POD SWITCH MODE
1
Pod Switch Mode
Introduction
Created for broadcast and studio environments, Pod Switch mode is designed to meet the
needs of Octet
®
switching system users who have multiple monitors in their work area.
When Pod Switch mode is enabled on the user station, one monitor will continuously
display video from the local target device while the second monitor will display video
from a remote target device. You may switch keyboard and mouse control between the
local and remote target devices by entering a hotkey.
NOTE:
The term pod refers to the keyboard and mouse connections to the user station.
Pod Switch mode is useful, for example, in a broadcast environment where a studio
operator may need to access audio/video data from the local target device while using both
local and remote target devices to upload data to live production. By entering the pod
switch hotkey, the studio operator may immediately switch keyboard and mouse control
from the remote target device to the local target device, while still viewing remote video
on one of the monitors.
Requirements
To use Pod Switch mode, your Octet switching system must comply with the
following requirements:
•
The Octet switching system configuration should be similar to the example shown in
Figure 1.
•
The local target device must be connected to the user station using a SAM (single
port) module, not a SAMDM (dual port) module. The remote target devices may be
connected to the Octet switch using any Octet server access module.
•
The user station at which you will perform Pod Switch mode must have two RJ-45
ports (KV1711A/E, KV1711A/E-R2, KV1712A/E, KV1712A/E-R2 or KV1713A/E
user stations). The user station must have access to remote target devices through the
Octet switch and must be connected to a local target device.
•
The user station must be running firmware version 4.3.0.2 or later.
To determine the current firmware version, launch the OSD interface and click the ?
tab. Press the
End
key to view the firmware version at the bottom of the screen.
If the user station needs to be updated, visit www.blackbox.com to download the
latest firmware version. Use the Octoware
®
software to Flash upgrade your Octet
switching system with the new firmware version.
Configuration
Figure 1 illustrates an Octet switching system configured for pod switching. The dual port
user station is connected to the Octet switch for remote target device access and also to a
local target device. A SAM module is connected to the local server, and the video
connector is left unconnected. One monitor is connected to the local target device and
another monitor is connected to the user station. In this example, Monitor A will always
display video from the local target device attached to the user station. Monitor B will
always display video from a selected remote target device attached to the Octet switch. By
