Avocent Outlook 180DX Installer/User Manual
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Avocent Outlook 180DX Installer/User Manual

Avocent Outlook 180DX Installer/User Manual

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OutLook 180DX
Installer/User Guide

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  • Page 1 OutLook 180DX Installer/User Guide...
  • Page 2 INSTRUCTIONS This symbol is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying the appliance. DANGEROUS VOLTAGE This symbol is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage”...
  • Page 3 OutLook 180DX Installer/User Guide Avocent, the Avocent logo and “The Power of Being There” are trademarks of Avocent Corporation. OutLook and OSCAR are registered trademark of Apex Inc. All other marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

  • Page 4: Canadian Notification

    USA Notification Warning: Changes or modifications to this unit not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate the equipment. Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules.

  • Page 5: Table Of Contents

    Rack Mounting your OutLook 180DX Unit ..9 Installing an OutLook 180DX ....11 Installing a Multiple Switch System ... . 13 Powering up the OutLook Switch System .
  • Page 7 Product Overview Contents Features and Benefits ......3 Safety Precautions ......5...

  • Page 9: Chapter 1: Product Overview

    Chapter 1: Product Overview Features and Benefits The Avocent OutLook 180DX switch system consists of the user station (your keyboard, monitor and mouse), the switch unit and the attached servers. You can connect additional, or secondary, switches to the primary OutLook switch (called cascading) to expand the 180DX system to 64 servers.
  • Page 10 OutLook 180DX Installer/User Guide FLASH upgradable The OutLook 180DX is FLASH upgradable. This allows you to update your firmware at any time through a simple serial connection to ensure that your OutLook system is always running the most current version available.

  • Page 11: Safety Precautions

    To avoid potentially fatal shock hazard and possible damage to equipment, please observe the following precautions: • Do not use a 2-wire extension cord in any Avocent product configuration. • Test AC outlets at the computer and monitor for proper polarity and grounding.
  • Page 12 OutLook 180DX Installer/User Guide...
  • Page 13 Rack Mounting your OutLook 180DX Unit ..9 Installing an OutLook 180DX ....11 Installing a Multiple Switch System ... . 13...

  • Page 15: Chapter 2: Installation

    • OutLook 180DX Quick Installation Guide • Download Instructions Optional items • 19 inch Switch Mounting Bracket Kit (available from Avocent) • Serial cable, DB9 female, to update firmware • Adaptors (available from Avocent) • To connect a PC computer that has a serial mouse—ELC-11KM •...
  • Page 16 OutLook 180DX Installer/User Guide CAUTION: Power Considerations - Connect only to the power source specified on the unit. When multiple electrical components are installed in a rack, assure the total component power ratings do not exceed circuit capabilities. Overloaded power sources and extension cords present fire and shock hazards.

  • Page 17: Installing An Outlook 180Dx

    Chapter 2: Installation Installing an OutLook 180DX The diagram below illustrates one possible configuration for your OutLook 180DX switch. Follow the step-by-step instructions to properly install your new switch. User A OutLook 180DX PS/2 Reset button DB9 serial port for...
  • Page 18 OutLook 180DX Installer/User Guide To install an OutLook 180DX switch: Prepare the location for the switch. See Rack Mounting your OutLook 180DX Unit in this chapter if you are rack mounting the unit. Select cables with appropriate connectors and length. (See Appendix B for cable specifications.)

  • Page 19: Installing A Multiple Switch System

    OutLook switch. Perform this installation if you want to add another switch to your existing system. Follow the step-by-step instructions to properly cascade your new OutLook switch. User A OutLook 180DX Primary Switch PS/2 Reset button DB9 serial port...
  • Page 20 OutLook 180DX Installer/User Guide Checklist of Steps for Adding a Secondary Switch At the Primary Switch At the Secondary Switch Select its location. Connect cables to station connections. Connect cables to a port. Power up switch. Plug in power cord and power up switch.
  • Page 21 Chapter 2: Installation Power up the servers attached to the secondary switch. If a secondary switch was previously used as a primary switch, reset OSCAR settings by doing the following: At the primary switch, press Print Screen to open the OSCAR Selec- tion screen.

  • Page 22: Powering Up The Outlook Switch System

    Making connections while the system is powered You can connect additional servers to the switch while it is powered up. When you power up the newly connected servers, the OutLook 180DX recognizes them and allows you to switch to the new servers without requiring any additional configuration.
  • Page 23 Basic Operations Contents Viewing and Selecting Ports and Servers ..19 OSCAR Navigation Basics ....19 Setting up OSCAR .

  • Page 25: Chapter 3: Basic Operations

    Chapter 3: Basic Operations Chapter 3: Basic Operations Viewing and Selecting Ports and Servers When you launch OSCAR, you will first see the OSCAR Selection screen. This screen lists all the ports in the system, the associated server names and the status of each port.

  • Page 26: Selecting Servers

    OutLook 180DX Installer/User Guide Viewing the Status of your Switch System The status of servers and switches in your system is indicated in the far right column of the OSCAR Selection screen. The following table describes the status symbols. OSCAR Status Symbols...

  • Page 27: Setting Up Oscar

    Chapter 3: Basic Operations To select servers without displaying OSCAR: To select another server, press Print Screen. If the display order of your server list is by port, type the port number and press Enter. - or - If the servers are in name order, type the first few letters of the name of the server and press Enter.

  • Page 28: Assigning Server Names

    OutLook 180DX Installer/User Guide Figure 3.2: Advanced Menus Screen Assigning Server Names You can identify servers in a system by name rather than by port number. For example, in a network environment, you can assign the same names to each computer as those assigned by the network.
  • Page 29 Chapter 3: Basic Operations Changing OSCAR Display Attributes On the OSCAR Attributes screen, you can change the server display order to list alphabetically by name or numerically by port number. Other attributes, such as the launch Delay Time, position and color, can also be changed to suit your needs.

  • Page 30: Setting Up A Scan Pattern

    OutLook 180DX Installer/User Guide To set a Delay Time for OSCAR: Highlight the Delay Time option and use the Plus ( + ) or Minus ( – ) keys to obtain the desired value. Press Enter to save the settings and exit the menu.

  • Page 31: Controlling The Status Flag

    Chapter 3: Basic Operations To remove a server from the scan list: In the Scan Pattern Setup screen, type the port number of the computer to be removed. —or— If your servers are listed by name, type the first few letters of the name of the server.
  • Page 32 OutLook 180DX Installer/User Guide Flag Appearance Settings Setting Values Effect Enabled Flag Off Flag does not appear. Ports On Flag displays computer by port number. Names On Flag displays computer by name. Ports Timed Port number appears for five seconds after switching.
  • Page 33 Chapter 3: Basic Operations To access the Security Configuration screen: Press Print Screen then F2 to access the Advanced Menus screen. Highlight Setup - Security and press Enter. The Security screen appears. Figure 3.7: Security Screen Security Configuration Settings Setting Action Password Enter current password to activate other fields.
  • Page 34 OutLook 180DX Installer/User Guide to engage. Select Off and press Enter to disable the screen saver. Highlight Mode and select Energy if you are using an Energy Star- compliant monitor or Screen if your monitor is not of that type and then press Enter.

  • Page 35: Broadcasting To Servers

    Chapter 3: Basic Operations ( – ) keys to select the number of minutes, from 1 to 254, before you want your screen saver to engage. Use the Down Arrow key to highlight either the Time Delay, Mode or Test fields and press Enter to activate the password change.

  • Page 36: Using Snapshot

    OutLook 180DX Installer/User Guide NOTE: Broadcasting Keystrokes - The keyboard state must be identical for all servers receiving a broadcast to interpret keystrokes identically. Specifically, the Caps Lock and Num Lock modes must be the same on all keyboards. While the switch attempts to send keystrokes to the selected servers simultaneously, some servers may inhibit and thereby delay the transmission.

  • Page 37: Displaying Version Information

    OutLook switch as a stand-alone switch Open OSCAR. Send the Print Screen keystroke to the currently selected device. OutLook switch connected to another Avocent switch Open OSCAR at the primary switch. Open OSCAR at the selected secondary switch. Bring both OSCAR menus up on the monitor at the same time.
  • Page 38 OutLook 180DX Installer/User Guide...
  • Page 39 Advanced Operations Contents Assigning Device Types ..... . 35 Accessing OSCAR at a Secondary Switch ..36 Broadcasting to Cascaded Configurations .

  • Page 41: Chapter 4: Advanced Operations

    Chapter 4: Advanced Operations Chapter 4: Advanced Operations Assigning Device Types If your system includes one or more secondary switches in a cascaded configuration, you must make the primary switch aware of the secondary switches by assigning a specific device type to the secondary switch. Once you so this, the port numbering changes in the OSCAR Selection screen.

  • Page 42: Accessing Oscar At A Secondary Switch

    OutLook 180DX Installer/User Guide Accessing OSCAR at a Secondary Switch With cascaded configurations, you specify settings at the primary switch. All naming, scanning, status flag attributes, OSCAR attributes, device settings and passwords must be set at the primary switch. You will access OSCAR at the secondary switch to set up broadcasting, add another level of security in cascaded configurations or use Snapshot to save the secondary mouse and keyboard settings.
  • Page 43 Chapter 4: Advanced Operations For each port, select which computers receive keyboard and/or mouse commands by using the Plus ( + ) or Minus ( – ) keys to choose Yes or No. Press Enter to save the settings. To set up servers attached to primary switches: Press Print Screen then F2 to access the Advanced Menus screen.
  • Page 44 OutLook 180DX Installer/User Guide...
  • Page 45 Appendices Contents Appendix A: FLASH Upgrades ....41 Appendix B: Technical Specifications ..42 Appendix C: Technical Support ....43 Appendix D: Troubleshooting .

  • Page 47: Appendices

    OutLook Firmware Upgrade Instructions You can update the firmware of your OutLook switch by using a special update utility provided by Avocent. This utility automatically configures the port communications settings to allow direct downloading from the connected server. To update your firmware you need the following items: •...

  • Page 48: Appendix B: Technical Specifications

    5% – 90% Video Modes Supported VGA, SVGA, XGA Maximum Cable Lengths Console to switch 18 ft - If you need more than 18 feet, use LongView, Avocent’s long-line driver Computer to switch 7 ft 1600 x 1200 dpi @ 75Hz...

  • Page 49: Appendix C: Technical Support

    Appendix C: Technical Support Our Technical Support staff is ready to assist you with any installation or operating issues you encounter with your Avocent product. If an issue should develop, follow the steps below for the fastest possible service: Check the pertinent section of the manual to see if the issue can be resolved by following the procedures outlined.

  • Page 50: Appendix D: Troubleshooting

    Check the Internet for the latest firmware version of the mouse. If a mouse is connected to the serial port on the server, install the Serial-to-PS/2 mouse adaptor (Avocent part number ELC-11KM). Mouse displays erratic behavior or pointer is frozen on display Reset the mouse in OSCAR: Highlight Commands - Reset.
  • Page 51 Appendices KEYBOARD Console keyboard is not working or cannot start OSCAR Ensure that Delay Time is off. Highlight Setup - Menu, Type Ø secs for Delay Time. Check keyboard operation. See if the Num Lock and Caps Lock keys light. Keyboard worked, but then stopped working with one server Check for loose keyboard cable connection or bad keyboard cable.
  • Page 52 OutLook 180DX Installer/User Guide STATUS SYMBOLS No Plus ( + ) or ( X ) shows next to server number or name Check for loose keyboard cable connection between server and switch. Restart OSCAR: Press Escape to exit OSCAR. Then press Print Screen.
  • Page 53 Appendices...
  • Page 55 LIMITED WARRANTY Avocent Corporation warrants to the original retail purchaser that this product is and will be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of 12 months from the date of purchase. Additionally, all Avocent products carry an unconditional thirty-day satisfaction guarantee. If, for any reason, you are dissatisfied with the performance of this product, you may return it to the point of purchase for a refund of the purchase price (excluding shipping charges).
  • Page 56 For Technical Support: Email: support@avocent.com www.avocent.com Avocent International Ltd. Avocent Corporation Avocent House, Shannon Free Zone 4991 Corporate Drive Shannon, County Clare, Ireland Huntsville, Alabama 35805-6201 USA Tel: +353 61 715 292 Tel: +1 256 430 4000 Fax: +353 61 471 871...

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