Introduction - ATEN MasterView CS-1774 User Manual

Chapter 1.

Introduction

Overview
The Master View CS-1772 and CS-1774 represent a revolutionary new direction in
KVM (Keyboard, Video, Mouse) Switches. These two (CS-1772) and four (CS-1774)
port USB KVM Switches incorporate a two port USB Hub and an ethernet hub all in
the same compact unit. This eliminates the need to purchase separate hubs or
standalone peripheral sharers such as print servers, modem splitters, etc.
As KVM switches, the CS-1772 and CS-1774 allow users to access two or four
computers from a single USB keyboard, USB mouse, and monitor console. They
improve on previous designs by using the fast, reliable, USB bus to transferring
keyboard and mouse data to the computers, while the integrated two-port USB hub
permits any of the computers to access any peripherals connected to it on a 'one
computer at a time' basis.
Recognizing the importance of sound in the computing environment, the CS-1772 /
CS-1774 is also audio enabled. A single microphone can provide audio input to any
of the computers, and you can listen to the audio output of any computer (on a
one-at-a-time basis) on a single set of speakers.
The CS-1772 / CS-1774's asynchronous switching feature allows independent
switching of the KVM, USB hub, and audio focus. If you wish, you can give one
computer the KVM console focus, another the USB hub focus, while a third has the
audio focus. You can work on a spreadsheet on one computer, for example, while you
print from a second computer at the same time.
Setup is fast and easy; you simply plug cables into their appropriate ports. There is no
software to configure, no installation routines, and no incompatibility problems. Since
the CS-1772 / CS-1774 intercepts keyboard input directly, it works on multiple
operating platforms (PC compatible, Mac, Sun, etc.). There are two convenient
methods to access the computers: pressing push button port selection switches located
on the unit's front panel; and entering hotkey combinations from the keyboard.
Since a single console manages all of the computers, the CS-1772 / CS-1774
installation: 1) eliminates the expense of having to purchase separate components for
each computer; 2) saves all the space those extra components would take up; 3) saves
on energy costs; and 4) eliminates the inconvenience and wasted effort involved in
constantly moving from one computer to another.
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2005-03-16