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CHAPTER 1: Introduction
1. Introduction
1.1 Overview
With the ServSwitch™ Multi Base Unit or Expansion Chassis or ServSwitch™ Multi
MX (product codes KV150A-R2, KV160A-R2, and KV155A respectively), multiple
users at your site can operate sets of servers and personal computers at the same
time. Each ServSwitch Multi supports different types of external connections
through a variety of plug-in cards.
Two of these types of plug-in cards are the Management Card (product code
KV1608C-R3) and the Serial Control Card (product code KV1609C). The
Management and Serial Control Cards work together to enable you to connect
terminal-based file servers, network hubs, routers, and other serial server-room
equipment to the ServSwitch Multi and control them using one keyboard, monitor,
and mouse. This “terminal switching” requires at least one Management Card and
one Serial Control Card in the system. The Management Card provides the
menuing and advanced control features; Serial Control Cards provide four ports
each for attaching equipment to the ServSwitch Multi system. From your
Management Card, you may select any terminal in the system, regardless of which
Serial Control Card it is attached to.
The Management Card functions similarly to a CPU Interface Card (KV2000C)
in that you switch directly to it from your keyboard or with the ServSwitch Multi’s
on-screen menus or front-panel pushbuttons. It also supports telnet access to all
functions from remote locations. Once you’ve switched to the Management Card,
on-screen menus allow you to name and select the attached terminals in your
ServSwitch Multi system. You can also configure data rate, data bits, stop bits,
parity, and flow control for each terminal through the menus.
The Management Card has an onboard microprocessor that handles the Card’s
“Security Monitoring System” and “System Management Tools.” With the Security
Monitoring System, administrators can track all switching activity through a simple
on-screen menu. Immediate feedback on logging and switching history is available
for every system user. With the System Management Tools, network managers can
display their ServSwitch Multi system configurations for easy troubleshooting. This
menu-driven system shows the type of Card installed in each port and the current
firmware and hardware revision of each. Information on the type of computer
attached to each CPU Interface Card is also available.
The Management and Serial Control Cards are field-installable and flash-
upgradable. Cards can be added or replaced without disassembling or powering down
the system. This makes installation, configuration, and maintenance much easier.
