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Autoscanning
The MC5 provides an autoscan mode that switches between the connected
computers in sequence. This mode is useful to allow users and administrators
to sample activity among the connected machines. Three scanning modes are
provided:
•
Scan list
– Only computers declared within an autoscan list will be viewed.
Computers connected to cascaded switches can be included in the autoscan
list.
•
Active PCs
– Only computer ports where an active computer is detected will
be viewed. This mode avoids blank screens from being displayed and helps
to prevent the viewing monitor from entering a power-down state on every
scan cycle. Computers connected to cascaded switches will not be viewed in
this mode.
•
All PCs
– This mode visits, in turn, each computer that is connected directly
to the MC5. This mode should be used with care due to the reasons given in
the warning below. Computers connected to cascaded switches will not be
viewed in this mode.
The scanning mode is a global setting and hence will be the one viewed by any
user who selects
on their keyboard. Note, however, that users will
only see the scanned computers to which they have access rights. Hence, if two
users (with various access rights) simultaneously view an autoscan, they will see
differing results depending upon their respective permissions.
WARNING: Many monitors are fitted with automatic power saving
relays that switch off after a few seconds when connected to an inactive
computer. If you are using such a monitor, do not set the MC5 to the scan
‘ALL PCs’ mode. Continual switching on and off of the monitor’s relay will
eventually damage the monitor. If using such a monitor in conjunction
with the ‘Scan List’ option, ensure that all selected computers are active.
There are up to three steps that need to be configured to use autoscanning
ð
•
Select the autoscan mode:
Scan List, Active PCs or All PCs.
•
Select the autoscan period
. This is the time that is spent viewing each
computer. This step also enables and disables the autoscan feature.
•
Define the autoscan list
. This step is only required when the Scan List option
is selected and allows you to select which computers will be scanned.
To select an autoscan mode
1 Display the
Configuration menu
.
Note: You must be logged-in as the
ADMIN user.
2 Highlight ‘Global Preferences’ and press
.
3 Highlight ‘Autoscan Mode’ and press
until the required option is
displayed: SCAN LIST, ACTIVE PCs or ALL PCs.
To select an autoscan period
1 Display the
Configuration menu
.
Note: You must be logged-in as the
ADMIN user.
2 Highlight ‘Global Preferences’ and press
.
3 Highlight ‘Autoscan Period’ and press
until the required time to view
each computer is displayed, ranging from 2 seconds to 5 minutes.
To define an autoscan list
Note: This stage is required only when the ‘Scan List’ autoscan mode is selected.
1 Display the
Configuration menu
.
Note: You must be logged-in as the
ADMIN user.
2 Highlight ‘Edit Autoscan List’ and press
. A list of all connected computers
will be displayed. Only computers that show a ‘+’ marker to the right of the
menu box will be autoscanned.
3 Select and deselect computers to scan as follows:
• Individual computer - Highlight a computer name, then press
to
apply, or remove, the ‘+’ marker.
• Mark all computers for scanning – Press .
• Unmark all computers – Press .
4 When all settings have been made, press
to save and exit. Press to
return to the ‘Configuration Menu’.
To view autoscan
• At one of the user ports, press
.
Note:
and
are the standard hotkeys and can be
altered
to avoid clashes
with other devices or software. If you change the hotkeys, remember to use the
new ones in place of
and
when following these instructions.
