Operating instructions

CHAPTER 1 SIMPLY PUT

• An alternate solution, if each graphic designer needs to be able to control all of the department computers,

would be a matrix KVM switch attached to all three PCs and all three Macs, with three user control stations

(keyboard, monitor and mouse). One application would provide all of the necessary control.

In deciding what type of KVM switch will fit an application, consider the following:

• How many computers do you need to control?

• How many different computer platforms (PC, Sun or Mac) will be included?

• How many users need access to the computers?

• What type of monitor would be used to control the KVM switch?

• What type of peripheral connector ports do the computers have (USB or legacy)?

• What is the distance from the computer to the switch location and from the switch location to the keyboard,

monitor and mouse?

• What is your budget for KVM switch products?

FUTURE TRENDS IN KVM SWITCH TECHNOLOGY

USB

The current trend in KVM switch technology is perfecting the Universal Serial Bus (USB) products. USB

technology provides true plug-and-play capability to personal computers. You can add any external peripheral

to a USB-equipped computer without adding an internal card or configuring the new device through software.

As soon as you plug in a USB-compatible peripheral, the USB computer automatically recognizes the

equipment.

Currently PC, HP J5000, Sun Blade 10000 and Mac G3/G4 computers are available which support the USB

standard. We also offer a variety of USB hubs, cables, adapters and gender changers in our product line.

NTI is currently developing a new USB KVM switch with USB hub capabilities. This product would combine

the advantages of NTI’s patent-pending USB switching technology (constant presence of keyboard and mouse

for each attached computer) with the ability to support many USB devices on a USB hub built into the product.

NTI’s KVM switch would continue to present a constant presence of the keyboard and mouse to each attached

computer. Any of the attached computers would be able to utilize USB devices attached to the hub, such as ZIP

drives, CD burners, scanners, printers, etc. The USB standard allows up to 127 devices to be attached to the

hubs. In practice, while many devices can be connected, this limit may be unreachable. Some USB devices

reserve bandwidth, so it is likely that the maximum bandwidth would be used up before you hit the limit.

IEEE 1394 (F

IREWIRE®)

FireWire is another new standard providing plug-and-play capability for FireWire devices such as Digital

Camcorders, Scanners and VCRs. Recently, FireWire has become standard on all Mac computers and is slowly

expanding into the PC market. Sony has also made use of the IEEE 1394 standard on some of their computers;

however, they refer to the standard as “I-link”. NTI currently offers FireWire Repeater Hubs, cables and

adapters for our customers utilizing this technology, and is exploring the possibility of FireWire applications for

KVM switches.

OFF-SITE REMOTE

The newest “hot” trend is towards the Ethernet SNMP protocol for off-site remote. This technology allows a

user to access and control the KVM switch from the Internet. UNIX platforms have this technology available,