interface is so powerful that it‘s actually a color
VT220
™
terminal. When you connect to a serial device, you see
a 24 x 80 full-screen display with two status lines. Linux serial
ports also display directory lists in color.
By incorporating KVM switching to your network, you save
on hardware costs and space as well as make your application
more efficient.
And, because it’s modular in design, you can add an
expansion card, link it to additional switches, and increase
the number of connections to computers.
Daisychain for more CPU access.
For even more port density, connect multiple units with
our specially designed cables to create a seamless KVM matrix
switch. In fact, the Console Plus can be expanded to as many
as 1000 CPUs or servers!
To expand the Console Plus in a bus configuration, you’ll
need to install an Expansion Card in each chassis. The card‘s
connectors provide the means of sending system, keyboard,
video, and mouse data from one unit’s Expansion Card output
to another unit‘s Expansion Card input. This enables the first
KVM station to switch to a computer that‘s connected on
another chassis.
Cabling is easy, too!
The ServSwitch Console Plus offers cable distances of up to
100 feet (30.5 m) without any additional extension products.
You’ll need a CPU cable for each computer connected to the
Console Plus; a KVM (user) cable for the KVM station; and if
you want to daisychain multiple units in a bus topology,
expansion cables.
With the Console Plus, you get an RJ-12 serial cable for
flash upgrades and an RJ-to-DB9 adapter. You’ll have to order
the CPU, KVM, and expansion cables separately. The DTE and
DCE serial cables you’ll need are listed on page 4.
Serial port flexibility.
Connect the rear RS-232 port on the ServSwitch Console
Plus to the COM port on your computer using the included
serial cable. Through this connection, you can switch a KVM
station to a CPU port, configure an expansion switch, upgrade
the system firmware, or restore the Console Plus to its factory
settings.
To access the serial port’s parameters, all you need is a
communications program such as Windows
®
HyperTerminal.
This interface enables you to start a serial communication
This bus configuration is typically used when the user is
connected to the KVM ports on chassis #1. In this config-
uration, the video path goes from the last unit in the bus to
the first unit (OUT to IN ports). This way, if you’re attached
to the first unit, you can access all computers on all units.
NOTE: All units in the bus must have an Expansion
Card installed.
ServSwitch Console Plus (KV103A) #3 CPUs (33 of 48)
ServSwitch Console Plus (KV103A) #2 CPUs (17 of 32)
ServSwitch Console Plus (KV103A) #1 CPUs (1 of 16)
KVM cable
CPU cable
CPU
KVM
station