Dominion® KX & KX II CIM Guide Version 3
This document provides a guide for Computer Interface Module (CIM) usage for Dominion KX I
and KX II, with answers to frequently asked questions.
Dominion KX CIM Compatibility
Dominion KX II was designed to use multiple types of CIMs, including:
• The Dominion KX I CIMs (DCIMs): DCIM-PS2, DCIM-USBG2, DCIM-USB, DCIM-SUSB
and DCIM-SUN can be used with KX I and KX II switches.
• The new Dominion KX II CIMs (D2CIMs): D2CIM-VUSB and D2CIM-PWR can only be
used with KX II switches. They can not be used with KX I switches. These CIMs have a
blue case.
• Select Paragon and Paragon II CIMs: the specific Paragon CIMs supported for
Dominion KX II are listed below.
Dominion KX I CIMs
Dominion KX II CIMs
Dominion KX I Dominion KX II
• DCIM-PS2
• DCIM-USBG2*
• DCIM-USB (EOL)
• DCIM-SUSB (EOL)
• DCIM-SUN
• DCIM-PS2
• DCIM-USBG2*
• DCIM-USB (EOL)
• DCIM-SUSB (EOL)
• DCIM-SUN
• D2CIM-VUSB
• D2CIM-PWR
Paragon I CIMs • UKVMPD
• UUSBPD
• USKVMPD
• USKVMC
• UKVMC
Paragon II CIMs • P2CIM-PS2
• P2CIM-PS2DUAL
• P2CIM-USB
• P2CIM-USBG2
• P2CIM-AUSB
• P2CIM-SUSB
• P2CIM-SUN
• P2CIM-PWR
* - The DCIM-USBG2 is now the recommended USB and Sun USB CIM for KX I and KX II.
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• UKVMPD
• UUSBPD
• UKVMC
• USKVMPD
• P2CIM-AUSB
• P2CIM-PS2
• P2CIM-USB
• P2CIM-SUSB
• P2CIM-SUN
• P2CIM-SER
• P2CIM-SER-EU
Virtual Media and Absolute Mouse Synchronization Support
D2CIM-VUSB and Dominion KX II models are required.
The D2CIM-VUSB is a high speed USB CIM that supports virtual media, absolute mouse
synchronization and CIM firmware update. It is required for these new features.
The D2CIM-VUSB can not be used with Dominion KX I switches, so virtual media and absolute
mouse synchronization are not be available for KX I switches.
Not all servers and BIOS support Virtual Media (important!)
Not all servers and operating systems support all virtual media options:
• In general, modern Windows® OS’ do, including Windows Vista™, 2003 Server,
XP and Windows 2000 with the latest patches.
• Target Servers running Linux and Mac OS’, when accessed from a Windows
client, will generally mount CD/DVD drives, USB drives and ISO images.
• Mac®, Linux and Solaris™ clients can only mount ISO images from a local or
remote drive.
• Other UNIX based OS’ generally do not support virtual media.
When connecting to the BIOS with a virtual media drive mapped, should the BIOS not support
high speed USB, then you should enable the “Use Full Speed for Virtual Media CIM” option on
the Port Configuration page for that particular port and reboot the target server.
In general, due to varying BIOS implementations of the USB 2.0 standard, it is not always
possible to boot from a virtual media drive at the BIOS level.
Not all servers support Absolute Mouse Synchronization:
Again, a USB server port is required, and the OS must support this technology. Microsoft
Windows and Mac servers support this, but not UNIX, SUN and Linux.
D2CIM-VUSB pricing
Packages of 32 and 64 D2CIM-VUSB CIMs provide a discount for buying in volume. The U.S. list
price for a single D2CIM-VUSB is $135, but is $125 per CIM when purchased in a pack of 32,
and $120 per CIM for a pack of 64.
Customers who do not want virtual media and absolute mouse synchronization should use the
new DCIM-USBG2, which is less expensive at $99 U.S. list price.
Power CIMs for KX I and KX II
For KX I switches, use the existing P2CIM-PWR CIM for both the existing RPC power strips
and the new Dominion PX power strips
For KX II switches, use the new D2CIM-PWR CIM for both the existing RPC power strips and
the new Dominion PX power strips.
RPC (Existing)
Dominion PX (New)
Dominion KX I Dominion KX II
P2CIM-PWR D2CIM-PWR
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The New DCIM-USBG2 Replaces the DCIM-USB and DCIM-SUSB
The new DCIM-USBG2, which replaces the DCIM-USB and DCIM-SUSB, is now available.
The DCIM-USBG2 is the second generation version of these CIMs, with enhanced reliability and
performance. The DCIM-USBG2 supports both USB and SUN USB. A small switch on the unit
determines USB or SUN USB.
The DCIM-USBG2 can be used for both KX I and KX II. It is a low cost CIM – US list price of
$99 - but lacks the virtual media and absolute mouse features of the D2CIM-VUSB.
End of Life (EOL) will be announced for the DCIM-USB and DCIM-SUSB in early October. The
last time buy date for these CIMs is December 31, 2007.
Dominion KX II DCIM-USBG2 Usage
For Dominion KX II, the recommended usage depends on the features desired and the type of
server and is as follows:
Customer Needs CIM to Use
• Advanced features such as
virtual media, absolute
mouse synchronization and
CIM firmware update
• Windows, Linux and Mac
servers
• SUN USB Servers
• Unix Servers
• Basic CIM features
• USB Servers
D2CIM-VUSB
DCIM-USBG2
DCIM-USBG2
Dominion KX I DCIM-USBG2 Usage
For Dominion KX I, the recommended usage depends on the firmware release as follows:
Dominion KX I
Release
KX 1.3, KX 1.4, KX 1.4.x
KX 1.0.x, KX 1.1 and KX 1.2
So most KX I customers should purchase the DCIM-USBG2, unless they are running a very old
firmware release. Of course, customers can upgrade free of charge to new firmware and use
the DCIM-USBG2 for increased reliability.
DCIM-USBG2 for USB and
SUN USB Servers
CIM to Use
DCIM-USB
DCIM-SUSB (Sun USB)
Connect to Serial Devices with P2CIM-SER and Dominion KX II
The P2CIM-SER (and P2CIM-SER-EU for European market) can be used to connect a serial
device (networking device, headless server) to a Paragon or Dominion KX. The P2CIM-SER is
now certified with the Dominion KX II.
The P2CIM-SER converts serial device input to a standard KVM signal for use with Paragon II
and Dominion KX I and KX II. The US List Price is $149. It is powered via USB from the serial
device or the PWR-SER-4 four port power adapter.
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Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Can I use the KX I DCIMs with KX II?
Æ Yes, you can.
2. Can I use the KX II D2CIMs with KX I?
Æ No, the KX I was not designed to use these new CIMs.
3. The server only has PS2 ports, what should I do for KX II?
Æ Use the DCIM-PS2. Remember the KX I DCIMs will work with KX II. Please note
Virtual Media and Absolute Mouse Synchronization will not be supported in this case.
4. My customer wants virtual media. What CIM do I need?
Æ You need the D2CIM-VUSB. You also need to make sure that the target servers (USB
port, OS and BIOS) support Virtual Media. See above.
5. My customer wants absolute mouse synchronization, but not virtual media.
How to handle this?
Æ You can purchase the D2CIM-VUSB, but disable the virtual media permissions via the
management user interface.
6. My customer wants virtual media in KX I. Can I connect the D2CIM-VUSB to a
KX I?
Æ No, the D2CIM-VUSB only works with KX II. KX I switches can never support virtual
media due to hardware differences.
7. The D2CIM-VUSB is too expensive. Is there an alternative?
Æ You can purchase the D2CIM-VUSB in the 32 and 64 piece packages for a reduced
price. Or you can purchase the DCIM-USBG2, which doesn’t have virtual media and
absolute mouse synchronization for $99 U.S. List Price.
8. I want to connect a PX to a Dominion KX II. How do I do this?
Æ You should use the D2CIM-PWR to connect a PX (or the existing RPC) to a KX II.
9. I want to connect a PX to a Dominion KX I. How do I do this?
Æ You should use the P2CIM-PWR to connect a PX (or the existing RPC) to a KX I.
10. Why did you develop the DCIM-USBG2?
Æ The DCIM-USBG2 has a more modern architecture based on the P2CIM-AUSB. It
replaces the DCIM-USB and DCIM-SUSB (via switch on the CIM) and supports more
server types. It can be used with both KX I and KX II.
11. Does the DCIM-USBG2 support virtual media and absolute mouse synch?
Æ No, the D2CIM-VUSB is required for these features.
12. What about Mac target servers? What CIM should be used?
Æ For Mac target servers, we recommend the D2CIM-VUSB and absolute mouse mode.
The “Absolute mouse scaling for MAC server” option must be enabled for the specific port
on the Port Configurations page.
13. I have a few serial devices that I want to connect to a KX II. Can I?
Yes, the P2CIM-SER can be used to connect serial devices to a KX II.
Revision: September 24, 2007 Copyright © 2007 Raritan, Inc Page 4 of 4
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