Multilevel Installations
The number of computers that can be added to your installation can be greatly expanded by performing a multilevel installation. The KM0216 / KM0432 supports three types of multilevel installation:
MDaisy chained
MCascaded
MDaisy chained plus cascaded
Overview
Daisy chaining refers to connecting two KVM switches via dedicated daisy chain ports. The switches are strung together in a chain (see the diagram on p. 20), similar to the way children make chains of daisies by tying the head of one daisy to the end of another.
With daisy chaining none of the switch’s CPU ports are used to connect to the next switch. The port capacity of a daisy chained installation is the total of all the CPU ports of all the KVM switches on the chain. For example, a KM0432 has 32 CPU ports. On an installation with eight daisy chained switches the number of available ports is 32 x 8 = 256.
Cascading involves using the CPU ports of a Parent KVM switch (one that is above a switch linked down from it) to connect to a Child KVM switch. With numerous Child switches linked down from the parent, the effect is reminiscent of the way water cascades down over a waterfall. Cascading adds capacity to a KVM installation, but the parent loses one CPU port for each cascaded KVM.
The KM0216 / KM0432 supports both daisy chaining and cascading. In addition, it supports combining the two - providing enormous capacity and flexibility for expanding the installation. The following sections provide the information and proecedures involved in setting up the various multilevel installations.
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