CAS-241C Compact automatic CPU Switch
USER MANUAL
CAS-241C Compact automatic CPU Switch
USER MANUAL
Disclaimer
 We spared no efforts to make sure that the information in this
manual is correct and complete. However no liability is accepted for any
errors or omissions. Gembird Electronics reserves the right to change the
specifications of the hardware and software described in this manual
without prior notice.
 No part of this manual may be reproduced, transmitted or
translated in any language in any form, by any means, without the prior
written permission of Gembird Electronics Ltd.
 Gembird Electronics makes no warranties for damages resulting
from corrupted or lost data due to a mistaken operation or malfunction of
the product, the software, personal computers or peripheral devices.
Gembird® is a registered trademark of Gembird Europe bv.
Other names or products not mentioned above may be registered
trademarks or trademarks of their respective owners.
Copyright © 2008 Gembird Electronics Ltd. All rights reserved
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CAS-241C Compact automatic CPU Switch
USER MANUAL
Features
 Allows to control two servers or workstation from one console
(keyboard, monitor and mouse)
 Intelligent emulation of PS/2 keyboard and PS/2 mouse
 Plug and Play keyboard and mouse initialization
 Hot-plug connection of the computers without needs to reboot
 No software required
Short specifications
 Optional automatic blockage of inactive computers sleeping mode
 Standard PS/2 mouse, 3-buttons, scrolling wheel, Microsoft®,
Logitech®, A4Tech®, Genius® 4-5 buttons mice support
 Keyboard LED’s status saving and restoring
 Mode and event LED indication
 PC switching via front panel pushbuttons or keyboard hot keys
 Auto Scan mode with intervals 4,10,30 sec’s
 Video resolution up to 2048x1536, video bandwidth 250 MHz, DDC,
DDC2, DDC2B
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CAS-241C Compact automatic CPU Switch
USER MANUAL
Hardware requirements
Console:
 VGA, SVGA, or Multisync monitor supporting the highest resolution
among all the PCs connected to the switch
 PS/2 compatible mouse
 PS/2 compatible keyboard
Computers:
 VGA, SVGA or Multisync video card
 6-pin mini-DIN (PS/2) mouse port
 6-pin mini-DIN (PS/2) keyboard port
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CAS-241C Compact automatic CPU Switch
USER MANUAL
Cas-241C specifications
Number of switching computers
2
Mouse and keyboard protocol
emulation
PS/2 keyboard, PS/2
mouse, PC/AT* keyboard
Case housing
Plastic
Computer selection
Keyboard hot keys
Built-in 1.8m cable
(HD15M
+ MD6M
MD6M)
HD15F
x 1,+MD6F
x 2x 2
Computer side connectors
Console side connectors
Front panel LEDs per channel
“Link”, “Active/Scan”
Video resolution up to
2048 x 1536 pixels
Video plug-and-play protocol
DDC, DDC2, DDC2B
Video bandwidth
180 MHz
Power consumption
From PS/2 computer ports
Dimensions (LxWxH) if packed, mm
235 x 200 x 60
Weight up to, Kg
0.68
* - PC/AT keyboard can be connected using AT-PS/2 adapter (not
enclosed).
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CAS-241C Compact automatic CPU Switch
USER MANUAL
Installation
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CAS-241C Compact automatic CPU Switch
USER MANUAL
1. Connect the console monitor to the switch first and power it on.
2. Connect the console mouse and keyboard to the switch.
3. Connect the computers (keyboard, mouse, VGA) connectors to the
switch and turn them on.
Table 1. Default CPU switch settings after reset.
Settings
Beep
AutoScan mode
AutoScan mode scan interval
Sleeping mode blockage
Default value
On
Off
4 sec
On
Operation
Computers boot up
Before booting up of the computers, the console keyboard and mouse
should be connected to the CPU switch. When computer is connected to
the CPU switch, the “Link” LED of the corresponding channel lights up.
Note that at some computers this LED might not light up until the computer
is powered on. At the computer boot-up the CPU switch emulates the
keyboard and the mouse on this channel. This is why it is possible to let
this computer complete the boot-up on the inactive channel, having
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CAS-241C Compact automatic CPU Switch
USER MANUAL
console switched to the other channel at the same time. During the boot-up
the “Active/Scan” red LED on the emulated channel should blink fast,
indication the PS/2 keyboard and mouse emulation.
Computer selection
Only after the computer has completed the boot-up, you can select the
corresponding channel as an active channel using keyboard Hot Key
combination (see the appendix 2).
The “Active/Scan” red LED indicates which channel is active. After
selection a short beep will be heard (if this setting is turned on). The beep
can be turned on/off by the Hot Key combination.
Hot-plug and Plug-and-Play features*
If computers have completed their boot-up, you can connect and
disconnect computers to/from the CPU switch without interruption the work
of the switch with other computers. The only side-effect it might cause is
that the mouse cursor might jump on the screen after selecting the newly
attached computer. Just unplug the mouse and plug it back again then.
You can also connect and disconnect the console mouse and keyboard
without need to reset the CPU switch or to reboot the computers.
Note: * – For full support of Hot Plug, keyboard and mouse Plug’n’Play
features it is recommended to use the latest mouse drivers or Microsoft
mouse drivers.
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CAS-241C Compact automatic CPU Switch
USER MANUAL
AutoScan mode
In AutoScan mode the CPU switch will select one channel after
another automatically without any beep. Only those channels which have
computers connected to them are scanned. During AutoScan the
“Active/Scan” red LED blinks slowly on the currently selected channel. You
can activate this mode in the following two ways:
 By pushing any two channel pushbuttons on the front panel
simultaneously
 Using the keyboard Hot Key combination (see the Appendix 2).
Scan time interval can be set as 4, 10 or 30 sec, and is 4 seconds by
default. To change the scan intervals you should either use Hot Key
combination or hold pushbuttons pressed on the front panel. Blinking LEDs
on the keyboard will indicate the currently chosen scan interval in this
mode (see the Appendix 1). To quit the AutoScan mode press “Esc” key on
the keyboard or use any pushbutton on the CPU switch front panel. When
the switch is in the AutoScan mode, computers might go to the sleeping
mode unless the option of “Sleeping mode blockage” is turned on. When
the “Sleeping mode blockage” option is turned on the CPU switch prevents
computers from going to suspend/sleeping mode and to start
screensavers. This option is turned on by default.
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CAS-241C Compact automatic CPU Switch
USER MANUAL
WARNINGS:
1. Make sure all the computers which were turned on have
completed their boot-up before switching between them.
2. If the computer is switched off, wait for 5 seconds before turning it
on again.
3. It might be possible that the 4-5 button mice would not work
properly under Windows® 95 and NT® 4.0. In this case you should install
the latest versions of the mouse drivers.
4. If you use the extention cables, for the best video quality it is
strongly recommended to use the high quality video cables.
TROUBLESHOOTING:
Problem description
Mouse and/or keyboard
does not respond
Suggested solution
• CHECK WHETHER THE DEVICE IS PLUGGED
INTO THE CORRECT PS/2-CONNECTOR
• UNPLUG THE DEVICE FROM THE SWITCH AND
PLUG IT IN AGAIN
• RESTART THE PC
• CHANGE THE MOUSE/KEYBOARD TO THE
OTHER ONES
• CONNECT THE MOUSE /KEYBOARD TO THE PC
DIRECTLY AND CHECK THE PC
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CAS-241C Compact automatic CPU Switch
USER MANUAL
Hot Keys do not work
• REBOOT OR DISCONNECT THE PC AT THE
ACTIVE CHANNEL
Appendix 1. LED description table.
LED State
Description
“Active/Scan” lights up
Channel is active
“Active/Scan” blinks fast
Computer is booting up, initializing
PS/2 devices
“Active/Scan” blinks slowly
AutoScan mode, channel is selected
“Link” lights
Computer is connected
“Num Lock” blinks only
AutoScan mode, 4 sec scan interval
“Num Lock” and ”Caps
AutoScan mode, 10 sec scan
Lock” blinks only
interval
“Num Lock”, ”Caps
AutoScan mode, 30 sec scan
Lock”, ”Scroll Lock” blinks
interval
Appendix 2. Hot Key combinations table.
Hot Key combination
Meaning
Ctrl + [Num1, Num2, …]
Select channel [1, 2, …]
Set AutoScan mode, toggle
Ctrl + Num+
between 4, 10, 30 sec scan intervals in
AutoScan
Ctrl + NumTurn beep on/off
Ctrl+ Num Lock
Turn Sleeping mode blockage on/off
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CAS-241C Compact automatic CPU Switch
USER MANUAL
Note: When option is toggled on a short beep can be heard, and when
the option is toggled off a long beep can be heard.
Preventing Radio and TV Interference:
WARNING! This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio
frequency energy and if not installed and used in accordance with the
instructions from this MANUAL, may cause interference to radio
communications. It has been tested and found to comply with the
limits for a Class A computing device pursuant to Subpart J of part 15 of
FCC Rules, which are designed to provide reasonable protection against
such interference when operated in a commercial environment. Operation
of this equipment in a esidential area is likely to cause interference in
which case the user at his own expense will be required to take whatever
measures may be required to correct the interference.
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