QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Q1.	What is it?
Q2.	What do I need to use the system?
Q3.	How long is the CAT5 Cable?
Q4.	How do I access the different computers?
Q5.	What happens if a server goes down?
Q6.	What happens if the CAT5 cable breaks?
Q7.	What software do I need to install?
Q8.	How does the card connect to the server?
Q9.	Can I connect the system to a hub?
Q10.	What operating systems is it compatible with?
Q11.	Can I access the system remotely?
Q12.	Can I have more than one access point?
Q13.	Can I have a keyboard, monitor and mouse (KVM station) connected to a remote computer?
Q14.	How does the OSD work?
Q15.	What happens when the Management Card fails?
Q16.	What is the warranty?
Q17.	Can I use the PCI Management Switch with other KVM switches?
Q18.	Can I use the PCI Management Switch with the RILOE (Remote Insight Lights Out Edition) card? If so, how do I connect them?
Q1:	What is it?
A1:	It is our KVM switch box technology developed into a PCI Card. The system consists of a Management Card and up to 63 Remote cards per Manager. The Manager comes with a set of "Y" cables that connect to the keyboard monitor and mouse port of the server that they are in and then a keyboard, monitor and mouse are connected into the "Y" connections. A single CAT5 cable then connects the Manger to the first Remote Card. The Remote cards come with a set of cables that connect the cards to the keyboard, monitor and mouse port of the systems they are in and have an IN/OUT CAT5 connection to connect to the next Remote in a daisy chain. The cards draw power only from the PCI slot and there is no software to install.
Q2:	What do I need to use the system?
A2:	You need to start with a PCI Card KVM switch management kit which contains the manager and seven remotes. To add additional servers, the PCI Card KVM Remote Kits contains four remotes which can be added to the system, not to exceed 63 remotes per manager.
Q3:	How long is the CAT5 Cable?
A3:	You can have a maximum distance of total CAT5 cable between the Management Card and the last Remote Card in the chain of 360 feet.
Q4:	How do I access the different computers?
A4:	The switch is activated by a hot key sequence on the Management Computer. The hot keys are set as SHIFT/SHIFT from the factory but many hot key options are available. A powerful On-Screen Display (OSD) control system allows you to select the server on which you want to work.
Q5:	What happens if a server goes down?
A5:	The CAT5 daisy chain connections on the Remote Cards are passive so they do not require power in the computer in order for the OSD to see other computers in the chain. If a server goes down, remove it from the chain, couple the CAT5 together and continue on through the chain. When the server is replaced, simply reconnect the CAT5 daisy chain to the Remote Card and reboot the server. The OSD will now recognize the server again.
Q6:	What happens if the CAT5 cable breaks?
A6:	If the cable breaks or becomes disconnected when the OSD is activated only computers up to the break will appear. Once the problem is located reconnect the cable.
Q7:	What software do I need to install?
A7:	There is no software needed with the system. The cards only use power from the PCI Slot. There are no system resources to allocate. The operating systems do not know that the card is there.
Q8:	How does the card connect to the server?
A8:	The cards are installed in any open PCI slot. They are then connected to the server via the keyboard monitor and mouse ports. They are then connected to each other via a single CAT5 cable.
Q9:	Can I connect the system to a hub?
A9:	No, the system operates completely independent of any LAN. The connections are in a closed chain that have nothing to do with the LAN.
Q10:	What operating systems is it compatible with?
A10:	The PCI Management Switch will work with any windows environment (3.1, 95, 98, 2000, NT, ME), Unix, Linux. It works with any system that has an open PCI slot and PS/2 keyboard and mouse connections. It will also work with third party equipment.
Q11:	Can I access the system remotely?
A11:	At the present time, the PCI Management Switch system is designed for local access. Because of the distance flexibility, the manager can be located up to 360 feet from the remotes.
Q12:	Can I have more than one access point?
A12:	You can access the Manager from more than one location if the system is connected to Compaq multi-user KVM switch. Otherwise, the system is designed to be single user.
Q13:	Can I have a keyboard, monitor and mouse (KVM station) connected to a remote computer?
A13:	Yes, using the Optional Local Access Kit you can connect a local KVM station to a remote computer. The difference is that the local KVM station can only access the remote computer it is connected to, rather than the whole chain as the manager can do.
Q14:	How does the OSD work?
A14:	The OSD is activated by hot keys on the keyboard. The system default is SHIFT/SHIFT. You can then manage the computers connected to the system, set up a password protection system and customize your server names though the OSD.
Q15:	What happens when the Management Card fails?
A15:	As with any other KVM switch, when the management unit fails it needs to be replaced. In the interim period until a new management card is installed, you can use the management cables on any remote computer that you need to access. Replacement cards are available through Compaq spares.
Q16:	What is the warranty?
A16:	The limited warranty on this product is three years.
Q17:	Can I use the PCI Management Switch with other KVM switches?
A17:	Yes, the PCI switch can be combined with other Compaq KVM switch offerings. Connect the standard KVM switch cable into the female connectors of the PCI Management cables, then select the PCI switch as one of the computers on the standard KVM system. Make sure you are using different hot keys for the OSDs of the different switches.
Q18:	Can I use the PCI Management Switch with the RILOE (Remote Insight Lights Out Edition) card? If so, how do I connect them?
A18:	Yes, but please note the following the following conditions: RILOE and the PCI Management Switch will work together in the same system, but each product will be unaware of the other. A LOCAL user of a system with both products installed will still be able to use PCI card switch system to access up to 64 servers from one location. A REMOTE user of system with both products installed will still be able to use RILOE to take full graphical remote control of that server. The RILOE user cannot see the PCI card KVM switch OSD, however, so they cannot take control of any other servers in the PCI card KVM chain unless there is also a RILOE in that system. The only issues arise when both the local and remote user are trying to access the same system simultaneously. This is because RILOE disables the local keyboard and mouse when a remote user is in remote console mode (full graphical remote control). If the RILOE is installed in a server that also has a PCI card REMOTE, the local user will lose keyboard and mouse control of that server when a RILOE user is in graphical remote control mode. If the RILOE is installed in a server that also has a PCI card MANAGER, the local user will lose keyboard and mouse control of the entire PCI card KVM switch chain when a RILOE user is in graphical remote control mode. When a RILOE is installed, it becomes the server's video controller, so the PCI Card KVM Manager would connect to the RILOE video output and the rack-mounted monitor. For the keyboard and mouse connections, connect the rack-mounted keyboard and mouse cables to the PCI card KVM switch manager as normal.