UltraLink 2 DVI Remote Digital KVM Access over IP INSTALLATION AND OPERATIONS MANUAL 10707 Stancliff Road Houston, Texas 77099 Phone (281) 933-7673 www.rose.
LIMITED WARRANTY Rose Electronics® warrants the UltraLink 2 DVI to be in good working order for one year from the date of purchase from Rose Electronics or an authorized dealer. Should this product fail to be in good working order at any time during this one-year warranty period, Rose Electronics will, at its option, repair or replace the Unit as set forth below. Repair parts and replacement units will be either reconditioned or new. All replaced parts become the property of Rose Electronics.
DECLARATIONS OF CONFORMITY FCC Declaration of Conformity This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and if not installed and used properly, that is in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions may cause interference to radio communication.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Contents Page # Disclaimer.......................................................................................................................................................... 2 System Introduction........................................................................................................................................... 2 About this manual.....................................................................................................................................
Network Configuration Screen................................................................................................................. 43 Setting up IP Access Control ............................................................................................................... 45 Serial Port Configuration ......................................................................................................................... 48 Hosts Configuration ....................................................
Figure 44. Virtual Media Drive Selection Screen.............................................................................................. 32 Figure 45. Hosts Button and Menu .................................................................................................................. 33 Figure 46. Power Button and Menu ................................................................................................................. 33 Figure 47. Access Mode Control....................................
INTRODUCTION Disclaimer While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this manual, the manufacturer assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. Neither does the manufacturer assume any liability for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein. The manufacturer reserves the right to change the specifications, functions, circuitry of the product, and manual content at any time without notice.
Features Connect to a remote computer, server, or KVM switch over IP using any supported internet browser and the built-in Real VNC viewer Remote viewer application (Real VNC or Java applet) can be installed over IP from the unit BIOS level control USB keyboard and mouse Supports resolutions up to 1920 x 1200 Powered by two of the connected computer’s USB ports, or an optional AC power adapter Virtual Media feature allows authorized remote users to transfer files and fo
Cables UL2-DVI to computer 2 cables with USB Type A on one end and USB Type B on other end (supplied), 1 DVI –D video cable (supplied) 1 3.
MODELS UltraLink 2 DVI Models The UL2-DVI comes in a single model as shown below. Front View Connectors: USB Type B Connector labeled KM: This connector provides keyboard and mouse output from the UL2-DVI to the computer. USB Type B Connector labeled VM: This connector is used to facilitate Virtual Media. When the unit is not powered with a power adapter, power for the unit is drawn from the host computer through both USB connectors.
DIP Switches The UItraLink 2 DVI has two DIP switches on its side. These are used for using the optional power adapter and performing maintenance on the unit. Figure 3. UltraLink 2 DVI DIP Switches As seen in the figure above, a switch in the down position means that the function controlled by the switch is off. Putting a switch in the up position enables its function.
INSTALLATION Installation The UL2-DVI can be connected directly to a host computer, or to a DVI/USB KVM switch like the Vista DVI Plus 4-port model (Part # KVM-4TDDL/A1). The UL2-DVI is NOT compatible with the Vista DVI Plus 8-port model (KVM-8TDDL/A1). This section describes how to connect the UltraLink 2 DVI to the host computer or KVM switch, and how to change its network settings to make it visible on the network.
Figure 5. Network connection For Ethernet Connection to the UL2-DVI Connect the port labelled Link on unit to the Local Area Network or internet using a CATx cable. Optional Connections The UL2-DVI has two optional connections: to input audio from the host computer or KVM Switch, and to provide a means to serially control a remote power switch. These connections are shown below. Figure 6.
When DIP Switch 1 is OFF (default position), the unit draws power from the host computer or switch through the USB connections. Both USB connections are necessary for the unit to draw sufficient power. The second USB connection is also required if Virtual Media is to be enabled on the UL2-DVI. Figure 7.
Initial Configuration Once the UL2-DVI has been connected to the host computer and the unit has been powered up, it is necessary to make it discoverable on the network. To do this, the network settings have to be changed so that it is visible on the user’s LAN or on the internet. The factory network settings are as follows: IP address: 192.168.1.42 Subnet mask: 255.255.255.
Note: As noted earlier, the newer VNC Viewers from the RealVNC website do not have audio support. If transmission of audio is also desired, choose option 2 and use the VNC Viewer downloaded from the unit. Select option 1 (Connect using built-in Java VNC Viewer) or option 2 (Download Windows VNC Viewer from unit) to connect to the computer. A connection screen will be displayed requesting the IP address of the UL2DVI to connect to.
Figure 14. Setting Initial IPv4 network address Change the IP Address, Network Mask, and Gateway to match that of the network the unit will be connected to. The VNC port (5900) and HTTP Port (80) should only be changed if they conflict with existing network settings. To use DHCP, check the “Use DHCP” field. When complete, “Save” the new IP information.
OPERATION UltraLink 2 DVI Operation Operation of the UL2-DVI involves connecting to the unit through a Viewer and working on the host computer from a remote location. Up to four remote users can simultaneously access and work with the host computer as if they were in front of the host computer itself. In order to optimize the unit’s performance, the administrator can modify its functioning in several ways.
Figure 17. VNC Viewer Connection Details screen Enter the IP address of the UL2-DVI the VNC Viewer is to connect to in the Server field. The VNC Viewer retains the IP addresses it has connected to, and they can be selected by clicking on the dropdown of Server field. The Encryption dropdown displays options for the use of encryption in the connection. Encryption makes the data transfer between the VNC Viewer and the unit more secure, but slows down the transfer, as every packet must encrypted.
Display Tab The options in the Display tab control the Viewer window once the connection has been made, and the display characteristics of the video from the host computer. The settings in the tab are as follows. Scaling: The options in this section determine whether the Viewer window is scaled, and in what manner, when the incoming host image has a larger screen resolution than the computer with the Viewer. The scaling options are as follows.
Inputs tab The settings in the Inputs tab determine how keystrokes and mouse movements are handled by the VNC Viewer. Options that control Virtual Media and hotkeys are also present here Figure 19. VNC Viewer Options - Inputs tab Inputs – Enabled, Disabled or Custom: The Inputs field has three options: Enabled, Disabled and Custom. When Enabled is chosen, the Enable keyboard input, Enable mouse input, Share clipboard with server and Enable File Transfer options are checked.
Rate-limit mouse events: This option requires the Enable mouse input option to be selected, and is disabled if it is unchecked. When available, the option allows reducing the amount of mouse data that is sent to the UL2-DVI. If the option is checked, the VNC Viewer sends mouse data less frequently to the unit. This slows down the speed of update of the mouse cursor, and it will catch up with the local mouse cursor once every second. This option can be useful for slower networks.
Basic Tab The Basic button is present on each of the four tab menus described above. When the button is clicked, the four tabs are replaced by a single Basic tab. This tab contains only the most commonly used features from the Display and Inputs tab. Figure 22. VNC Viewer Options - Basic tab The following options vary slightly from their function in the Advanced view. Scale to window size: The variety of scaling options offered in the advanced view is simplified to Scale to window size.
Java Viewer Connection Options The second option for connecting to the UL2-DVI is to use the built-in Java VNC Viewer. The Java Viewer is an applet that is launched from the web browser, and lasts until the VNC session is terminated. Nothing is stored to the computer. The Java Viewer is a lightweight version of the VNC Viewer, and is helpful when the primary need is to view and make quick changes on the host computer. When the Java Viewer is launched, it first displays the Connection Details window.
Inputs Window This tab has options for keyboard and mouse inputs. Figure 25. Java Viewer Options - Inputs window View Only (ignore mouse and keyboard): When this option is selected, the Viewer will stop transmitting keyboard and mouse data to the unit. By default, it is not selected. Accept clipboard from server: Send clipboard to server: These two options pertain to software versions of VNC, and have no effect on the UL2-DVI.
Misc Window This window holds miscellaneous settings that should not be changed. Figure 27. Java Viewer Options - Misc window Shared (don’t disconnect other viewers): Render cursor locally: These two settings pertain to software versions of VNC, and have no effect on the UL2-DVI. Fast CopyRect: This setting should remain enabled. VNC Viewer Window Once the connection to the UL2-DVI has been established, the RealVNC or Java VNC Viewer window is displayed.
VNC Viewer Window Options The VNC Viewer Window Options is a drop-down menu that can be accessed by clicking on the VNC icon at the top of the window. It can also be accessed by pressing the Menu Key defined in the Inputs or Basic tab of the VNC Viewer Connection Options screen. Figure 28. VNC Viewer Window Options Menu In addition to the common options to change window size and close it, there are settings specific to the VNC Viewer. These are described in greater detail below.
Refresh Screen: The Refresh Screen option causes the UL2-DVI to send data for a complete screen refresh, instead of just the changes in the video image. Virtual Media, Send Files to Server: These two options invoke the Virtual Media function of the UL2-DVI. Virtual Media is used to transfer files from the connecting computer to the host computer. Virtual Media is discussed in greater detail in a later section.
VNC Viewer Toolbar The VNC Viewer toolbar contains buttons and controls to manage interaction with the host computer. A variety of tools are available, from sending keyboard commands to controlling an attached power switch or invoking Virtual Media. These tools are described in this section. The toolbar also contains the Configure button, which allows further customization of the UL2-DVI configuration. This is described in the Configuration section.
Click on the desired menu item with the left mouse button to add or remove it from the toolbar. A check mark next to the menu item indicates that the equivalent button will appear in the toolbar. The Reset To Default menu item will return all the buttons to the toolbar. The actions performed by the toolbar buttons are described in greater detail below. Re-Sync Mouse Button Clicking on the Re-Sync Mouse Button will synchronize the host and connecting computer’s cursors.
Controls Button and Menu The Controls button can be used to modify keyboard, video and mouse settings. In addition, options to initiate Virtual Media and display of useful information are accessed here. Each of these options is discussed in further detail below. Figure 37. Controls Button and Menu Single Mouse Mode This functionality was described in the section VNC Viewer Window Options. Resync Mouse This functionality was described in the section Re-Sync Mouse Button.
The Calibrate button will bring up the Calibrate Mouse screen. Click the Absolute Mode button to switch the mouse between Absolute and Relative modes. It is recommended that the Absolute Mouse mode is used. As was mentioned in the Auto Calibrate Button section, mouse calibration is present only when the mouse is in Relative Mouse Mode. The Re-Sync Mouse button synchronizes the cursors on the host and connecting computers, as described in the Re-Sync Mouse Button section.
Figure 40. Keyboard Control Screen The format for entering keystrokes and keystrokes combinations is as described in the following table. Key code + +* Definition Generate a keystroke message with the following key being pressed. Generate a keystroke message with the following key being released. Generate a keystroke message with the following key being pressed and released. Wait 250 milliseconds before initiating the next keystroke message in the keystroke combination.
It is also possible to create a keystroke sequence as described above in a text document on the connecting computer, copy it to the clipboard, and send that combination to the UL2-DVI using the Paste Clipboard button. In order to use this feature, the Share clipboard with server option must be enabled in the Inputs tab of the VNC Viewer Connection Options screen. Use the Close button to exit the Keyboard Control screen and return to the VNC Viewer window.
Sound Control The Sound Control menu item provides options to control the quality of transmitted audio. As in the case of the video settings, a trade-off exists between having better sound quality and the network bandwidth required to transmit the audio. As previously stated in the Installation section, only the RealVNC Viewer downloaded from the UL2-DVI provides audio support. Audio support is not present on Viewers downloaded from the RealVNC website. Figure 42.
Threshold: The sound Threshold is the percentage of maximum audio signal strength which should be considered the minimum valid signal. If the Threshold is 25, audio input which is less than 25% of the maximum sound level will be considered background noise, and may not be transmitter to the VNC Viewer. Min burst(ms): The Min burst is the number of milliseconds the audio feed can remain below the Threshold value before the UL2-DVI temporarily stops transmitting audio.
Figure 43. Virtual Media Clipboard Screen When the Create VM Drive button is clicked, a new read-only virtual drive is created on the host computer, with a popup displaying this. The virtual drive can be opened, and its contents copied to a desired location on the host computer. If the files or folders to be made available to the host computer have not been selected or copied to the clipboard, Virtual Media is accessed through the Send Files to Server option of the VNC Viewer Window Options menu.
The Virtual Media Drive Selection Screen lists all drives that are 2 GB or less under the heading Remote Drive. To make a drive available on the host computer, clicking the check button to the left of the drive name. Clicking OK in the screen closes it and creates a virtual drive on the host computer with the contents of the entire drive. Open the virtual drive to copy or use the desired files. If an ISO image is to be opened as a virtual drive, click the Add Disk Image File button.
The Power control functionality is a subset of the Hosts functionality. For it to work, several conditions need to be met, as follows. The UL2-DVI must be connected to a serially controlled Remote Power Switch, as described in Installation section. The UL2-DVI Serial Port must be configured to work with the Remote Power Switch, as described in the Configuration section.
CONFIGURATION UltraLink 2 DVI Configuration and Maintenance This section of the manual describes how to configure the UltraLink 2 DVI for optimal performance. Maintenance of the unit by upgrading its firmware or resetting it to factory defaults is also discussed. Configuration The Configure button on the right-hand side of the VNC Viewer Toolbar is used to display the Configuration Screen.
User Accounts Configuration The User Accounts Configuration Screen is accessed by clicking the User Accounts button on the Configuration Screen. Authorized user accounts can be created here by the Administrator. Figure 49. User Accounts Configuration Screen The User Accounts Configuration Screen allows management of up to sixteen separate accounts. The first account is always the administrator account. It cannot be deleted, because it is the only account with access to the configuration menus.
The final field in the User Accounts Configuration Screen is the Menu Bar button. This button displays the Gui Edit Configuration Screen, where the controls to be displayed on the VNC Viewer Toolbar can be selected for each user. Figure 50. Gui Edit Configuration Screen The buttons and controls to be displayed in the user’s VNC Viewer toolbar can be selected by clicking on the checkbox to the right of the button name.
Unit Configuration The Unit Configuration Screen is accessed by clicking the Unit Configuration button on the UL2-DVI Configuration Screen. Figure 51. Unit Configuration Screen Hardware Version: Firmware Version: Hardware Version and Firmware Version are information fields that display the revision levels of the UL2-DVI boards and the firmware on them. This information will be of help when calling Rose Technical Support if a problem arises.
Menu Bar Toggle Hot Key: This field can be used to select a function key for displaying or hiding the toolbar in the VNC Viewer. Click on the arrow buttons to cycle between the available selections, being careful not to select a key that needs to be passed to host computers or switches. For instance, if the unit is connected to a KVM switch which uses F5 to cause some event, F5 should not be selected as the Menu Bar Toggle Hot Key.
The default EDID table of supported video modes should be sufficient for most applications. Click the Edit Preferred, Standard & CVT Timing button to fine tune these settings if necessary. Figure 53. Preferred, Standard & CVT Timing Screen When the Save button is clicked, the on-board EDID table will be updated. Some computers only read the EDID table during the boot sequence, so it may be necessary to cycle power on the host computer to cause it to read the new EDID table from the UL2-DVI.
Force VNC protocol 3.3: VNC Protocol 3.3 is a legacy version of the VNC protocol. It is provided to allow connection by non-standard VNC Viewers. However, it does not offer any encryption and its use is not recommended. Idle timeout (minutes): The Idle Timeout field specifies how long in minutes a user can be inactive on a connection before being logged out. This prevents inactive users from preventing access by other users.
Behaviour for admin connections when limit reached – Replace oldest connection, Replace newest connection, Don’t replace: This setting determines how an admin connection request is handled when the maximum number of user connections already exists. Either the oldest or the newest user connection must be disconnected to allow for the new admin connection. If Don’t replace is selected, the admin user will not be connected.
Use NTP: This checkbox causes the UL2-DVI to use a Network Time Protocol server to set its date and time, instead of manually entered values. When this field is checked, the NTP Server IP address field and Set Time from NTP Server button are enabled. NTP Server IP Address: If Use NTP is checked, enter the IP address of the NTP Server in this field. In order for the unit to access a server over the network, the necessary values in the Network Configuration Screen, described below, have to be set.
Figure 57. Network Configuration Screen – IPv6 MAC address: The MAC address information field displays the unit’s Media Access Control address. The MAC address is a globally unique identifier assigned to the unit. The MAC address is also displayed on a sticker at the bottom of the unit. Enable IPv6 (IPv6 Only): Check this box only if the UL2-DVI is connected to an IPv6 compliant network. When the box is not checked, IPv4 (the default protocol) is used instead.
IP Network Mask (IPv4 only): The IP Network Mask field contains the subnet mask for the unit in an IPv4 environment. There is no equivalent field for IPv6. IP Gateway (IPv4 and IPv6): The IP Gateway field stores the IP address of the router or other device that acts a gateway to the internet. When the gateway address is not entered, the unit can still be accessed from within the LAN.
Five buttons are used to modify the Access Control list. Add – The Add button adds a new entry to the list. Remove – The Remove button removes a selected entry from the list. Up – Each press of the Up button moves a selected entry one step up in the list. Down – Each press of the Down button moves a selected entry one step down the list. Edit – The Edit button allows the selected entry to be changed.
For example, to define the local address range 192.168.142.67 to 192.168.142.93, the smallest single block to cover the range would be the 32 addresses from 192.168.142.64 to 192.168.142.95. The net mask needed to accomplish this would be: 255.255.255.224. Consider the binary representation of this net mask: 11111111.11111111.11111111.11100000.
Serial Port Configuration The Serial Configuration Screen is accessed by clicking the Serial Port Configuration button on the UL2-DVI Configuration Screen. The screen is used to select the Baud Rate for the UL2-DVI serial port that is used to control external power switches. Figure 60. Serial Configuration Screen The other parameters of the serial port are fixed at No Parity, 8-Data Bits and 1 Stop Bit.
Hosts Configuration The Hosts Configuration Screen is accessed by clicking the Host Configuration button on the UL2-DVI Configuration Screen. This screen is used to identify the computers on a connected KVM switch. Each entry can have a host name and allowed user list, as well as a hot key switching sequence, and power control commands, if required. This screen must contain host computer information in order for the Hosts button to be displayed in the VNC Viewer Toolbar.
Creating a New Host Definition Click on an entry in the Hosts field to display the Host Configuration Dialog. If the entry has already been defined, the fields on the screen will contain the current information for editing. Figure 62. Host Configuration Screen Name: Enter an identifying name for the computer, to be displayed in the Hosts list and in the Hosts menu on the VNC Viewer Toolbar. Users: Enter a user name or a list of user names to be allowed access to the computer.
Hotkey Host Number: This field is combined with the VNC Viewer Hot Key Sequence field in the Unit Configuration screen to switch to the computer using the keyboard. The KVM port number of this computer is entered in the Hotkey Host Number field. Then, when the + keystroke combination is pressed, the unit recognizes it as a switching command.
Refresh: The Refresh button refreshes the list of entries in the log. Syslog Server IP Address: The UL2-DVI has the ability to transmit log entries as they occur to a remote computer running a Syslog server. The Syslog Server IP Address field holds the IP address of the Syslog server computer. LDAP Configuration The LDAP Configuration Screen is accessed by clicking the LDAP Configuration button on the Configuration Screen.
User Field: Enter the name of the LDAP database field which contains the user names. Commonly used field names are “uid” or “cn”, depending on the LDAP database in use. Anonymous Bind: This checkbox determines whether bind requests are sent with user name and password (more suitable for Microsoft Active Directory), or if bind requests are sent anonymously (more suitable for Linux LDAP). Firmware Upgrade The UL2-DVI firmware can be upgraded over the network using a web browser.
A flash upgrade file with a “.bin” extension obtained from Rose Electronics is required. Locate the file on the computer using the Browse button, and then click the Perform upgrade button to initiate the firmware upgrade. The progress of the upgrade will be displayed as the file is uploaded. When the upgrade has completed, click the link Click here to reboot the unit into normal operation. This will take the unit out of upgrade mode and return it to normal operation running the upgraded firmware.
TROUBLESHOOTING Troubleshooting Unit does not power on Make sure that all power connectors are securely connected. Check that DIP Switch 1 is in the correct position. It should be ON if using an external power supply, and OFF if power is supplied over the USB cables. If power is supplied over the USB cables, both USB cables must be connected between the host computer and the UL2-DVI.
SAFETY Safety The UltraLink 2 DVI, like all electronic equipment, should be used with care. To protect yourself from possible injury and to minimize the risk of damage to the Unit, read and follow these safety instructions. Follow all instructions and warnings marked on this Unit. Except where explained in this manual, do not attempt to service this Unit yourself. Do not use this Unit near water. Assure that the placement of this Unit is on a stable surface. Provide proper ventilation and air circulation.
SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE Maintenance and Repair This Unit does not contain any internal user-serviceable parts. In the event a Unit needs repair or maintenance, you must first obtain a Return Authorization (RA) number from Rose Electronics or an authorized repair center. This Return Authorization number must appear on the outside of the shipping container. See Limited Warranty for more information.
APPENDICES Appendix A- Specifications Size (WxDxH) 4.72 in x 2.95 in x 1.06 in / 120 mm x 75 mm x 90 mm Weight 0.76 lbs / 0.35 kg Maximum Resolution 1920 x 1200 @ 60Hz Power adapter 100-240 VAC, 47 - 63 Hz in / +5VDC 2.5A out Connectors 1 x Single-Link DVI-D Female 2 x USB Type B 1 x 3.5mm female stereo audio jack 1 x 6p6c for Serial 1 x RJ45 for CATx 3.
Appendix C- Recognized Abbreviations for Keyboard Keys Keystrokes can be indicated in the Keyboard Control Screen (accessed from the Controls button and menu on the VNC Viewer Toolbar) and the Host Configuration Screen. Abbreviations recognized by the unit must be used to indicate keystrokes. All the keys on a standard keyboard can be specified through these abbreviations. They are not case-sensitive.
APPENDICES Appendix D- Supported Video Modes The following video modes are supported by the UL2-DVI. Support for VESA GTF (Generalized Timing Formula) can also be enabled via the Advanced Unit Configuration screen.
10707 Stancliff Road Houston, Texas 77099 Phone (281) 933-7673 www.rose.
