Lindy MC5-IP manual Connecting MC5 units in cascade, Tips for successful cascading

Connecting MC5 units in cascade

Please consider the following when making cascade connections between MC5 units.

Tips for successful cascading

•	The maximum number of levels for a cascade is three.
•	The maximum number of computer systems that can be controlled within a
	cascade installation depends upon the MC5 unit placed at the top level. If
	the top level unit is a non-IP version, a maximum of 512 computer systems
	can be controlled. However, if the top level unit is an MC5-IP, the maximum
	number of computers drops to 128. This is due to the extra burden placed
	on the unit’s memory of administering global (IP) users.
•	The number of links between units (three or four) determines the number of
	users that can simultaneously access the computers situated further down
	the tree. Link groups of one and two links should not be used.
•	Ensure that cascade links (within a group) between units are approximately
	the same length.
•	Triple and quad link groups may be mixed on one unit providing the
	links lie within the appropriate port boundaries designated in the Group
	numbering diagram.
•	MC5-IPmodels can only be used at the top level of the cascade tree

To connect units in cascade

1Ensure that power is disconnected from the MC5 and all other units to be connected.

2 Connect one end of each cascade link cable to an appropriate COMPUTER CONNECTIONS port on the rear panel of the upper unit. Refer to the Group numbering diagram for the correct link group boundaries.

 

	because they have only two CATx USER PORTS sockets and the minimum
	number of links required for a cascade group is three.
•	For each cascade link, use a standard category 5, 5e or 6 twisted-pair cable,
	terminated at each end with an RJ45 connector. There must be no crossover
	connections within the cable, i.e. do not use patch cables. The cascade
	link cables can be up to 50m (160 feet) in length. However, remember
	that the overall length between any remote user (via a User Station) and
	any computer (via a CAM) must not exceed 300m (980 feet) - that figure
	includes the cascade link cables. Ensure that each of the links within a
	cascade group all conform to the same length.
•	The procedure given opposite may be carried out in any order but for clarity
	the instruction will begin at the higher level MC5 unit (here called the upper
	unit), i.e. the one that is being fed into by a unit at the cascade level below
	(here called the lower unit). The procedure remains the same regardless
	of exactly which cascade levels are being connected. The basic rule is that
	each link is made by connecting a COMPUTER CONNECTIONS port of the upper
	switch to a CATx USER PORTS of the lower switch.

		!
		W
3 Connect the other end of the cascade			ARNINGENNECT
		PARJ45
		NEL CO
link cable to one of the CATx USER		TO			CO	ON
		OT EQUIPMCO
		DOKVM		FO	O
		N		R RS
		TELEPHONENNECT NNECTION
PORTS sockets on the rear panel of					ENT		THIS
				SYSTEMSNETWO
		5V			O NLY.
							RK
the lower unit. Due to the way in		4A						OR
	PWR						OPTIONS
		IN
which ports within a link group are

dynamically allocated, it is not usually important exactly which user port

is connected to each computer port of the upper unit.

4Repeat steps 2 and 3 for each of the links within the group, adhering to the Group numbering diagram for the correct link group boundaries on

the COMPUTER CONNECTIONS ports of the upper switch.

CA
Tx
4	USER	PORTS
		2
		POWER	CONTROL
3
		1

 



See also

•Testing specific links to cascaded computers

Once the MC5 units and computers have been connected, you can edit their names to make it much easier to locate them. See the To create/edit computer names section in the Configuration chapter for more details.

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