Lindy MC5-IP manual Local and remote user access, Selecting a computer

Local and remote user access

Local users (directly connected) and remote users (via a User Station) gain access to the MC5 unit in exactly the same way. Global users, linking via a special viewer, are handled in a different manner.

To gain access as a local or remote user:

1 From a local or remote keyboard, press any key to display the login prompt:

LINDY MC5	Enter your Login
User Name:	name here
Password:
Port 1 login	Esc-Scr Save

If the above login prompt is not displayed, you are either already logged in to the MC5 unit, or the security features have not been implemented. In such cases see ‘To view this menu at any time’ below.

2Enter your username and password. Providing you have the correct permissions, the screen will display the main menu, showing you a list of computers for which you have permission to access:

LINDY MC5

	Computer	Port	This column shows
	Computer 1	01	the MC5 address for
Default names for	Computer 2	02	each computer. If you
			wanted to select ports
each computer port	Computer 3	03	using the hotkey
	Computer 4	04	method, these are
	Computer 5	05	addresses that you
			would enter.
	Computer 6	06
Identification of	Computer 7	07
your user port	Computer 8	08
	User port 1	Status
Your Login name	ADMIN	SHARED USE	Link status of your
	F1-More menus	F3-Find
			user port
	F2-Adj. Video	F4-Logout

To view this menu at any time: Press and hold the hotkeys (usually and ), then press and finally release all three keys.

Note: The and keys when pressed in combination are called ‘hotkeys’ and they signal to the MC5 that you wish to control it, rather than the host computer. However, if these particular hotkeys clash with another device or program, then your administrator may change them to a different combination.

If the combination fails to work, then please contact your system administrator for details.

Selecting a computer

There are four main ways for local and remote users to select a specific computer channel:

•Using the front panel controls (discussed below) – this is a straightforward method, if the MC5 is nearby.

•Using hotkeys – this is a good method if you continually access a small number of computers.

•Using the on-screen menu – this is the best method when there are many connected computers.

•Using mouse buttons – this is a good method for cycling between a small number of computers.

For all methods (if the confirmation box option is enabled), when the required port is selected, a pop up message will be displayed to confirm the computer name or number, and its status. Alternatively, an error message explaining why a connection is not possible (press to cancel the latter type of message).

To avoid the ‘hall of mirrors’ effect

IMPORTANT: Never configure a system so that your viewer is viewing itself.

When controlling a host computer via the local user port or a remote user port, if the host computer is networked it is possible to make the VNC viewer or a browser to create a link back to itself via the global (IP) capabilities of the unit. This will set up a ‘hall of mirrors’ effect, where the computer is viewing itself into infinity.

While technically possible, the MC5-IP unit is not designed to withstand this treatment and could sustain damage.

To select a computer using the front panel controls

Note: It is possible for the front panel controls to be limited to selecting only the on screen menu or a blank screen. If this is the case please use a different switching method or contact your system administrator for details.

1Press the USER button until the adjacent numeric indicator displays the port number to which you are connected.

2Press the COMPUTER button until the adjacent numeric indicator shows the required computer channel number.

Note: If security has been enabled then only computer channels to which the current user port has permission will be displayed.

As well as the 24 standard computer ports, there are also two additional special ports that appear after port 24:

This port provides no video signal so that a connected power saving monitor will be prompted to enter into its power saving mode.

This port connects the current user port to the on-screen menu.

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