Adder Technology RS232 Connecting AdderView CATx units in cascade, Tips for successful cascading

Connecting AdderView CATx units in cascade

Please consider the following when making cascade connections between AdderView CATx 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 AdderView CATx 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 AdderView CATx 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 determines the number of users that can simultaneously access the computers situated further down the tree. Link groups of one and two links should be discouraged.

•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.

•AdderView CATx IP models should only be used at the top level of the cascade tree because they have only two CATx USER PORTS sockets.

•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 an X100 extender) 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 AdderView CATx 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.

See also

•Testing specific links to cascaded computers

To connect units in cascade

1Ensure that power is disconnected from the AdderView CATx 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.

3 Connect the other end of the cascade link cable to one of the CATx USER PORTS sockets on the rear panel of the lower unit. Due to the way 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.

Once the AdderView CATx 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.

   



19