Black Box KV1500A manual Introduction, Overview

CHAPTER 3: Introduction

3. Introduction

3.1 Overview

The ServSwitch™ Summit is designed to perform heavy-duty multiple-user-to- many-computer keyboard/video/mouse (KVM) matrix switching without burdening you with big, confusing hydra-headed cables. Instead, the Summit uses standard Category 5 unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) cabling, like the type that’s already installed at many sites. It can connect users with computers across as much as 500 ft. (152 m) of such cabling.

ServSwitch Summit systems consist of three components: Base Units, which do the matrix switching; Computer-Interface Modules (CIMs) connected to each computer; and User-Station Modules (USMs) connected to each set of user-station equipment.

There are a number of Base Unit models that support different numbers of directly attached users and computer CPUs:

•Product code KV1500A supports 2 users and 42 CPUs;

•KV1501A supports 4 users and 42 CPUs;

•KV1502A supports 8 users and 32 CPUs;

•KV1503A supports 16 users and 64 CPUs.

There are also several different CIMs for different types of computers (all must output VGA video):

•KV1515A and KV1519A support CPUs with IBM® PS/2® type keyboard and mouse ports; KV1519A has an extra RJ-45 port to support a “local CPU” installed between a USM and a Base Unit (see Appendix C).

•KV1516A supports CPUs with Sun® type keyboard and mouse ports;

•KV1517A supports CPUs with USB keyboard and mouse ports;

•KV1518A supports CPUs connected through their RS-232 serial ports;

There is one universal USM (KV1510A) that supports either a PS/2 or Sun type keyboard and mouse. (We recommend that you use a Sun keyboard if there are any Sun CPUs in your system; if you must use a PS/2 keyboard to control Sun CPUs, see Appendix H for how to produce a Sun keyboard’s special characters.) If you want to connect one user station to one CPU across a long stretch of CAT5 or higher cable, you can run such a cable between a “direct mode” USM and a CIM (see Appendix B).

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