Black Box Switch SW627A R2 User Manual

APRIL 2001  
Mac  
4
PC  
3
2
1
RESET  
4
3
2
1
TUS  
A
ST  
SW627A-R2  
SW628A-R2  
 
SERVSWITCH™ JR. MP  
TRADEMARKS USED IN THIS MANUAL  
BLACK BOX and the  
logo are registered trademarks, and ServSwitch,  
ServSwitch Jr., and ServSwitch Jr. MP are trademarks, of Black Box Corporation.  
Apple, Mac, and Macintosh are registered trademarks, and G3 and G4 are  
trademarks, of Apple Computer, Inc.  
IBM, PC/AT, PS/2, RS/6000, and ThinkPad are registered trademarks, and  
PC/XT is a trademark, of International Business Machines Corporation.  
Microsoft, Windows, and IntelliMouse are registered trademarks or trademarks of  
Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.  
Sun Microsystems is a registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the  
United States and other countries.  
Any other trademarks mentioned in this manual are acknowledged to be the property of the  
trademark owners.  
2
 
FCC/IC STATEMENTS  
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION AND INDUSTRY CANADA  
RADIO-FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE STATEMENTS  
This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio-frequency energy, and if not  
installed and used properly, that is, in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s  
instructions, may cause interference to radio communication. It has been tested  
and found to comply with the limits for a Class A computing device in accordance  
with the specifications in Subpart J of Part 15 of FCC rules, which are designed to  
provide reasonable protection against such interference when the equipment is  
operated in a commercial environment. Operation of this equipment in a  
residential area is likely to cause interference, in which case the user at his own  
expense will be required to take whatever measures may be necessary to correct the  
interference.  
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for  
compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.  
This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class A limits for radio noise emission from digital  
apparatus set out in the Radio Interference Regulation of Industry Canada.  
Le présent appareil numérique n’émet pas de bruits radioélectriques dépassant les limites  
applicables aux appareils numériques de la classe A prescrites dans le Règlement sur le  
brouillage radioélectrique publié par Industrie Canada.  
3
 
SERVSWITCH™ JR. MP  
NORMAS OFICIALES MEXICANAS (NOM)  
ELECTRICAL SAFETY STATEMENT  
INSTRUCCIONES DE SEGURIDAD  
1. Todas las instrucciones de seguridad y operación deberán ser leídas antes de  
que el aparato eléctrico sea operado.  
2. Las instrucciones de seguridad y operación deberán ser guardadas para  
referencia futura.  
3. Todas las advertencias en el aparato eléctrico y en sus instrucciones de  
operación deben ser respetadas.  
4. Todas las instrucciones de operación y uso deben ser seguidas.  
5. El aparato eléctrico no deberá ser usado cerca del agua—por ejemplo, cerca  
de la tina de baño, lavabo, sótano mojado o cerca de una alberca, etc..  
6. El aparato eléctrico debe ser usado únicamente con carritos o pedestales que  
sean recomendados por el fabricante.  
7. El aparato eléctrico debe ser montado a la pared o al techo sólo como sea  
recomendado por el fabricante.  
8. Servicio—El usuario no debe intentar dar servicio al equipo eléctrico más allá  
a lo descrito en las instrucciones de operación. Todo otro servicio deberá ser  
referido a personal de servicio calificado.  
9. El aparato eléctrico debe ser situado de tal manera que su posición no  
interfiera su uso. La colocación del aparato eléctrico sobre una cama, sofá,  
alfombra o superficie similar puede bloquea la ventilación, no se debe colocar  
en libreros o gabinetes que impidan el flujo de aire por los orificios de  
ventilación.  
10. El equipo eléctrico deber ser situado fuera del alcance de fuentes de calor  
como radiadores, registros de calor, estufas u otros aparatos (incluyendo  
amplificadores) que producen calor.  
11. El aparato eléctrico deberá ser connectado a una fuente de poder sólo del  
tipo descrito en el instructivo de operación, o como se indique en el aparato.  
4
 
NOM STATEMENT  
12. Precaución debe ser tomada de tal manera que la tierra fisica y la polarización  
del equipo no sea eliminada.  
13. Los cables de la fuente de poder deben ser guiados de tal manera que no  
sean pisados ni pellizcados por objetos colocados sobre o contra ellos,  
poniendo particular atención a los contactos y receptáculos donde salen del  
aparato.  
14. El equipo eléctrico debe ser limpiado únicamente de acuerdo a las  
recomendaciones del fabricante.  
15. En caso de existir, una antena externa deberá ser localizada lejos de las lineas  
de energia.  
16. El cable de corriente deberá ser desconectado del cuando el equipo no sea  
usado por un largo periodo de tiempo.  
17. Cuidado debe ser tomado de tal manera que objectos liquidos no sean  
derramados sobre la cubierta u orificios de ventilación.  
18. Servicio por personal calificado deberá ser provisto cuando:  
A: El cable de poder o el contacto ha sido dañado; u  
B: Objectos han caído o líquido ha sido derramado dentro del aparato; o  
C: El aparato ha sido expuesto a la lluvia; o  
D: El aparato parece no operar normalmente o muestra un cambio en su  
desempeño; o  
E: El aparato ha sido tirado o su cubierta ha sido dañada.  
5
 
SERVSWITCH™ JR. MP  
Contents  
Chapter  
Page  
1. Specifications ............................................................................................. 8  
2. Introduction ............................................................................................. 10  
2.1 The Complete Package ..................................................................... 10  
2.2 Operating Features ........................................................................... 10  
2.3 The Front Panel ................................................................................ 12  
2.4 The Rear Panel .................................................................................. 13  
2.5 Cable Requirements ......................................................................... 14  
2.6 Equipment Requirements ................................................................ 14  
3. Installation ................................................................................................ 15  
3.1 Rackmounting (Optional) ............................................................... 15  
3.2 Connecting the Monitor, Keyboard, and Mouse ............................ 15  
3.3 Connecting the CPUs ....................................................................... 16  
3.4 Powering Up the System ................................................................... 17  
3.5 Switching from the Keyboard ........................................................... 17  
4. Operation ................................................................................................. 18  
4.1 Guidelines for Using the ServSwitch Jr. MP with  
Your Equipment ........................................................................... 18  
4.1.1 CPUs ........................................................................................ 18  
4.1.2 Mouse and Keyboard .............................................................. 18  
4.1.3 Monitor .................................................................................... 20  
4.2 Keyboard-Command Summary ........................................................ 23  
4.3 The Commands in Detail ................................................................. 25  
4.3.1 Selecting a Port from the Shared Keyboard ......................... 25  
4.3.2 Switching to the Next or Previous Port ............................... 25  
4.3.3 Scan Mode ............................................................................. 25  
4.3.4 Reset ...................................................................................... 25  
4.3.5 Send Null Byte (PC CPUs with PS/2 Mouse Ports Only) ... 26  
4.3.6 Identify ROM ........................................................................ 26  
4.3.7 Keep Settings ......................................................................... 26  
4.3.8 Set Maximum Ports (SW628A-R2 Only) .............................. 27  
4.3.9 Set Scan-Delay Time ............................................................. 27  
4.3.10 Set Keyboard Mode (PC CPUs Only) .................................. 27  
4.3.11 Set Keyboard Typematic ....................................................... 29  
4.3.12 Set Apple Emulation ............................................................ 31  
4.3.13 Set Mouse Translation (PC CPUs with  
Serial Mouse Ports Only) ................................................ 33  
6
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS  
Chapter  
Page  
5. Troubleshooting ...................................................................................... 34  
5.1 Restoring Factory-Default Settings ................................................... 34  
5.2 Common Problems ........................................................................... 35  
5.2.1 CPU Doesn’t Boot ................................................................. 35  
5.2.2 Can’t Switch Ports from Keyboard ....................................... 36  
5.2.3 Typed Characters Wrong or Missing (PC CPUs Only) ...... 36  
5.2.4 Can’t Switch/Scan to Certain Ports  
(SW628A-R2 Only) .......................................................... 36  
5.2.5 ServSwitch Jr. MP Scans or Switches to Empty Ports  
(SW628A-R2 Only) .......................................................... 36  
5.2.6 Mouse Driver Doesn’t Load ................................................. 37  
5.2.7 Can’t Access Mouse Functions ............................................. 37  
5.2.8 PS/2 Mouse Gets Out of Sync (PC CPUs with  
PS/2 Mouse Ports Only) ................................................... 37  
5.2.9 Mouse Doesn’t Move Pointer/Cursor ................................. 38  
5.2.10 Display is Fuzzy ...................................................................... 38  
5.2.11 Video Not Synchronized or Wrong Color ........................... 38  
5.2.12 Can’t Access High-Resolution Mode (PC CPUs Only) ....... 39  
5.2.13 CPUs Lock Up When Windows 3.x Loaded ........................ 39  
5.2.14 ServSwitch Jr. MP Doesn’t Work with Docking Station ...... 39  
5.2.15 ServSwitch Jr. MP Doesn’t Work with  
Dongle-Protected Software .............................................. 39  
5.2.16 ServSwitch Jr. MP Doesn’t Work with IBM ThinkPad ........ 39  
5.3 Calling Black Box .............................................................................. 40  
5.4 Shipping and Packaging ................................................................... 40  
Appendix A: NVRAM Factory Defaults ......................................................... 41  
Appendix B: Cable Product Codes ................................................................ 42  
Appendix C: Rackmounting the ServSwitch Jr. MP ...................................... 44  
7
 
SERVSWITCH™ JR. MP  
1. Specifications  
Compliance —  
Standards —  
FCC Part 15 Subpart J Class A, IC Class/classe A  
With original Serv cabling: VGA (color or monochrome/  
page white) and Apple Macintosh video;  
With original Serv cabling (minimal) or coaxial cabling  
(recommended): SVGA video;  
With coaxial cabling: XGA (color or monochrome) and  
Apple Macintosh video  
Interfaces —  
VGA/SVGA/XGA (to monitor);  
PS/2 keyboard and mouse;  
PC port(s):  
Proprietary composite of IBM PC/AT or PS/2  
keyboard, RS-232 or PS/2 mouse, and VGA/SVGA/  
XGA video;  
MAC port(s):  
Proprietary composite of Apple Macintosh keyboard,  
mouse, and video  
Resolution —  
With original Serv cabling: Up to 1024 x 768  
noninterlaced;  
With coaxial cabling: Up to 1600 x 1280 noninterlaced  
Refresh Rate —  
Up to 100 Hz  
Maximum  
Distance —  
Depending on the CPU, monitor, and video resolution  
(see Section 4.1.3), either:  
20 ft. (6.1 m) of original Serv cable from the  
ServSwitch Jr. MP to any CPU; or  
20 ft. (6.1 m) of coaxial cable—possibly as much as  
100 ft. (30.5 m) depending on CPUs—from any  
ServSwitch Jr. MP to any device attached to it  
User Controls —  
Keyboard commands;  
Front-mounted membrane switches:  
Both models: (1) for resetting the Switch;  
SW627A-R2: (2) for port selection;  
SW628A-R2: (4) for port selection  
8
 
CHAPTER 1: Specifications  
Indicators —  
Both models: (1) for Switch’s power status;  
SW627A-R2: (2) for port status;  
SW628A-R2: (4) for port status  
Connectors —  
All rear-mounted;  
Both models:  
(1) HD15 female for VGA monitor;  
(2) 6-pin mini-DIN female:  
(1) for PS/2 keyboard, (1) for PS/2 mouse;  
SW627A-R2: (2) numbered DB25 female for CPUs;  
SW628A-R2: (4) numbered DB25 female for CPUs,  
(1) 3.5-mm barrel jack for power  
Maximum  
Altitude —  
10,000 ft. (3048 m)  
Temperature  
Tolerance —  
32 to 131˚F (0 to 55˚C)  
Humidity  
Tolerance —  
5 to 80% noncondensing  
Steel  
Enclosure —  
Power —  
5 VDC at up to 1 A, either from the keyboard-power  
leads of the attached computers or from the included  
PS255 external power supply:  
Input: 115 to 230 VAC at 50 or 60 Hz from utility-  
power (mains) outlet through detachable input cord  
and IEC 320 male inlet on transformer  
Size —  
1.75"H (1U) x 8.8"W x 3.5"D (4.4 x 22.4 x 8.9 cm)  
Net: 3 lb. (1.4 kg); Shipping: 4 lb. (1.8 kg)  
Weight —  
9
 
SERVSWITCH™ JR. MP  
2. Introduction  
Thank you for choosing a ServSwitch Jr.™ MP. Designed with your needs in mind,  
your new Switch will simplify your job by helping you organize your multiple-  
computer application. Because the ServSwitch Jr. MP lets you use a single  
®
keyboard, monitor, and mouse to access one or two IBM PC compatible  
®
®
computers and one or two Apple Macintosh compatible computers, you can  
significantly reduce your equipment overhead and end keyboard and monitor  
clutter.  
This chapter describes everything that comes with the Switch, the external and  
operating features of the Switch, and the cabling you’ll need for the Switch.  
2.1 The Complete Package  
Your ServSwitch Jr. MP package includes the ServSwitch Jr. MP, its power supply,  
and this manual. If anything arrived damaged, contact Black Box.  
2.2 Operating Features  
• With the 2-port model (SW627A-R2), you can access one IBM PC compatible  
®
CPU and one Apple Mac compatible CPU with one keyboard, monitor, and  
mouse. With the 4-port model, you can access two of each.  
• Microprocessor-controlled keyboard and mouse switching.  
®
• Supports all modes of PS/2 compatible keyboards.  
• Remaps the keys of the IBM keyboard to support all Apple keyboard functions.  
®
• Mouse can be any 2-button PS/2 type by Microsoft or Logitech™, including a  
®
PS/2 “wheel mouse” such as the Microsoft IntelliMouse .  
• Simultaneously supports IBM type CPUs with either PS/2 or RS-232 mouse  
ports.  
• Support SVGA and color or monochrome XGA or VGA video at resolutions up  
to 1600 x 1280 noninterlaced, at refresh rates up to 100 Hz (although all video  
types except VGA require coaxial or special cables).  
• Support Mac video at 640 x 480 resolution; many other resolutions and several  
sync options are available if you attach a Mac Adapter for ServSwitch (our  
product code KV99MA).  
10  
 
CHAPTER 2: Introduction  
• If your application is not very demanding, the Switch can operate using only a  
portion of the attached computers’ keyboard power. For higher-level  
applications, an external power supply is included.  
• You can select the desired CPU from your keyboard or from the Switch’s front  
panel.  
• Front-panel LEDs show which CPU is selected.  
• The units remember and restore Num Lock, Caps Lock, Scroll Lock, and  
keyboard mode for each CPU.  
• Scan function can sequence between CPUs every 1 to 15 seconds.  
• Screen-save function can turn off video after 1 to 999 seconds of inactivity.  
• You can program the keyboard’s typematic rate and delay.  
• Custom settings for each CPU can be saved in nonvolatile memory.  
• Rackmount kits are also available.  
11  
 
SERVSWITCH™ JR. MP  
2.3 The Front Panel  
The ServSwitch Jr. MP’s front panel features three or five membrane switches and  
the same number of LED indicators. To familiarize yourself with these controls and  
indicators, refer to Figure 2-1 and the descriptions that follow.  
PC  
Mac  
STATUS  
1
2
3
4
RESET  
1
2
3
4
Figure 2-1. The front panel of a 4-port ServSwitch Jr. MP (SW628A-R2).  
STATUS  
Status LED: Lights to indicate that the Switch is powered ON.  
LEDs 1, 2, 3, 4  
Port-Selection LEDs: Light if the corresponding port is  
currently selected.  
RESET  
Reset Switch: Press to reset the Switch and reinitialize the  
shared keyboard and mouse; also used to restore the Switch to  
its factory-default state.  
Switches 1, 2, 3, 4 Port-Selection Switches: Press to select the corresponding CPU  
port.  
NOTE  
On the 2-port (SW627A-R2) model, LED 1 and switch 1 are for the PC  
CPU, LED 2 and switch 2 are for the Mac CPU. On the 4-port  
(SW628A-R2) model, LEDs 1 and 2 and switches 1 and 2 are for the PC  
CPUs, LEDs 3 and 4 and switches 3 and 4 are for the Mac CPUs.  
12  
 
CHAPTER 2: Introduction  
2.4 The Rear Panel  
All cable connections are made at the ServSwitch Jr. MP’s rear panel, as illustrated  
(in Figure 2-2) and described below.  
4
2
3
1
Figure 2-2. The rear panel of a 4-port ServSwitch Jr. MP (SW628A-R2).  
Panel Label  
Connector  
Description  
Ports 1, 2, 3, 4* DB25 F  
Connect the sharing computers to these ports with  
special CPU Cables. At the Switch end, these cables  
have a DB25 male connector; at the other ends,  
they have appropriate connectors to plug into your  
CPUs’ video, keyboard, and (on PC CPUs) mouse  
ports. These cables take the signals that would  
normally pass between the CPUs’ ports and the  
monitor, keyboard, and mouse, and carry them  
between the CPUs’ ports and the ServSwitch Jr. MP  
instead.  
*On the 2-port (SW627A-R2) model, port 1 is for the PC CPU, port 2 is for the Mac  
CPU. On the 4-port (SW628A-R2) model, ports 1 and 2 are for the PC CPUs,  
ports 3 and 4 are for the Mac CPUs.  
(VGA  
MONITOR)  
HD15 F  
Attach the shared monitor’s video cable directly to  
this port.  
(PS/2  
MOUSE)  
6-pin mini- Attach the shared PS/2 type (regular or wheel)  
DIN F mouse directly to this port.  
(PS/2  
6-pin mini- Attach the shared PS/2 type keyboard, attach it  
KEYBOARD) DIN F  
directly to this port.  
[None]  
3.5-mm  
Attach the power supply’s output cord to this jack.  
barrel jack  
13  
 
SERVSWITCH™ JR. MP  
2.5 Cable Requirements  
Many switches of this type have what seems like ten million connectors on their  
rear panels: one for each CPU’s video cable, one for each keyboard cable, and a  
third for each mouse cable. The potential for tangling or mismatching cables is  
high.  
By contrast, you can connect the ServSwitch Jr. MP to your CPUs with one CPU  
Cable for each CPU. This single cable reaches the CPU’s video-output, keyboard,  
and (on PC CPUs) mouse ports.  
The exact variety or varieties of this cable that you’ll need will depend on the  
equipment you are connecting for your application. Refer to Appendix B for the  
available types of this cable and the corresponding product codes. Also refer to  
Chapter 1 or the first Caution notice in Section 3.3 for information about  
maximum cabling distances.  
Finally, you can plug the shared monitor, keyboard, and mouse directly into the  
ServSwitch Jr. MP.  
2.6 Equipment Requirements  
You will have to be careful to choose a common monitor, keyboard, and mouse  
that adequately support all of your CPUs. For full details, see Section 4.1.  
14  
 
CHAPTER 3: Installation  
3. Installation  
3.1 Rackmounting (Optional)  
If you want to mount the ServSwitch Jr. MP in a 19", 23", or 24" rack, you will need  
a ServSwitch Rackmounting Kit (our product code RMK19M, RMK23M, or  
RMK24M respectively). The Switch is pre-drilled to accept the Kit’s rackmounting  
screws. See Appendix C for more information.  
3.2 Connecting the Monitor, Keyboard, and Mouse  
CAUTION!  
Make sure that the monitor, keyboard, and mouse you plan to use can  
meet the demands of your application—see Section 4.1. Also, note that  
the ServSwitch Jr. MP does not support most dongles.  
1. After you verify that the ServSwitch Jr. MP is powered OFF, plug the HD15  
male connector of the video cable from your monitor into the HD15 female  
port on the ServSwitch Jr. MP’s rear panel that’s labeled with the monitor  
icon (  
).  
2. Plug the 6-pin mini-DIN male connector of your PS/2 type keyboard’s cable  
into the 6-pin mini-DIN female port on the ServSwitch Jr. MP’s rear panel  
that’s labeled with the keyboard icon (  
).  
3. Plug the 6-pin mini-DIN male connector of your regular PS/2 or PS/2 wheel  
type mouse’s cable into the 6-pin mini-DIN female port on the ServSwitch Jr.  
MP’s rear panel that’s labeled with the mouse icon (  
).  
15  
 
SERVSWITCH™ JR. MP  
3.3 Connecting the CPUs  
CPU Cables run from the ServSwitch Jr. MP to the keyboard port, video-output  
port, and (on PC CPUs) mouse port of each CPU you want to directly attach to it.  
Different types of this cable fit the connectors on different computers (see  
Appendix B). This cable also comes in the different lengths supported by different  
applications (see Section 4.1.3).  
CAUTION!  
Avoid routing cable near fluorescent lights, air-conditioning  
compressors, or machines that may create electrical noise. Total length  
of original Serv cable from a ServSwitch Jr. to any given CPU should not  
exceed 20 feet (6.1 m). For typical equipment and video resolutions,  
length of coaxial cable should not exceed 20 ft. (6.1 m) from a  
ServSwitch Jr. MP to any attached device (keyboard, monitor, mouse, or  
CPU). However, we do provide coaxial cable in lengths up to 100 ft.  
(30.5 m), because some CPUs can drive and receive keyboard and  
mouse signals at greater distances than others. To go even farther, you  
might want to use Station Extenders or CAT5 KVM Extenders. See  
Appendix B.  
1A. SW627A-R2: After you verify that the ServSwitch Jr. MP is powered OFF, plug  
the DB25 male composite connector of the PC CPU’s CPU Cable into the  
port labeled “1” on the Switch’s rear panel. Plug the CPU Cable you’re  
running to the Mac CPU into the port labeled “2”.  
1B. SW628A-R2: After you verify that the ServSwitch Jr. MP is powered OFF, plug  
the DB25 male composite connector of the first PC CPU’s CPU Cable into the  
port labeled “1” on the Switch’s rear panel. Plug the CPU Cable you’re  
running to the first Mac CPU into the port labeled “3”. If you’re using a  
second PC, plug the third CPU Cable into the port labeled “2”; if you’re using  
a second Mac, plug the fourth CPU Cable into the port labeled “4”.  
2. Plug each CPU Cable’s video-, keyboard-, and mouse-port connectors into the  
corresponding ports on the CPU. The CPU should be OFF when you do this;  
the Switch will automatically adjust to the CPU’s keyboard mode when you  
power up the CPU. Avoid plugging CPUs into the Switch if they are already  
ON; if you accidentally do so, see Section 4.3.10 to make sure the Switch is set  
for the proper keyboard mode.  
NOTE  
Newer G3™, G4™, and similar Mac computers have HD15 VGA ports  
rather than traditional DB15 Mac video ports. If you have such a CPU  
with ADB (legacy) keyboard and mouse ports, you’ll need to use a Mac  
Gx type cable (EHN550 or EHN560) to connect it to a Mac port on a  
ServSwitch Jr. MP. If your G3 or G4 type CPU has USB keyboard and  
mouse ports instead, call Black Box for technical support.  
16  
 
CHAPTER 3: Installation  
CAUTION!  
Do not attach docking stations for older models of the ThinkPad® or  
other portable computers to the ServSwitch Jr. MP. The Switch currently  
supports only “stream mode” (continuous) mouse data, but older  
ThinkPad models have to see “prompt mode” (burst-on-request) mouse  
data. Some newer docking stations and some newer ThinkPad models  
might work with the Switch, but determining whether a particular unit will  
do so will probably require trial and error.  
3.4 Powering Up the System  
To connect the power supply, first insert the plug of the power supply’s output  
cord into the 3.5-mm barrel jack on the rear panel of the ServSwitch Jr. MP. Then  
plug the IEC 320 female outlet on one end of the power supply’s detachable input  
cord into the IEC 320 male inlet on the supply’s transformer. Finally, insert the  
country-specific plug at the other end of the input cord into a working utility-  
power (mains) outlet. The Switch will begin operating immediately; it has no  
ON/OFF switch.  
Now power up the connected CPUs one by one, giving each one time to boot  
completely before turning ON the next one. (If you’re not using the power supply,  
the ServSwitch Jr. MP itself will begin operating as soon as you turn ON the first  
CPU; it will get its power from the CPUs and has no ON/OFF switch.) To boot a  
Mac using a 101- or 102-key PC keyboard, first boot an attached PC, then select the  
CPU port of the Mac, then press the right Control ([CTRL]) key (see  
Section 4.3.12 for a full list of remapped keyboard keys). The Switch emulates all  
keyboard and mouse functions for automatic boot-up, although you might have to  
issue the Mode command Mn (see Section 4.3.10) to get proper keyboard  
communication with your PC CPU(s).  
3.5 Switching from the Keyboard  
Your ServSwitch Jr. MP is now ready for operation using its default settings. To take  
full advantage of the Switch’s features, refer to Chapter 4, which gives detailed  
information about each of the Switch commands, describing each command’s  
function and keystroke sequence. For your convenience, this information is  
summarized in Section 4.2. To begin switching immediately, however, just press  
and release your keyboard’s left Control ([CTRL]) key, then—within the next two  
seconds—type in your desired port number with the regular number keys (not the  
numeric keypad).  
17  
 
SERVSWITCH™ JR. MP  
4. Operation  
The first part of this chapter, Section 4.1, gives you some guidelines that you  
should follow to make sure your ServSwitch Jr. MP works properly with your  
equipment.  
Section 4.2 summarizes the ServSwitch Jr. MP’s keyboard commands, and  
Section 4.3 describes these commands in detail.  
NOTES  
To start any ServSwitch Jr. MP keyboard command, you must press and  
release the left Control Key ([CTRL]). Pressing and releasing [CTRL]  
cues the Switch to expect command characters from the keyboard. You  
then have two seconds in which to start entering a valid command. If no  
command is begun within two seconds or if an invalid command is  
entered, the Switch aborts the command.  
When entering commands that contain numbers or math symbols, use  
only the numeral keys located at the top of your alphanumeric keyboard.  
Numbers and symbols entered from the numeric keypad to the right will  
not be recognized as valid.  
4.1 Guidelines for Using the ServSwitch Jr. MP with Your Equipment  
4.1.1 CPUS  
Use only IBM PC/AT or PS/2 or 100% compatible machines on the PC side. The  
ServSwitch Jr. MP does not support IBM PC/XT™ or compatible machines. It also  
does not support machines that output CGA or EGA video.  
4.1.2 MOUSE AND KEYBOARD  
When you power up your ServSwitch Jr. MP system, make sure that your CPUs,  
mice, and keyboards are properly cabled to the ServSwitch Jr. MP. When you boot  
up the CPUs, the ServSwitch Jr. MP should start operating automatically. (You  
should be able to freely disconnect and reconnect a mouse or keyboard from a  
ServSwitch Jr. MP while the Switch is ON, but if you experience problems when  
you do this, issue the Reset command [CTRL] R—see Section 4.3.4.)  
The mouse must be a 2-button PS/2 type mouse by Microsoft or Logitech™, or a  
3-button or “wheel” PS/2 mouse such as the Microsoft IntelliMouse.  
The ServSwitch Jr. MP is designed to support IBM PS/2 compatible 101- through  
105-key keyboards and IBM keyboard-scan modes 1, 2, and 3, and it’s designed to  
work with keyboards that use 6-pin mini-DIN keyboard connectors. The Switch  
18  
 
CHAPTER 4: Operation  
might not work properly with keyboards that have proprietary keys or connectors  
or use proprietary keyboard-scan modes.  
Standard PC keyboards have between 101 and 105 keys. In order to reproduce  
all of the functions of the Apple keyboard, which has 105 keys (not all the same as  
those on the 105-key PC keyboard), we have “mapped” several of the special Apple  
keys to other keys on the PC keyboard. You can select any of three different mapping  
options; see Section 4.3.12 for a full rundown.  
Other concerns:  
• Because the ServSwitch Jr. MP currently only supports “stream mode”  
(continuous) mouse data but older IBM ThinkPad models have to handle  
mouse data in “prompt mode” (burst-on-request), don’t try to attach any older  
ThinkPad computers to the Switch, either directly or through docking stations.  
Some newer models should work with the Switch, but there’s no good way to  
tell other than by trial and error. (You can’t damage your equipment by  
trying—if you have the wrong kind of ThinkPad, it just won’t work.)  
• Make sure that the IBM PC CPU(s) use only the generic Microsoft mouse  
driver MOUSE.COM, version 4.0 at least and preferably version 9.01 or higher. If  
®
you’re running Windows 3.x, this driver must be loaded in Windows as well as  
in the base operating system. On PCs, do not run any programs or TSRs, or  
enter any DOS commands, that change the settings of the mouse port after the  
driver has been loaded.  
• When you first switch between CPUs, especially from the PC CPU to a Mac  
CPU or vice versa, you might notice wide variations in mouse sensitivity (how  
far or fast the mouse moves) from CPU to CPU. This is normal. Both the PC  
and Apple platforms have ways to adjust the sensitivity of the mouse. (This is  
usually handled through some kind of software “control panel,” but the  
specifics vary depending on the operating system and—in IBM applications—  
on the mouse driver.) To optimize mouse movement, adjust the sensitivity on  
each CPU according to your individual preference.  
• Although the ServSwitch Jr. MP resists minor transient surges that can be  
caused by rapidly cycling power, certain keyboards are sensitive to such  
transients. Because your shared keyboard’s power comes through the Switch,  
wait at least three seconds after powering down the Switch before powering it  
up again, or the keyboard might not reset correctly.  
19  
 
SERVSWITCH™ JR. MP  
4.1.3 MONITOR  
NOTE  
No keyboard/video switch can provide perfect video. You will see at  
least a little fuzziness on your monitor no matter how close to ideal your  
ServSwitch Jr. MP system is.  
While PC-type CPUs and VGA monitors normally use two separate leads to  
send/receive sync signals (one lead for horizontal sync and one for vertical sync),  
Mac CPUs/monitors normally send/receive a composite sync signal on a single  
lead. This means that either your monitor must be capable of accepting both H/V  
and composite-sync input, or you will have to attach a Mac Adapter for ServSwitch  
(our product code KV99MA) to the Mac in order to resynchronize its video-port  
output.  
For maximum compatibility, we recommend a 17" or larger, high-quality  
multisync monitor capable of (a) displaying a maximum resolution of not less than  
1280 x 1024 at a maximum refresh rate of not less than 75 Hz, and (b) accepting  
both relevant types of sync input (H/V and composite). Such monitors are  
available from many manufacturers.  
The ServSwitch Jr. MP is designed to support standard VGA video, including  
VGA monochrome (“page white”). It does not support PCs that use CGA, EGA, or  
proprietary versions of VGA that depart from the original specifications. Consult  
your PC’s manual, and if that doesn’t tell you whether or not the PC uses standard  
VGA, consult with the PC’s or the video card’s manufacturer.  
The ServSwitch Jr. MP is also designed to support SVGA, although we  
recommend coaxial cabling for this, especially for higher resolutions. With coaxial  
cables, the Switch will also support XGA.  
20  
 
CHAPTER 4: Operation  
The ServSwitch Jr. will support SVGA (Super VGA) video, but with original Serv  
cables the video quality for SVGA and Mac video will decrease markedly at higher  
resolutions and distances. Table 4-1 illustrates this. The distances in the table are  
total cable lengths measured from the CPU to the monitor.  
Table 4-1. Video Quality vs. Distance for Original Serv Cables  
Distance 5' (1.5 m) 10' (3 m) 15' (4.6 m) 20' (6.1 m) 25' (7.6 m)  
Resolution  
640 x 480  
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
3
3
3
2
1
1
1
3
3
2
2
1
1
1
3
2
2
2
1
1
1
3
2
2
2
1
1
1
800 x 600 noninterlaced  
1024 x 768 interlaced  
1024 x 768 noninterlaced  
1280 x 1024 interlaced  
1280 x 1024 noninterlaced  
1600 x 1280 noninterlaced  
Quality 3 = Near perfect; screen defects are not conspicuous  
Quality 2 = Good to very good; images are clear; there are small reflections around  
text lettering depending on the color; screen defects are sometimes  
conspicuous  
Quality 1 = Fair to poor as distance increases; images run from slightly fuzzy to  
badly smeared; text runs from fuzzy but readable to completely  
washed out  
21  
 
SERVSWITCH™ JR. MP  
By contrast, coaxial cables (required for XGA applications, and recommended for  
most other applications) do much better at maintaining video quality, as shown in  
Table 4-2. (For the meaning of quality numbers 3, 2, and 1, see the bottom of the  
previous page.) As before, the distances in the table are total cable lengths  
measured from the CPU to the monitor.  
Table 4-2. Video Quality vs. Distance for Coaxial Cables  
Distance 10 ft. 20 ft. 30 ft.  
50 ft.  
75 ft.  
100 ft. 150 ft. 200 ft.  
Resolution  
(3 m) (6.1 m) (9.1 m) (15.2 m) (22.9 m) (30.5 m) (45.7 m) (61 m)  
640 x 480  
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
2
1
1
3
3
3
2
2
1
1
3
3
3
2
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
800 x 600 noninterl.  
1024 x 768 interlaced  
1024 x 768 noninterl.  
1280 x 1024 interlaced  
1280 x 1024 noninterl.  
1600 x 1280 noninterl.  
CAUTION!  
Some CPUs can’t drive or receive keyboard and mouse signals across  
longer runs of coaxial cable. Consult with the manufacturers of your  
CPUs before installing this cable in lengths greater than 20 ft. (6.1 m).  
For CPU-to-monitor distances over 200 feet (61 m), Station Extenders or CAT5  
KVM Extenders might be required. Call Black Box for technical support to discuss  
this option.  
22  
 
CHAPTER 4: Operation  
4.2 Keyboard-Command Summary  
Table 4-3 on this page and the next page summarizes the commands that can be  
sent to the ServSwitch Jr. MP. To enter any command at the shared keyboard, first  
press and release the left Control Key ([CTRL]). This cues the Switch to look for  
commands from the keyboard. Then enter the command followed by any  
arguments you wish to specify (the port number, for example).  
Letter commands are not case-sensitive; they are all shown in uppercase for  
clarity only.  
When you enter numeric commands or arguments, use only the numbered keys  
at the top of your alphanumeric keyboard. Numbers entered from the numeric  
keypad to the right will not be recognized as valid commands.  
All of these commands have a two-second timeout between characters. This  
means that if you begin entering a command, but you stop for more than two  
seconds at any time before you type the final character, the command is aborted  
and the ServSwitch Jr. MP returns to normal operation. This keeps the Switch from  
getting stuck waiting for you to finish the command.  
The [CTRL] character is always passed through to the CPU. The command  
characters and operands, however, are absorbed by the ServSwitch Jr. MP and are  
not sent to the CPU.  
Many of these commands have factory-default values (see Appendix A) that can  
be reloaded if your Switch becomes badly misconfigured; see Section 5.1.  
Table 4-3. The ServSwitch Jr. MP’s Keyboard Commands  
Command  
Keystroke Sequence  
Description  
Select Port  
[CTRL] xxx  
Connects your shared monitor, keyboard, and  
(xxx = a 1- to 3-digit port mouse (user station) to the specified port.  
number)  
[CTRL] +  
[CTRL] –  
[CTRL] S  
Switch to the  
Next Port  
Switches to the next port in sequence.  
Switch to the  
Previous Port  
Switches to the previous port in sequence.  
Scan ON  
Turns Scan mode ON, causing the ServSwitch Jr.  
MP to start scanning sequentially from the current  
port through the remaining ports and then begin  
again at Port 1.  
23  
 
SERVSWITCH™ JR. MP  
Command  
Keystroke Sequence  
Description  
[CTRL] X  
Scan OFF  
Turns Scan mode OFF (the port being scanned at  
the time the command is entered is given access  
to the shared monitor, keyboard, and mouse).  
Note: Scan can also be stopped by entering a  
Select Port command.  
[CTRL] R  
[CTRL] N  
Reset  
Resets and enables the keyboard and mouse.  
Issue this command to correct your keyboard or  
mouse if one of them malfunctions or gets stuck.  
Send Null Byte  
PC CPUs with PS/2 mouse ports only: Causes  
the ServSwitch Jr. MP to send a null byte to the  
CPU’s PS/2 mouse port. Issue this command to  
correct the current CPU if it gets “out of sync” with  
the PS/2 mouse (see Section 4.3.5).  
[CTRL] I  
[CTRL] K  
Identify ROM  
Keep Settings  
Causes the ServSwitch to report the version of  
ROM it is using. Issue this command if you are  
asked to do so by a technical-support person.  
Enter this command after you enter any of the  
following six commands (it saves new settings to  
nonvolatile memory):  
[CTRL] Px [ENTER]  
(x = 2 or 3)  
Set Maximum  
Number of  
Ports  
SW628A-R2 only: Tells the ServSwitch Jr. MP the  
total number of ports to which devices are (or will  
be) connected. Issue this command when you’re  
only using 2 or 3 of the ports on a 4-port unit.  
[CTRL] Txx [ENTER]  
(xx = delay in seconds  
from 1 to 15)  
Set Scan-  
Delay Time  
Sets the time, in seconds, that the ServSwitch Jr.  
MP will pause at each port when scanning.  
[CTRL] Mx [ENTER]  
(x = 1, 2, or 3)  
Set Keyboard  
Mode  
PC CPUs only: Tells the ServSwitch Jr. MP the  
keyboard mode of the currently selected CPU.  
[CTRL] Axxx [ENTER]  
(xxx = a decimal value  
from 0 to 127)  
Set Keyboard  
Typematic  
Sets the keyboard typematic (automatic key-  
repeat) function of the currently selected CPU.  
This command works only with CPUs that have  
standard keyboards and CMOS that allows users  
to program the typematic function.  
[CTRL] Ex [ENTER]  
(x = 0, 1, or 2)  
Set Apple  
Emulation  
Determines how your PC-keyboard keys are  
mapped to Apple keyboard keys and functions.  
[CTRL] Qx [ENTER]  
(x = 0 or 1)  
Set Mouse  
Translation  
PC CPUs with RS-232 mouse ports only:  
Q1 turns on PS/2 to RS-232 mouse translation for  
the currently selected PC. Q0 turns it off.  
24  
 
CHAPTER 4: Operation  
4.3 The Commands in Detail  
4.3.1 SELECTING A PORT FROM THE SHARED KEYBOARD  
To select a port from your keyboard, press and release your keyboard’s left Control  
Key ([CTRL]), then press the number key corresponding to the number of your  
desired port ([1], [2], [3], or [4]). The ServSwitch Jr. MP will immediately switch  
to that port. You can always, of course, select any port by pressing its numbered  
button on the Switch’s front panel.  
4.3.2 SWITCHING TO THE NEXT OR PREVIOUS PORT  
From the keyboard you can go forward or backward through the ServSwitch Jr.  
MP’s ports by selecting either the next or the previous port respectively. To switch  
to the next port, press and release the left Control Key ([CTRL]), then press the  
plus key (the key at the top of the keyboard marked with [=] and [+]). To switch to  
the previous port, press and release [CTRL], then press the minus key (the key at  
the top of the keyboard marked with [–] and [_]). The command is not case-  
sensitive. Do not use the [+] and [–] keys on the keyboard’s numeric pad; the  
Switch doesn’t recognize these.  
4.3.3 SCAN MODE  
To enable scanning (switching from CPU to CPU in a continuous rotation) from  
the keyboard, press and release the left Control Key ([CTRL]), then press [S]. The  
ServSwitch Jr. MP will begin scanning sequentially from its currently selected port  
through the higher-numbered ports, then begin again at CPU Port 1. As it scans, it  
delays 1 to 15 seconds at each port. (This “Scan-Delay Time” is user-selectable; see  
Section 4.3.9.) To stop scanning, press and release [CTRL], then press [X]. You  
can also disable scanning by entering a Select Port command. (ServSwitch Jr. MP  
letter commands are not case-sensitive: You can enter upper- or lower-case letters.)  
4.3.4 RESET  
This command, along with the commands described in the next two sections,  
comes in handy when certain problems arise. It will reset or refresh your shared  
equipment. Issue it if (a) your shared keyboard gets stuck or begins behaving  
oddly, (b) you need to send mouse data to a CPU that hasn’t enabled the mouse  
(this can happen if you boot up the CPU while the ServSwitch Jr. MP is off or  
disconnected), or (c) while using a PS/2 type mouse, you unplug it, then plug it  
back in. To issue the Reset command, press and release the left Control Key, then  
type [R]. (If you’re using a PS/2 type mouse, don’t issue this command to a PC  
type CPU that doesn’t have a mouse driver loaded. Many PCs will crash if you send  
them unexpected mouse data.)  
25  
 
SERVSWITCH™ JR. MP  
4.3.5 SEND NULL BYTE (PC CPUS WITH PS/2 MOUSE PORTS ONLY)  
PS/2 type mice send control data to CPUs in three-byte increments. Sometimes,  
because of electronic transients, unusual power-up effects, or plugging and  
unplugging of cables from live equipment, the currently selected PC type CPU in a  
ServSwitch Jr. MP system can lose one or two bytes of this control information and  
get “out of sync” with the shared mouse. In this situation, the mouse might seem to  
refuse to move the pointer or cursor, open windows for no reason, or exhibit other  
strange behavior. To get the CPU back in sync, send this command to tell the  
Switch to send a “null byte” to the CPU’s PS/2 mouse port (this has no other effect  
than getting the CPU “caught up”). To issue the Send Null Byte command, press  
and release the left Control Key, then type [N].  
If the mouse still isn’t right after you issue this command, the CPU must have  
been two bytes out of sync. Issuing the command again should do the trick.  
The CPU will be thrown out of sync if it has a PS/2 mouse port and it’s in sync  
when you issue this command. Issue this command two more times to get it back in  
sync again. This command has no effect on Mac CPUs or on CPUs that are  
attached to the Switch through an RS-232 mouse port.  
If you have version 9.01 or higher of the Microsoft mouse driver, the CPU should  
never get out of sync. Contact Microsoft if you would like to upgrade your  
Microsoft mouse driver.  
4.3.6 IDENTIFY ROM  
Unfortunately, as with all complex equipment, problems might arise with your  
ServSwitch Jr. MP that require the assistance of technical-support personnel. One  
of the things technicians might want to know when they attempt to diagnose and  
correct your problem is the revision level of your Switch’s ROM. This command  
causes the ServSwitch Jr. MP to send the three-character “x.x” ROM level to the  
currently selected CPU as ASCII keyboard data; these characters will be echoed  
back to the shared monitor if you are at some type of prompt. (You must be at  
some kind of prompt or screen capable of displaying typed-in keyboard characters,  
or you will not see the Switch’s response.) To issue the Identify ROM command,  
press and release the left Control key, then type [I].  
4.3.7 KEEP SETTINGS  
The Keep Settings command saves the current state of the ServSwitch Jr. MP’s  
keyboard-selectable settings to nonvolatile memory (NVRAM), where they become  
the new default (loaded at power-up) settings. To enter the command from your  
keyboard, press and release the left Control Key, then type [K]. The six keyboard-  
selectable settings are described in the next six sections.  
26  
 
CHAPTER 4: Operation  
4.3.8 SET MAXIMUM PORTS (SW628A-R2 ONLY)  
Use this command to tell a 4-port ServSwitch Jr. MP the total number of CPU ports  
to which computers are or will be connected. This allows the scan function to cycle  
correctly if you have computers attached to only two or three of the Switch’s CPU  
ports. To issue the Set Maximum Ports command, press and release the left  
Control Key, type [P] followed by the total number of ports accessible to that  
Switch ([2] or [3]), and press [ENTER]. To save a new Maximum Ports setting,  
you must issue a Keep Settings command.  
4.3.9 SET SCAN-DELAY TIME  
Issue the Set Scan-Delay Time command to set how long, in seconds, the  
ServSwitch Jr. MP will pause at each of the CPU ports when it’s scanning them. The  
factory-default setting is 5 seconds. To set a different delay time, press and release  
the left Control Key, type [T] followed by the new delay time in seconds (1 to 15),  
and press [ENTER]. (If you issue this command with an argument of zero, the  
ServSwitch Jr. MP will set the scan-delay time to the default value most recently  
saved in NVRAM.) Enter the Keep Settings command after you enter this  
command.  
4.3.10 SET KEYBOARD MODE (PC CPUS ONLY)  
Keyboard “modes” are electrical signaling protocols that determine how a powered  
PC type CPU and keyboard interact. A CPU and keyboard must use the same mode  
in order to work with each other. Of the three standard keyboard modes currently  
in use, mode number 2 is the one used by the vast majority of PC CPUs. It is also  
the default state of all 101-key and PS/2 keyboards. Mode 1 is used primarily by  
®
®
certain PS/2 CPUs. Mode 3 is used by RS/6000 CPUs, some other UNIX based  
computers, and certain specialized servers.  
The ServSwitch Jr. MP supports all three of these modes: As it receives signals  
from one of the keyboards, it sends them to the currently selected PC CPU by  
emulating a keyboard of the appropriate mode for that CPU; as it receives signals  
for one of the keyboards from the currently selected or scanned CPU, it sends  
them to that keyboard by emulating a CPU of the appropriate mode.  
Most CPUs that use keyboard mode 1 or 3 send a “mode command” to the  
keyboard at power-up, to put the keyboard in the proper mode. A ServSwitch Jr.  
MP can use these commands to automatically detect each such CPU’s keyboard  
mode when you turn on the CPU after it has been cabled to the Switch. However,  
the Switch doesn’t automatically save this value; unless you send it a Keep Settings  
command, it will forget the modes it has detected when it is powered down, then  
default to each port’s most recently saved setting when it’s powered up again.  
27  
 
SERVSWITCH™ JR. MP  
The ServSwitch Jr. MP can’t detect the CPU’s keyboard mode if the CPU doesn’t  
send “mode commands” (most CPUs that use mode 2 fall into this category) or if  
the CPU is already ON when you connect it to the Switch (it shouldn’t be). In  
these situations, the Switch tries to use the keyboard-mode setting stored in its  
nonvolatile memory for that port. The factory-default is mode 2 for all ports. Send  
the Set Keyboard Mode command to change the keyboard mode for a port if:  
• the CPU on that port uses mode 1 or 3,  
• it uses mode 2, but the default setting of the port you want to connect it to has  
been changed, or  
• you don’t know which mode the CPU uses or the port is set for, but the  
keyboard’s behavior makes you suspect that the port’s setting is wrong.  
To set the keyboard mode of the currently selected port on a ServSwitch Jr. MP,  
press and release the left Control Key, type [M], and press the numeral key of the  
mode number ([1], [2], or [3]). After you enter this command, enter the Keep  
Settings command to save the mode setting in NVRAM, so that the new setting  
becomes the default value (preserved during power-down and reloaded at power-  
up).  
If most or all of the CPUs you’ll be connecting to your ServSwitch Jr. MP system  
use a keyboard mode other than 2, you might want to change the defaults of their  
Switch ports at installation time. This is because when power outages occur, the  
Switch ports will return to their default keyboard mode when the power comes  
back on.  
28  
 
CHAPTER 4: Operation  
4.3.11 SET KEYBOARD TYPEMATIC  
Most IBM PC type keyboards have an internal seven-bit “typematic” setting, which  
governs the way the keyboard responds when you hold a key down to force it to  
repeat. The five “low” bits of this setting represent the rate at which the key  
repeats; the two “high” bits represent the delay after you begin holding down the  
key before it begins to repeat. Sometimes a keyboard’s typematic setting isn’t  
suitable for a given operator or for a given application. To change the typematic  
setting of your station’s shared keyboard, issue the Set Keyboard Typematic  
command: Press and release the left Control Key, type [A] followed by the desired  
“typematic value,” and press [ENTER]. The “typematic value” is the decimal  
equivalent of the binary seven-bit typematic setting: While the typematic setting =  
delay bits + rate bits, the typematic value = decimal delay value + decimal rate value  
(see Table 4-4 below and Table 4-5 on the next page). For example, to set your  
shared keyboard to register a key 16 times per second after the key has been held  
down for half a second (typematic value = 7 + 32 = 39), type [CTRL] [A] [3] [9]  
[ENTER]. Enter the Keep Settings command after you enter this command.  
Because Apple computers do not support the typematic feature, this setting will  
have no effect when you are working with the attached Mac CPU(s).  
Table 4-4. Typematic Delay  
Decimal  
Value  
Binary  
Bit Values  
Delay Before Key Repeats  
1
0
32  
64  
96  
00[xxxxx]  
01[xxxxx]  
10[xxxxx]  
11[xxxxx]  
4
2
4
second (250 ms)  
second (500 ms)  
second (750 ms)  
1
3
1 second (1000 ms)  
29  
 
SERVSWITCH™ JR. MP  
Table 4-5. Typematic Rate  
Decimal Binary Repeat Rate in  
Value  
Bit Values  
Keys per Second  
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
[xx]00000  
[xx]00001  
[xx]00010  
[xx]00011  
[xx]00100  
[xx]00101  
[xx]00110  
[xx]00111  
[xx]01000  
[xx]01001  
[xx]01010  
[xx]01011  
[xx]01100  
[xx]01101  
[xx]01110  
[xx]01111  
[xx]10000  
[xx]10001  
[xx]10010  
[xx]10011  
[xx]10100  
[xx]10101  
[xx]10110  
[xx]10111  
[xx]11000  
[xx]11001  
[xx]11010  
[xx]11011  
[xx]11100  
[xx]11101  
[xx]11110  
[xx]11111  
30  
26.7  
24  
21.8  
20  
18.5  
17.1  
16  
15  
13.3  
12  
10.9  
10  
9.2  
8.6  
8
7.5  
6.7  
6
5.5  
5
4.6  
4.3  
4
3.7  
3.3  
3
2.7  
2.5  
2.3  
2.1  
2
9
10  
11  
12  
13  
14  
15  
16  
17  
18  
19  
20  
21  
22  
23  
24  
25  
26  
27  
28  
29  
30  
31  
30  
 
CHAPTER 4: Operation  
4.3.12 SET APPLE EMULATION  
Your shared keyboard must be an IBM PC type. In order for you to be able to  
reproduce all of the keyboard-driven functions of your Mac CPUs, the ServSwitch  
Jr. MP has to “map” some of the important keys on the Mac keyboard to keys on  
the PC keyboard that are either duplicates of other keys or keys that are not used  
in a Mac environment. (This is called “keyboard emulation.”) The Switch can map  
the Apple keys in any of the three ways shown below and on the next page; use the  
Set Apple Emulation command to select the mapping that’s appropriate for your  
keyboard type and your user history.  
To issue the Set Apple Emulation command, press and release the left Control  
Key, type [E], and press the numeral key of your desired mapping number ([0],  
[1], or [2]). (Use the number keys at the top of the keyboard, not those on the  
numeric keypad.) Enter the Keep Settings command after you enter this  
command.  
[E][0]: Standard Mapping (104/105-Key Keyboard, PC Users)  
If your keyboard was made within the last few years, chances are it’s one of the 104-  
or 105-key keyboards with special keys (the left and right Start keys and the App  
[Application] key) designed to trigger Windows 95/Windows 98 functions.  
Because they have so many keys, these Windows keyboards can be mapped to  
reproduce all of the keys on an Apple keyboard. And the factory-default keyboard  
mapping for the ServSwitch Jr. MP assumes that the keyboard you will be using  
with the Switch is, in fact, one of this type.  
In its default state (equivalent to the [E][0] setting), the ServSwitch Jr. MP maps  
the keys of the Windows 95 keyboard as shown below. PC users, especially those  
who have used the 104/105-key keyboard for some time, will probably be  
comfortable with this arrangement:  
On the IBM PC 104/  
105-key keyboard,  
this key:  
Emulates this key  
on the Apple  
keyboard:  
Left Ctrl  
Left Control  
Left Windows Start (  
Left Alt  
)
Left Command ()  
Left Option (alt)  
Left Option (alt)  
Left Command ()  
Power ()  
Right Alt or Alt Graph  
Right Windows Start (  
)
Windows App (  
Right Ctrl  
)
Left Control  
31  
 
SERVSWITCH™ JR. MP  
[E][1]: Swapped Mapping (104/105-Key Keyboard, Mac Users)  
For those of you who are used to the placement of the command and option keys  
on the Apple keyboard and would like to preserve that key arrangement on the  
Windows keyboard, you can enter the [E][1] command to switch to a mapping  
that swaps the command- and option-key equivalences:  
On the IBM PC 104/  
105-key keyboard,  
this key:  
Emulates this key  
on the Apple  
keyboard:  
Left Ctrl  
Left Control  
Left Windows Start (  
Left Alt  
)
Left Option (alt)  
Left Command ()  
Left Command ()  
Left Option (alt)  
Power ()  
Right Alt or Alt Graph  
Right Windows Start (  
)
Windows App (  
Right Ctrl  
)
Left Control  
[E][2]: Older-Keyboard Mapping (101/102-Key Keyboard, All Users)  
Those of you who are using one of the older 101/102-key PC keyboards can enter  
the [E][2] command to switch to the standard 101/102-key mapping:  
On the IBM PC 101/  
102-key keyboard,  
this key:  
Emulates this key  
on the Apple  
keyboard:  
Left Ctrl  
Left Control  
Left Alt  
Left Command ()  
Right Option  
Power ()  
Right Alt or Alt Graph  
Right Ctrl  
32  
 
CHAPTER 4: Operation  
4.3.13 SET MOUSE TRANSLATION (PC CPUS WITH SERIAL MOUSE PORTS ONLY)  
If each IBM PC CPU attached to your ServSwitch Jr. MP has a PS/2 mouse port,  
you can plug a PS/2 mouse into the Switch and control them both without having  
to reconfigure the system at all. However, if an attached PC CPU has an RS-232  
serial mouse port, you’ll need to set the Switch to do PS/2 to RS-232 mouse  
translation for the serial-mouse CPU. To enable mouse translation for a serial-  
mouse CPU, select that CPU’s port, then type [CTRL] [Q] [1] [ENTER]. Enter  
the Keep Settings command after you enter this command. If later you attach a  
computer with a PS/2 mouse port to that CPU port on the Switch, type [CTRL]  
[Q] [0] [ENTER] to disable mouse translation, then enter the Keep Settings  
command.  
33  
 
SERVSWITCH™ JR. MP  
5. Troubleshooting  
The first two sections of this chapter discuss some of the problems that can arise in  
a ServSwitch Jr. MP system and suggest possible causes and solutions. If the trouble  
you’re having with the Switch is something you haven’t seen before, or if the  
trouble seems minor, try the procedure detailed in Section 5.1 before doing  
anything else. If the trouble is chronic, see Section 5.2.  
Sections 5.3 and 5.4 discuss what’s involved in calling Black Box and shipping  
your Switch.  
CAUTION!  
Do not open the ServSwitch Jr. MP’s cover. You could easily damage  
the Switch and attached devices, and if the Switch is powered you could  
hurt yourself as well.  
5.1 Restoring Factory-Default Settings  
If you’re having difficulty with a ServSwitch Jr. MP, something that often helps is  
resetting the Switch to its factory defaults. Follow these steps carefully:  
1. Make sure that at least one powered CPU is attached to the ServSwitch Jr. MP  
(it doesn’t matter to which port).  
2. Press and hold the “1” button on the ServSwitch Jr. MP’s front panel.  
3. Press and release the RESET button, then release the “1” button. The  
POWER LED should flash three times, and the unit should be restored to the  
factory-default settings listed in Appendix A.  
Now reconfigure the Switch to your desired settings. If you’re still having difficulty,  
refer to Section 5.2. If it doesn’t help you to solve your problem, call Black Box for  
technical support.  
34  
 
CHAPTER 5: Troubleshooting  
5.2 Common Problems  
5.2.1 A CPU CONNECTED TO YOUR SWITCH DOESNT BOOT, AND YOU GET A KEYBOARD OR  
MOUSE ERROR  
A. First make sure that the CPU is in fact connected to the ServSwitch Jr. MP and  
that the Switch is receiving power. (One of the Switch’s numbered CPU ports must  
be cabled to the keyboard port of a powered CPU in order for the Switch to work  
properly.)  
B. If the Switch is ON, make sure its keyboard and mouse settings are correct.  
C. If the configuration is OK, check your cables. Tighten any loose connections. If  
the keyboard and mouse strands of the CPU Cable have been reversed, plug them  
into the proper ports.  
D. If you don’t find a cable error, try swapping in different keyboards and/or mice  
one at a time. If the problem goes away when you substitute a device, the old one  
might have gone bad.  
E. If swapping input devices doesn’t solve the problem, begin swapping your cables  
one at a time. If the problem goes away when you substitute a cable, the old cable  
is probably defective.  
F. If swapping cables doesn’t solve the problem, and the Switch is a 4-port  
(SW628A-R2) model, try plugging the CPU into the other CPU port on the Switch  
that’s designed for that platform (that is, the other PC port or the other Mac port).  
If the CPU boots when it’s connected to a different port, the old port is probably  
defective.  
G. If you’re using an SW627A-R2 or if swapping ports doesn’t solve the problem,  
try plugging a known-good keyboard and mouse directly into the CPU that’s  
having the problem. If the CPU boots, the Switch might be defective; call Black  
Box.  
H. If the CPU still doesn’t boot, the CPU’s keyboard or mouse port (or other  
components) might be defective. (If the CPU’s Power LED doesn’t light, the fuse  
on the CPU’s motherboard might be blown.) If you still have them, plug that  
CPU’s original monitor, keyboard, and mouse into it and try again. If the CPU  
does not boot with its original equipment, something in the CPU is defective; call  
the CPU’s manufacturer. If the CPU does boot, there is some kind of unusual  
mismatch between that CPU and the shared monitor, keyboard, or mouse; call  
Black Box for technical support.  
35  
 
SERVSWITCH™ JR. MP  
5.2.2 YOU CANT SWITCH PORTS FROM THE KEYBOARD  
A. Can you do anything from the keyboard? If not, the keyboard cable has probably  
come loose. Reconnect it.  
B. The ServSwitch Jr. MP might have lost power for less than three seconds. (This  
can cause the keyboard to lock up.) Disconnect the keyboard and plug it back in.  
C. The keyboard mode that the currently selected CPU port is set for doesn’t  
match the mode that the CPU on that port expects. Issue the Set Keyboard Mode  
command to change the port’s mode (see Section 4.3.10). Sometimes this situation  
can confuse the CPU or keyboard so badly that it is necessary to reboot the CPU or  
to reset the keyboard by unplugging it and plugging it back in.  
D. For PS/2 type equipment, if the keyboard and mouse strands of the CPU cable  
have been reversed, plug them into the proper ports.  
E. You might be using the keyboard incorrectly. Make sure to use the left Control  
key to start port-switching commands. Make sure to use the numeric keys at the top  
of the keyboard rather than the numeric keypad when you type in port numbers.  
Make sure to release the Control key before you start typing in a port number.  
Make sure you don’t wait too long before you enter a port number. Make sure you  
don’t accidentally hit keys such as Shift or Alt.  
5.2.3 CHARACTERS THAT YOU TYPE COME  
UP  
WRONG OR MISSING (PC CPUS ONLY)  
The keyboard mode that the currently selected CPU port is set for doesn’t match  
the mode that the CPU on that port expects. See item C under Section 5.2.2.  
5.2.4 YOU CANT SEEM TO SCAN OR SWITCH TO CERTAIN PORTS AT ALL (SW628A-R2 ONLY)  
The Maximum Ports setting is too low. Set Maximum Ports to match the number  
of CPUs in your system. See Section 4.3.8.  
5.2.5 THE SERVSWITCH  
(SW628A-R2 ONLY)  
JR. MP SCANS OR SWITCHES TO EMPTY OR NONEXISTENT PORTS  
The Maximum Ports setting is too high. Set Maximum Ports to match the number  
of CPUs in your system. See Section 4.3.8.  
36  
 
CHAPTER 5: Troubleshooting  
5.2.6 YOUR MOUSE DRIVER DOESNT LOAD (PC CPUS ONLY)  
A. What type of mouse are you using? If it’s a regular PS/2 mouse (either a regular  
type or a wheel mouse), see steps B and C. If it’s a Microsoft BallPoint mouse, see  
step C. At the time of this writing, the ServSwitch Jr. MP does not support other  
types of mice.  
B. To recognize the mouse, the CPU must be directly connected to it, or indirectly  
connected to it through the Switch, at boot-up time. Make sure that all cables are  
properly seated and that the Switch is receiving power from another computer,  
then reboot the CPU.  
C. Your mouse driver might be old or incompatible with your mouse. Try the latest  
version of the Microsoft mouse driver.  
5.2.7 YOU CANT ACCESS ALL THE FUNCTIONS OF YOUR MOUSE  
A. What type of mouse is it? If it is any other type than those listed as being  
supported in item A under Section 5.2.6, chances are that the ServSwitch Jr. MP  
doesn’t support it.  
B. If your mouse is a Microsoft BallPoint, you need the latest version of the  
Microsoft mouse driver.  
C. If your mouse is a Logitech mouse, the Switch supports the two-button models  
but not the three-button models.  
5.2.8 YOUR PS/2 MOUSE GETS OUT OF SYNC (PC CPUS WITH PS/2 MOUSE PORTS ONLY)  
Cabling might have been disturbed during mouse movement. Issue the Send Null  
Byte command (see Section 4.3.5) once or twice to get the mouse back in sync. You  
need the latest version of the Microsoft mouse driver to stop this from happening.  
37  
 
SERVSWITCH™ JR. MP  
5.2.9 YOUR MOUSE DOESNT MOVE THE POINTER/CURSOR  
A. What type of mouse is it? If it is any other type than those listed as being  
supported in item A under Section 5.2.6, chances are that the ServSwitch Jr. MP  
doesn’t support it.  
B. The mouse might not be configured properly.  
C. The mouse might not have been connected to the Switch when the Switch was  
powered up. It might also have been disconnected and reconnected after the  
Switch was powered up.  
D. Your mouse must be connected to a the ServSwitch Jr. MP when the CPUs are  
booted and when mouse applications are run. Try exiting and re-entering your  
application; if this doesn’t work, issue the Reset command (see Section 4.3.4).  
5.2.10 YOUR MONITOR DISPLAY IS FUZZY  
A. Check the settings of your monitor, especially the sharpness control.  
B. If you can’t solve the problem by changing the monitor settings, you might have  
run cable too far; maximum distance of original Serv cable from any CPU to the  
ServSwitch Jr. MP is 20 ft. (6.1 m)—or less, if you are using SVGA video or high-  
resolution Mac video. You might need to upgrade from original Serv cables to  
coaxial cables that carry the video signal better. See Section 4.1.3 and Appendix B.  
5.2.11 YOUR VIDEO IS NOT SYNCHRONIZED OR IS THE WRONG COLOR  
A. Check the settings of your monitor, especially the sync or color controls.  
B. Your monitor might not be capable of synching to the CPU’s video output. Try a  
lower resolution or frequency or a more powerful or multisync monitor, or, if the  
problem is only with your Mac CPUs, attach Mac Adapters for ServSwitch (product  
code KV99MA) to their video ports.  
C. If the video problem is not centered on the monitor itself, check the monitor  
cable and the video strand of the CPU Cable. Tighten any loose connections.  
D. If no cable connectors are loose, begin swapping your cables one at a time. If  
the problem goes away when you substitute a cable, the old cable is probably  
defective.  
E. If swapping cables doesn’t solve the problem, try plugging the CPU into a  
different CPU port on the ServSwitch Jr. MP. If the problem goes away when the  
CPU is connected to a different port, the old port is probably defective.  
38  
 
CHAPTER 5: Troubleshooting  
5.2.12 YOUR VIDEO IS OK IN LOW-RESOLUTION MODE, BUT YOU CANT GET INTO HIGH-  
RESOLUTION MODE (PC CPUS ONLY)  
A. If you’re using XGA, you must use coaxial cables (see Section 4.1.3 and  
Appendix B).  
B. Check your video driver. It might not be set up correctly for your desired  
resolution.  
5.2.13 ONE OR BOTH OF YOUR PC CPUS LOCK  
UP  
WHEN YOU START WINDOWS 3.X  
The usual cause of this problem is that the affected CPUs are set to load a Logitech  
or other type of mouse driver when Windows starts up. Set the CPU to load the  
generic Microsoft mouse driver instead.  
5.2.14 THE SWITCH DOESNT WORK WITH YOUR DOCKING STATION  
The ServSwitch Jr. MP does not support most docking stations for portable  
computers.  
5.2.15 THE SWITCH DOESNT WORK WITH YOUR DONGLE-PROTECTED SOFTWARE  
The ServSwitch Jr. MP does not support most dongles (the devices required to be  
inserted into the keyboard line by some software for copy protection).  
5.2.16 THE SWITCH DOESNT WORK WITH YOUR IBM THINKPAD  
The ServSwitch Jr. MP supports only “stream mode” (continuous) mouse data. It  
doesn’t support the “prompt mode” (burst-on-request) method for handling  
mouse data that some older IBM ThinkPad models use, regardless of whether the  
ThinkPad is connected to the Switch directly or through a docking station (and see  
Section 5.2.14).  
39  
 
SERVSWITCH™ JR. MP  
5.3 Calling Black Box  
If you determine that your ServSwitch Jr. MP is malfunctioning, do not attempt to  
alter or repair the unit. It contains no user-serviceable parts (and see the Caution  
notice at the start of Chapter 5). Call Black Box Technical Support at  
724-746-5500.  
Before you do, make a record of the history of the problem. We will be able to  
provide more efficient and accurate assistance if you have a complete description,  
including:  
• the nature and duration of the problem;  
• when the problem occurs;  
• the components involved in the problem;  
• any particular application that, when used, appears to create the problem or  
make it worse; and  
• the results of any testing you’ve already done.  
5.4 Shipping and Packaging  
If you need to transport or ship your ServSwitch Jr. MP:  
• Package it carefully. We recommend that you use the original container.  
• If you are shipping the Switch for repair, make sure you include the CPU  
Cables you’re using with it. If you are returning the Switch, make sure you  
include its power supply and manual. Before you ship, contact Black Box to get  
a Return Authorization (RA) number.  
40  
 
APPENDIX A: NVRAM Factory Defaults  
Appendix A: NVRAM Factory Defaults  
The table below shows, for the ServSwitch Jr. MP’s saveable options, the default  
values stored in nonvolatile memory (NVRAM) when the Switch is shipped from  
the factory. It also shows what commands or actions can change these settings for  
the Switch’s current operating period, as well as what commands or actions can  
save changed settings to NVRAM, so that they become the new defaults.  
Option  
Factory-Default  
Setting  
To Change  
To Save  
Changes  
Caps/Scroll/  
Num Lock  
Num Lock ON (fixed)  
Select port, then press the  
corresponding button on the  
keyboard  
Can’t be saved  
Scan  
OFF  
Type [CTRL] S (to turn ON) or  
[CTRL] X (to turn OFF)  
Can’t be saved  
[CTRL] K  
[CTRL] K  
[CTRL] K  
[CTRL] K  
Scan-Delay  
Time  
5 seconds  
Type [CTRL] Txx [ENTER]  
(xx = 1 to 15, time in seconds)  
Maximum  
Ports  
SW627A-R2: Two  
SW628A-R2: Four  
Type [CTRL] Px [ENTER]  
(xxx = 2 or 3)  
Keyboard  
Mode  
Mode 2  
Select port, then type [CTRL] Mx  
(x = 1, 2, or 3)  
Keyboard  
Typematic  
43 (delay of 12 second,  
rate of 10.9 characters  
per second)  
Type [CTRL] Axxx [ENTER]  
(xxx = 0 to 127; see  
Section 4.3.11)  
Apple Keyboard 0 (standard 104/105-key  
Emulation mapping)  
Type [CTRL] Px [ENTER]  
(xxx = 0, 1, or 2)  
[CTRL] K  
[CTRL] K  
PS/2 to RS-232 0 (OFF) for each computer Select port, then type  
Mouse  
[CTRL] 1 [ENTER] to turn ON or  
Translation  
[CTRL] 0 [ENTER] to turn OFF  
41  
 
SERVSWITCH™ JR. MP  
Appendix B: Cable Product Codes  
The tables below list the product codes for all the types of cables we currently offer  
for use with the ServSwitch Jr. MP. The four digits that follow the dash in each  
product code indicate how long each cable is in feet (one foot = 30.5 cm).  
For these cables, xxx’s are shown in place of the last three digits of the product  
code because the cables come in several stock lengths: “005,” “010,” “020,” “035,”  
“050,” “075,” or “100” for 5-foot (1.5-m), 10-foot (3-m), 20-foot (6.1-m), 35-foot  
(10.7-m), 50-foot (15.2-m), 75-foot (22.9-m), or 100-foot (30.5-m) cables  
respectively.  
You’ll also see the product codes for the Mac Adapter, Station Extenders, and  
CAT5 KVM Extenders listed on the next page. Depending on your equipment and  
the video resolution you’re using, you might be able to use the Extenders to  
connect the ServSwitch Jr. MP to monitor/keyboard/mouse stations or CPUs as  
much as 1000 ft. (300 m) away.  
If your monitor/keyboard/mouse-sharing system has cabling requirements that  
can’t be met by what you see here, call Black Box for a possible quote on custom  
cables or adapters.  
Standard CPU Cables:  
Video Type  
Keyboard Type  
Mouse Type  
Product Code  
(Connector on Cable)  
(Connector on Cable)  
(Connector on Cable)  
VGA (HD15 male)  
VGA (HD15 male)  
Mac (DB15 male)  
Mac Gx (HD15 female)  
IBM PC/AT (5-pin DIN male)  
IBM PS/2 (6-pin mini-DIN male)  
Mac (4-pin mini-DIN male)  
Mac (4-pin mini-DIN female)  
Serial RS-232 (DB9 female) EHN048-0xxx  
PS/2 (6-pin mini-DIN male)  
EHN051-0xxx  
EHN215-0xxx  
EHN550-0xxx  
N/A  
N/A  
Coaxial CPU Cables:  
Video Type  
Keyboard Type  
Mouse Type  
Product Code  
(Connector on Cable)  
(Connector on Cable)  
(Connector on Cable)  
VGA (HD15 male)  
Mac (DB15 male)  
IBM PS/2 and PC/AT  
PS/2 and serial RS-232  
EHN282-0xxx  
EHN208-0xxx  
EHN560-0xxx  
Mac (4-pin mini-DIN male)  
Mac (4-pin mini-DIN female)  
N/A  
N/A  
Mac Gx (HD15 female)  
42  
 
APPENDIX B: Cable Product Codes  
Mac Adapter for ServSwitch (provides monitor ID to Mac CPUs that need to see it): KV99MA  
Station Extenders for PC equipment:  
CPU to Switch (RS-232 Mouse): AC254A  
Switch to Station (RS-232 Mouse): AC255A  
CPU to Switch (PS/2 Style Mouse): AC258A  
Switch to Station (PS/2 Style Mouse): AC259A  
Station Extenders for Mac equipment:  
CPU to Switch: AC269A  
Switch to Station: AC268A  
Station-Extender Cables: EHN250-0zzz, where “zzz” = 050, 100, 150, or 200  
CAT5 KVM Extenders (PC only, Extender Kits include local and remote modules and most cables):  
Single-Access Kits (remote user station only):  
Micro Extender, for distances up to 50 m (160 ft.): ACU3001A  
Regular Extender, for distances up to 300 m (1000 ft.): ACU1001A  
Dual-Access Kits (local and remote user stations contend):  
Micro Extender, for distances up to 50 m (160 ft.): ACU3009A  
Regular Extender, for distances up to 300 m (1000 ft.): ACU1009A  
ATPS/2 Mouse Ghost (for PC/AT connections to the Extender): AC244A  
Keyboard Adapter (for PC/AT connections to the Extender): FA212  
43  
 
SERVSWITCH™ JR. MP  
Appendix C: Rackmounting the  
ServSwitch Jr. MP  
If you want to mount your ServSwitch Jr. MP in a 19", 23", or 24" rack, use the  
corresponding ServSwitch Rackmounting Kit: product code RMK19M, RMK23M,  
or RMK24M respectively. Each of these Kits consists of two rackmounting “ears”  
and four screws. To use a Kit to mount a ServSwitch Jr. MP, take these steps,  
referring to Figure C-1:  
1. Match up the two holes in the “Switch end” of each Kit ear with the two empty  
screwholes on the side of the Switch, then fasten the ear to the Switch with  
two of the screws included with the Kit.  
2. Once you’ve attached both ears, match the holes in the “rack end” of each ear  
to an appropriate set of matching holes on your equipment rack, then screw  
the Switch assembly to the rack using your own screws, bolts, or cage nuts (not  
included).  
Figure C-1. Rackmount assembly.  
44  
 
Customer Support Information:  
FREE tech support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: Call 724-746-5500 or fax 724-746-0746.  
Mailing address: Black Box Corporation, 1000 Park Dr., Lawrence, PA 15055-1018  
World-Wide Web: www.blackbox.com • E-mail: [email protected]  
 
© Copyright 2001. Black Box Corporation. All rights reserved.  

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