IBM 1754 LCM8 Product Manual page 9

Chaining
The IBM cable chaining solution enables users to manage a "daisy chain" of multiple servers through a
single connection to the console switch, replacing many long cables with just a few short ones, simplifying
rack management, helping lower cabling cost, and reducing setup, diagnostic, and maintenance times.
The daisy-chain connectivity has the added advantage of thin, flexible, and industry-standard CAT5
cabling and standard RJ-45 connectors, eliminating the need for one-to-one, dedicated cable connections
between KVM switch ports and managed devices. This cable chaining solution allows up to 16 target
systems to be chained together and connected to one port on the switch.
The following figure shows an example of chaining three target systems from one port on the console
switch. Each conversion option part number includes a CAT-5 cable to connect it to either the console
switch or its neighboring conversion option. The console switch includes the terminator needed at the end
of the daisy chain.
Figure 5. Chaining using USB Conversion Options
Note: Neither the Virtual Media Conversion Option (VCO) or the Virtual Media Conversion Option 2
(VCO2) support chaining.
IBM 1754 LCM8 and LCM16 Local Console Managers 9