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Power switching configurationPower switch configuration comprises two main steps:
• Configure the POWER CONTROL serial port to the same speed as used by the
power switch box(es) via the configuration menu.
• Configure power ON and OFF strings for each relevant host computer.
For each power port there needs to be a valid ‘Power ON string’ and similarly an
appropriate ‘Power OFF string’. In each case, the strings are a short sequence of
characters that combine a port address and a power on or off value.
If a particular computer has more than one power input (and thus requires an
equivalent number of power ports to control them), collections of strings can be
combined to switch all of the required ports together as a group.
To configure the power sequences for each host computer
1 Select the on-screen menu in one of two ways:
• By simultaneously pressing and then releasing , or
• By pressing the middle and right buttons of a three button mouse.
Note: The mouse switching option is usable only if the ‘Mouse
Switching’ option is enabled. See Global preferences for more details.
If the login screen is displayed, enter a valid password.
2 Press to select ‘More menus’.
3 Highlight the ‘Functions’ option and press to select.
4 Highlight the ‘Power Control’ option and press to select.
5 As appropriate, highlight either the ‘Edit Power ON String’ or the ‘Edit Power
OFF String’ options to display a screen similar to the one shown below:
Power control sequences
Note: The settings given below are for the EPS-S8 power switch - other power
switches may require different settings. Please refer to your power switch
documentation for details about codes required by other power switches.
The structure of each power sequence (OFF and ON) is as follows:
Pxy=z\0D Where:
x is the switch box number,
y is the power port number,
z is ‘0’ for OFF or ‘1’ for ON, and
\0D represents Enter (or Carriage return).
Example 1
To switch ON port 5 of switch box 2, the code would be as follows:
• Power sequence: P25=1\0D
Example 2
To switch OFF port 8 of switch box 3, the code would be as follows:
• Power sequence: P38=0\0D
For details about operating this feature, see Power switching (via
configuration menu) within the Operation chapter.
To control two or more ports simultaneously
You can control up to four power ports using a single sequence. This is done
using the same command structure as shown above, plus a delay command,
for each port. Immediately following a port command, insert the characters
‘\*’ before the next port command, and so on up to four ports. For instance, to
switch on ports 1 and 2 in the first power switch, the command line would be:
P11=1\0D\*P12=1\0D
PowerString[ASCII]
EditPowerONString 1
P12=1\0D
PowerString[HEX]
5031 32 3D31 5C 30 44
Stringsapplyto
Computer : Computer8
Port:08
Enter-Save Esc-Quit
F2-NextString
F1-ASCII/HexToggle
6 Enter the required codes either within the upper ASCII section or the middle
HEX section (use to change between them). The required codes are
explained in ‘Power control sequences’ opposite.
7 Press to store the details and exit from the screen.