Lindy Console Switch User Manual

Console Switch 4:1

User Manual

English

LINDY No. 39123

www.lindy.com

For Commercial Use
Tested to Comply with
FCC Standards

© LINDY ELECTRONICS LIMITED & LINDY-ELEKTRONIK GMBH - FIRST EDITION (JULY 2005)

English Manual

Introduction

The LINDY Console Switch provides a flexible method to use one or more computers from up to
4 different consoles located in different places. Depending on how it is connected, the LINDY
Console Switch can be used to drive up to four video displays (video splitting) or allow up to four
consoles to access a KVM switch or computer (resource sharing).

The LINDY Console Switch supports a wide 280MHz bandwidth that can support very high
screen resolutions of 1600 x 1280 and even 1900 x 1440 (with standard cables). When long
cable runs (of up to 30m) are required, the LINDY Console Switch features a video boost option
to ensure that picture quality remains crisp.

Thanks to smart power control, the use of the supplied external power supply is optional for
most applications. This can be handy when spare power sockets are not close at hand.

The LINDY Console Switch uses standard connectors throughout for quick and easy connection
to host systems and peripherals alike.

Main Features:

 Up to four users/consoles served on a first come basis
 Up to four users can simultaneously view the output from the host system. Any of the users

can take control of the host, providing it is not being used by one of the others. A user
relinquishes control two seconds after their last key press or mouse movement.

 Power is optional: the LINDY Console Switch is supplied with a power supply; however, its

use is optional because power can also be derived from the keyboard connection of the host
system.

 Main KVM connection

o One host or many
o The LINDY Console Switch can just as easily connect to a single host system or, via a

KVM switch, to many systems.

English Manual

Installation and Operation

Mounting

The LINDY Console Switch offers two main mounting methods:

• By using the supplied four self-adhesive rubber feet

• By optional rack mount assembly to hold up to eight 4-port LINDY Console Switch units
(available upon request)

Connections

The Console Switch is directly attached to a computer or KVM switch using standard 3-in-1
KVM cable, i.e. LINDY No’s 33711 (1m) up to 33718 (20m).

The consoles are attached to the 4 console ports either directly or using standard 3-in-1 KVM
extension cables, i.e. LINDY No’s 33721 (1m) up to 33736 (10m). If larger lengths are required
several LINDY KVM Extenders are available for different distances.

Cable lengths

The LINDY Console Switch uses high quality powered circuitry to prevent signal degradation.
This means that when used in conjunction with the accompanying power supply you can use
relatively long cable links between the LINDY Console Switch, the system and the user console
or KVM switch. The lengths of cables that can be used for given situations is summarised
below.

Video resolutions of up to 1600 x 1280 or even 1900 x 1440 are supported on longer cable
lengths.

The LINDY Console Switch also features a video boost feature to ensure that picture quality
remains sharp over longer distances. See the section Configuration switches - Video signal
boost (switch 2) for more information.

Computer or KVM switch

The LINDY Console Switch can either connect directly to a single host computer or to range of
hosts via one or more KVM switches.

To connect a host computer or KVM switch:

1. Ensure that power is disconnected from the computer or KVM switch to be connected.
(Note: If it is not possible to switch off devices prior to connection, then a ‘Hot plug’ procedure is

available – see the Hot plugging and mouse restoration section for more details).

2. Connect the plugs at one end of a KVM cable set to the keyboard, video and mouse sockets
of the computer or KVM switch.

3. Connect the plugs at the other end of the KVM cable set to the corresponding sockets,
collectively labelled as ‘COMPUTER’, on the front panel of the LINDY Console Switch.

English Manual

Keyboards, video monitors and mice

The rear panel provides 4 sets of ports and each accommodates a keyboard, video monitor and
mouse connection. The ports can be connected and used in any order (see note 2 below), and
not all connectors of each port need to be used. For instance, when a port of the LINDY
Console Switch is used as a video splitter port, usually only the video connections are utilised.

Where a user will be situated close to the LINDY Console Switch, the keyboard, video monitor
and mouse can be connected directly. When a user will be placed more than 10m away, then
an appropriate LINDY extender should be used.

Note 1:

In KVM matrix configurations, these rear panel ports would be connected to the

CPU/computer ports of suitable KVM switches.

Note 2

: At power on, the LINDY Console Switch attempts to gain information about the

capabilities of the connected monitors (using the Display Data Channel [DDC] format) by
interrogating the monitor at port 1. If you are using a mixture of monitors, it is advantageous to
place one that supports DDC at port 1.

To connect a keyboard, video monitor and mouse:

1 Position a suitable keyboard, video monitor and mouse in the required location.

2 Connect the keyboard, video monitor and mouse plugs to the sockets of one of the ports

(labelled between 1 and 4) at the rear panel of the LINDY Console Switch.

Power supply (use is optional)

The LINDY Console Switch is supplied with a power supply. The use of the power supply is
optional because the switch can also derive its power from the keyboard port of the host system
or KVM switch.

IMPORTANT: If the power supply will NOT be used, click switch 1 on the front panel down to its
ON position. See Configuration switches - Power source selection (switch 1)

for more

information.

English Manual

Do I need to use the power supply?

Thanks to smart power control, the use of the supplied external power supply is optional for
most applications because the LINDY Console Switch can be configured to derive its power
from the host system.

The following two main factors will determine whether you can use the LINDY Console Switch
with, or without the power supply:

1: Lengths of cables to host computer and to consoles
A. All cables 2m or less -> Power supply not required

B. Any cables 2.2m or more -> Power supply required

2: Power required by all connected keyboards and mice
A Total requirement is 400mA or less* -> Power supply not required

B Total requirement is 420mA or more* -> Power supply required

If either of the above factors meets the B scenario, then you need to use the power supply.

* How to check power requirements

You can determine the overall power required by the connected keyboard and mice by
consulting their product labels. On the underside of almost all keyboard and mice will be a label
stating their power requirements.

This figure is usually represented as a voltage (e.g. 5V) and a current (e.g. 20mA).

• Most standard keyboards require around 50mA

• Most standard mice require around 20 - 25mA.

Add up the total current requirements for all connected devices. If the total value is 400mA or
less then you do not need to use the power supply (subject to the cable lengths being 2m or
shorter).