Operating instructions

CHAPTER 1 SIMPLY PUT

Cascading KVM switches provides a cost-effective method to expand KVM control as an application

grows. In such an application, a second KVM switch (a slave) is connected directly to the first KVM

switch (a master). In essence, this creates a larger capacity KVM switch. Cascading saves up-front costs

because the user need only buy a KVM switch with the capacity currently needed. They do not need to

guess at future needs because they can “grow” the KVM switch application as needs grow.

NTI’s line of KVM switches is designed to allow cascading. The following protocols must be followed in

cascade applications:

• Any KVM Switch of 4, 8, or 16 ports can be used as a master or slave, with the exception of USB KVM

switches, which can be used as a slave only. 32 port KVM switches can be used as a master only. If the

master switch is a universal, the slaves can be universal or single-platform switches.

• Up to eight slave switches can be attached to a master, for a maximum cascaded application size of 152

ports. Slave switches can be universal or single platform switches.

• Universal switches (including the USB Universal switch) can be used as slaves, but all attached CPUs

must be of one platform; the cables connecting the slave switch to the master switch support that

particular platform.

• Each slave KVM switch must have the same number of ports. For instance, a user might purchase a 16-

port KVM switch, then subsequently purchase several 4 port KVM switches to be used as slaves, as

illustrated in Figure 6. All slaves added to this application must be 4 port switches.

• Individual computers can also be attached to the master switch in a cascade application.

A point to remember: As you cascade units, monitor resolution may degrade a bit. The degradation may

seem negligible to the “untrained eye,” but it is something to consider when you decide to add KVM

switches and computers to an application.

igure 6 – KVM Switch used in a Cascade Application. All slave units must have the same number of ports. All

com

uters attached to one slave must share the same

lat

orm.