ATEN Technology CS-14 User Manual

MiniView

User Guide

The most economical way to control four
computers from a single keyboard, monitor
and mouse.

PACKING LIST CONTENTS

MiniView CS-14 x 1

User's Manual x 1

Check to make sure that the unit was not damaged in
shipping. If you discover a problem, contact your dealer.
Read the manual thoroughly, and follow the installation
and operation procedures carefully in order to prevent
any damage to the unit and/or any devices it connects to.

©Copyright 1998 ATEN

Manual Part No. PAPE-1148-100

Printed in Taiwan

®

International Co., Ltd.

Overview 1
Features  2
Hardware Requirements  3

Console  3
PC 3
Cables  3

Installation  4

Top View  4
Right Side View 5
CPU Port View  5
Console View  5

Operation  7

Manual Port Selection  7
Hot Key Port Selection  7

Appendix 10

Troubleshooting  10
Specifications  11
Radio & TV Interference Statement  11
Limited Warranty  12

Simply Better Connections

ATEN Technology Inc.

16560 Aston Street

Irvin, CA 92606,

USA

Tel: [phone]

FAX: [phone]

[e-mail]

Web: www.aten.usa.com

Entire contents copyright 1999 ATEN

Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

All rights reserved.

MiniView is a trademark of ATEN.

OVERVEIW

The MiniView CPU Switch is a control unit that allows
access to four PC systems from a single console
(keyboard, mouse, and monitor). Before the development
of the MiniView, the only way to control multiple
computer configurations from a single console was
through a complex and costly network system. Now, with
the MiniView, you can easily access four computers in a
cost effective manner.

The MiniView provides two convenient methods to
access the PCs connected to the system: using the push
button Selection switch located on the unit's side panel;
and entering Hot Key combinations from the keyboard.
Setup is fast and easy; plugging cables into their
appropriate ports is all that is entailed. There is no
software to configure, and no installation routines.

There is no better way to save time and money than with
a MiniView installation. By allowing a single console to
manage the attached PCs, the MiniView eliminates the
expense of purchasing a separate keyboard, monitor, and
mouse for each PC. Additionally, it saves all the extra
space they would take up, and eliminates the
inconvenience and wasted effort involved in constantly
having to move from one PC to the other.

All brand names and trademarks are the registered property of

their respective owners.

FEATURES

• Controls Four Computers From a Single Keyboard,
Monitor and Mouse

• Supports PC (PS/2), Mac and Sun Computers*

• Keyboard and Mouse Emulation for Error Free PC
Booting

• No External Power Required

• No Software Required

• Works with Virtually Any Operating System

• Built In Surge Protection

• Supports Microsoft Intellimouse and the Scrolling
Wheel on Most Mice.

• Patented VSE (Video Signal Enhancement) Technology
Supports Ultra High Video Resolution at 1920 x 1440
Max Resolution

• Each PC's Keyboard Settings Are Automatically
Recalled

• LED Display for Easy Status Monitoring

• Save Time, Space, Power and Equipment Costs

• Hot Pluggable - Add or Remove PCs for Maintenance
Without Powering Down the MiniView KVM Switch

• Supports DDC 2B

* Additional adapters must be purchased to use fhe MiniView
with Sun or Mac computers

HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS

Console

• One VGA, SVGA, or Multisync monitor capable of
the highest resolution that you will be using on
any PC in the installation.

• One PS/2 mouse .

• One PS/2 style keyboard .

Top View

INSTALLATION

PC

The following equipment must be installed on each
PC that is to be connected to the system:

• A VGA, SVGA or Multisync card.

• A 6-pin mini-DIN/(PS/2 style) mouse port.

• A 6-pin PS/2 style keyboard port.

Cables

Although it is possible to use standard extender
cables to connect the PCs to the MiniView, for
optimum signal integrity and to simplify the layout,
we strongly recommend that you use the high
quality CS Custom Cables/(purchase separaely).

Note: The keyboard and mouse cables have PS/2
style connectors at each end:

• If your PC uses a standard AT style keyboard

socket, you will need an AT-to-PS/2 keyboard
adapter, in order to plug the cable into the
PC's keyboard port.

• The CS-14 does not support serial mice.

1. Selected LEDs:

Lights to indicate the currently selected port.
Depending on the port's status, the LED may flash
according to a specific pattern (see the table in the
Appendix for details).

2. Port Selection Button

Pressing this pushbutton switch cycles through the
four CPU ports (A B D E A, etc.), to select the
active port. The Selected LED lights to indicate
which port is the active one.

1

2

1

2

3

4

OPERATION

Left Side View:

Port Selection

CPU Port View:

1 2

1. Video Connector

2. PS/2 Style Keyboard Connector

3. PS/2 Style Mouse Connector

32

Console View:

1

1. Monitor Connector

2. PS/2 Style Keyboard Connector

3. PS/2 Style Mouse Connector

2

Before you begin, make sure that power to all the devices
you will be connecting up have been turned off.

1. Plug the monitor, keyboard, and mouse into the
Console port connectors of the MiniView unit.

Controlling four PCs on your MiniView installation from a
single console could not be easier. Two port selection
methods that provide instant access to any of the PCs are
available:

• Manual Port Selection

• Hot Key Port Selection

Note: All Hot Key operations begin by pressing and
releasing the Alt + Ctrl + Shift combination. The

combination must all be on the same side (i.e.,
LeftAlt+Left Ctrl+Left Shift, or Right Alt+Right
Ctrl+Right Shift).

Selecting the Active Port:

Each CPU port is assigned an alpha ID (A, B, D, E). A

Note: The MiniView Power On default is to link to Port A.
If the PC attached to Port A is inactive, the monitor
will be blank so it may appear as if the unit is not
functioning. This is not the case. Simply use one of
the Port Selection methods (described below), to

1

3

2. Use the extender cables (as described in the Hardware
Requirements section), to connect the monitor,
keyboard and mouse ports of the PCs to the MiniView
CPU Ports, as shown in the diagram below.

switch to an active PC on Port B, D, or E.

Manual Port Selection

With Manual Port Selection, you simply press the Port
Selection button on the MiniView's leftt panel to cycle
among the computers (A B D E A, etc.). The Selected
LED on the top panel lights to indicate which port is
active.

PS/2
MOUSE

PORT

3

PS/2 KEYBOARD
PORT

VGA

MONITOR

PORT

Hot Key Port Selection

Hot Key navigation allows you to select the active PC
directly from the keyboard, instead of having to manually
select it by pressing the Port Selection button. The
MiniView provides several Hot Key navigation features:

• Selecting the Active Port

• Auto Scan Mode

• Last/Next Mode

Port ID Number is associated with each letter (see table,
below). You access the PC attached to a port by
specifying the Port ID Number as part of the Hot Key
combination, as follows:

1. Press and release Alt+Ctrl+Shift

2. Key in the appropriate Port ID Number (1, 2, 3, or 4)

3. Press [Enter]

The Port ID numbers that correspond to the port letters
are as follows:

Port Letter Port ID Number
A 1
B 2
D 3
E 4

Auto Scan Mode:

The MiniView Auto Scan feature automatically switches
between the four PCs at regular intervals so that you can
monitor their activity without having to take the trouble
of switching yourself. To invoke Auto Scan Mode, key in
the following Hot Key combination:

1. Press and release Alt+Ctrl+Shift

2. Press and release 0 (zero)

3. Turn on the power to the connected PCs.

3. Press [Enter]

5 6

Once scanning begins, it continues until you press the
[Spacebar] to exit Auto Scan Mode. The port that was
currently active at the time scanning stopped remains
active.

Note: While Auto Scan Mode is in effect, none of the other
keyboard keys will function. You must exit Auto
Scan Mode by pressing the [Spacebar] in order to
use the console for anything else.

Last/Next Mode:

The Last/Next feature enables you to quickly switch back
and forth between computers in order to monitor them
manually, instead of using Auto Scan Mode. This method
lets you dwell on a particular port for as long or as little
as you like - as opposed to Auto Scan Mode, which
switches after a fixed interval. To invoke Last/Next
Mode, key in the following Hot Key combination:

1. Press and release Alt+Ctrl+Shift

2. Press and release 9

3. Press [Enter]

Once Last/Next Mode is active pressing the left Shift key
(LShift), switches to the previous computer (from the
currently active one); pressing RShift switches to the
next computer in the installation.

Note: While Last/Next Mode is in effect, none of the other
keyboard keys will function. You must exit
Last/Next Mode by pressing the [Spacebar] in order
to use the console for anything else.

APPENDIX

SELECTED LED Display:

Activity

Off
On (Steady)

Flashing (On and Off equal)

Flashing (On long; Off short)

Port is not selected.
Port is connected to an active PC.
Port is connected to an active PC and is being
accessed in Auto Scan mode.
Port is connected to an active PC and is being
accessed in Last/Next mode.

Troubleshooting:
Note: If you are experiencing problems, first make sure

that there are no problems with the cables, and
that they are all properly connected.

Symptom

Pressing the Hot
Keys gets no
response.*

Mouse is not
being detected
or fails to
respond
correctly**

Possible Causes

The CS-14 MiniView
may be operating in
Auto-Scan Mode

The Selected Port
connects to a
Powered-Off
computer.

Incorrectly inputting
the Hot Key
command

Incorrect installation
of the cables

Incorrect use of
adapters

Incorrect Mouse
Drivers

Press the Space Bar to exit Auto-Scan Mode and
retry the Hot Key command.

Change the port manually using the Selection
Button orresend the Hot Key command selecting an
active port or reseud.

Press each key of the Hot Key sequence individually.
<Ctrl> then <Shift> then<Alt> then the # and
then<Enter>

Make sure that all cables are firmly plugged into the
mouse ports of the PCs and the MiniView unit.

No adapters can be used with the mouse
connections of the MiniView Unit. This unit is
designed to work only with PC's using PS/2 Mice.
You can not convert a PS/2 mouse signal to a Serial
Mouse signal simply by using an adapter.

When using any PS/2 pointing device you must
ensure that the proper device driver has been
loaded into your PC's operating system. Please
check your Device Manager and make sure that the
Manufacturer's Driver or the Operating System's
driver for your mouse has been installed.

Meaning

What Action to Take

7

Symptom

No Video Image
or Low Quality
Video Image

Keyboard Not
Responding*

The MiniView is designed to work with PS/2 keyboards. Older

*

XT (84 key) and some older AT keyboards ( those with the
function keys on the side), will not work.

Some Notebook computers, notably the IBM Thinkpad and

**

Toshiba Tecra, have trouble working with the Master View
CS-14 when their mouse and keyboard ports are used
simultaneously. To avoid this problem, only connect the mouse
port or the keyboard port to the Master View unit. If you
connect the mouse port, you will need to use the notebook's
keyboard when the notebook becomes the active computer.

Possible Causes

Loose VGA
Connection

Incorrect Video
Driver

Loose Keyboard
Connection

Remove and reconnect the VGA connectors
between the PC and the MiniView, and the
MiniView and the monitor. Ensure that the
connections are firmly seated and fully connected.

Check the Device Manager of your operating
system and make sure that the correct video
adapter drivers are installed for your video card.

Check all keyboard connections to ensure that they
are firmly seated and fully connected.

What Action to Take

Specifications:

Power Consumption
PC Connections

Port Selection
LEDs

Connectors

Operating Temperature
Storage Temperature
Humidity
Enclosure
Weight
Dimensions (L x W x H)

DC 5V 20mA (max)
4
Pushbutton Switch
Hot Keys
1 x power, 4 x Selected
1 x 6 pin mini-DIN female (PS/2 style) - Console

Keyboard

4 x 6 pin mini-DIN female (PS/2 style) - CPU Ports
1 x 6 pin mini-DIN female (PS/2 style) - Console

Mouse

4 x 6 pin mini-DIN female (PS/2 style) - CPU Ports
1 x HDB-15 female (std. VGA/SVGA) - Console

Video

4 x HDB-15 male (std. VGA/SVGA) - CPU Ports
5 ~ 40˚C

-20 ~ 60˚C
0 ~ 80% RH, Noncondensing
Plastic
250g
170 x 87 x 28.5 mm

8

Radio & TV Interference Statement

This equipment has been tested and found to comply
with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to
Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to
provide reasonable protection against harmful
interference in a residential installation. This equipment
generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy
and if not installed and used in accordance with the
instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio
communications. However, there is no guarantee that
interference will not occur in a particular installation.

Limited Warranty

IN NO EVENT SHALL THE DIRECT VENDOR'S
LIABILITY FOR DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL,
INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
RESULTING FROM THE USE OF THE PRODUCT, DISK OR
ITS DOCUMENTATION EXCEED THE PRICE PAID FOR
THE PRODUCT.

The direct vendor makes no warranty or representation,
expressed, implied, or statutory with respect to the
contents or use of this documentation, and especially
disclaims its quality, performance, merchantability, or
fitness for any particular purpose.

The direct vendor also reserves the right to revise or
update the device or documentation without obligation
to notify any individual or entity of such revisions, or
updates. For further inquires please contact your direct
vendor.

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