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KH2508 / KH2516 User Manual
20
Cascaded Installations
The number of computers that can be added to your installation can be greatly
expanded by performing a cascaded installation. Cascading involves using the
KVM ports of a Parent KVM switch (one that is above a switch linked down
from it) to connect to a Child KVM switch. Cascading adds capacity to a KVM
installation, but the parent loses at least one KVM port for each cascaded KVM
switch.
The KH2508 / KH2516 supports cascading up to 3 levels of KH2508 / KH2516
switches. When the KVM consoles of the first-level KVM switch invoke the
OSD, all computers on the cascaded KVM installation are listed in the port
directory.
In cascaded installations, the number of bus connections between a parent and
child KVM switch determines the number of users that can simultaneously
access the KVM ports of a child switch. A bus connection is established by
connecting a KVM port on the parent switch to a cascade port on the child
switch. The KH2508 / KH2516 supports a maximum of two bus connections
for each cascaded KH2508 / KH2516.
In order for both KVM consoles on the first-level KH2508 / KH2516 to be able
to access the KVM ports of any cascaded KH2508 / KH2516 at the same time,
you must create two bus connections between every parent switch and child
switch in the installation. This is called a non-blocked cascade configuration
(see Non-blocked Cascade Configuration Installation Diagram, page 22). In a
non-blocked cascade configuration, the console connectors of the child
switches are inoperable.
If only a single bus connection is created between a parent switch and a child
switch, then only one of the consoles connected to the parent switch will have
access to a child switch at any time. However, the second console can still
control and access the ports of the parent switch. This is called a blocked
cascade configuration (see Blocked Cascade Configuration Installation
Diagram, page 23). In a blocked cascade configuration, only one console of
each child switch is available to access the KVM ports on the same level or a
lower level switch.
KVM consoles connected to cascaded switches cannot access the ports of a
parent switch(es) and can perform only port switching and user profile
changes; no other administrative functions can be executed.