DCS Digital Cross-Point Matrix Switch

DCS Digital Cross-Point Matrix Switch

Route and switch a wide range of video, KVM, and high resolution signals from multiple sources to multiple destinations

In sophisticated video and KVM visual computing environments it is critical that users have a viable switching and extension system. The DCS fiber-in/fiber-out digital cross-point switch series is the most capable, secure, and cable efficient non-blocking matrix switch available for high resolution video and virtually any desktop device interfaces, including (but not limited to) USB 2.0, Firewire, keyboard, mouse, serial and audio. The DCS allows for signals from a range of these input sources to be distributed to numerous output devices, thus creating a "matrix" pattern of interconnections. Available in three chassis sizes, the DCS supports matrix configurations from 32 x 32 to 144 X 144 ports.

Complete Fiber Input/Output Design Streamlines Cable

Through harnessing fiber-in/fiber-out capability the DCS reduces cable congestion, eases installation and adds flexiblity. Users now have more options in terms of the placement of computer sources and remote workstations in relation to the switch. Fiber optic cabling allows for simple and clean cable management while maximizing the distance between the sources and destinations for increased infrastructure scalability.

Modular in Design – Hot Swappablity

The idea of a modular design is to allow hot scalability and replacement of critical components where ever possible The DCS’s modular design is comprised of a chassis for just video fibers and one for KMASS (keyboard, mouse, audio, serial, stereo graphics) fibers. The chassis’ act as one in use and communicate via a dedicated SMNP network. This permits ports in the video chassis to switch concurrently with associated KMASS ports. In addition, each chassis has modules for redundant power supplies, fans, and fiber ports (groups of 8 or 16), all of which are hot-swappable.

Redundant Current-Sharing Power Supplies are Hot-Swappable

All DCS switches are installed in high up-time environments which typically are supported by more than one power grid as a fail-over option, so each chassis has redundant supplies. When a power module fails, there is no interruption to the switch because they are both working all the time. A message can be sent (SNMP) to the administrator alerting him of the event and a replacement may be installed with zero downtime.

Input and Output Cards are Hot-Swappable - The DCS does not require a power down or reboot to add additional cards (ports) or service ones already installed.

Fan Trays are Hot-Swappable - The DCS has internal monitoring (via SNMP) of temperature, fan speed and power. The first two can be affected by cooling fan performance and is therefore an important component of the DCS. If a fan is determined to be slowing down or failing, an alert message can be sent to an administrator indicating the event. The horizontal fan tray may be hot-swapped.

Multicast and Broadcast Capability

As a fully electronic digital router, the DCS line of matrix switches connect any video source input to any video destination output(s). Single video sources may be multicast (one to more than one) or broadcast (one to all) to desired destinations. Audio, which is switched through the KMASS chassis, may also be multicast or broadcast.

Security Options at the Desktop

USB HID, USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 are all capable of being routed through the DCS depending upon the capability of the Thinklogical extenders that are connected to the source computers and destination desktops or workstations. By simply selecting the proper fiber extender transmitter and receiver pair to meet security vs. desktop capability needs, the DCS can physically limit or allow USB HID only, USB 1.1 or USB 2.0 to be accessed from any given desktop configuration.

Linux Control CPU Module

The DCS is controlled via a dedicated on-board Linux CPU (pc) module. This allows for ease of control and administration accessed via a network connection (browser), or a serial port for 3rd party controller integration, such as Chrestron, AMX or home-spun interfaces.

Easy to Use GUI

The Linux CPU module runs a standard graphical user interface (GUI), which comes pre-installed. This GUI has been designed for easy and intuitive setup and control of the switching between source computer or video entities and user display destinations such as desktops, theaters, conference rooms, editing suites, control consoles, video walls, etc. Each port on the switch is given an identifying alpha-numeric label. Labeled ports may then be grouped with others logically or physically associated with each other. The user may then access sources and destinations by hardware description or even content currently running (as an example). On-the-fly editing may be done to the port and group labeling scheme to create a graphical access that correlates easily and intuitively to the switched environment. Other features, such as connection status, date and time stamping, user log-in information and commonly used connection configurations are supported as well.

Partitions and User Groups

Customers can create user group environments by defining virtual partitions through the user interface. The DCS will restrict pre-determined connections from being made based upon user login parameters. This feature is particularly popular in situations where the switch is a shared resource among numerous work groups or security levels.

The Complete Switching and Extension Solution

The Thinklogical DCS is available in configurations from 32 x 32 to 144 x 144 ports, and is complimented with Thinklogical’s full line of EVS Fiber Optic KMV Extenders. This combined solution makes connections between the transmitters and receivers easy and secure, while providing unmatched high performance graphic capability.

The Features 

Photos

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DCS Digital Cross-Point Matrix Switch

DCS 32 Kmass Chassis DCS 32 Kmass Chassis DCS32 Video Chassis DCS 32 Video Chassis DCS 72 Kmass Chassis DCS 72 Video Chassis DCS 144 Kmass Chassis DCS 144 Video Chassis Hot Swappable Fan Trays and Power Supplies

Click on a diagram to enlarge.

Back Panel Diagrams     (Connection Diagrams)

DCS 32 Back Panel Connections


DCS 72 Back Panel Connections


DCS 144 Back Panel Connections

Connection Diagrams     (Back Panel Diagrams)

DCS Matrix Switch Connection Diagram

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Full Non-blocking matrix switch performance 

*    Broadcast (one to all) and multicast (one to more than one) connection capability 
*    Any source port(s) may be connected to any destination Port(s)
 
Chassis-based hardware configuration 

*    Video chassis connects any video fiber to any video fiber no matter what the source and destination device video format is, RGB or DVI 
*    KMASS chassis connects all non-video fibers. KMASS is an acronym for Keyboard, Mouse, Audio, Serial and Stereo (3D graphics) 
*    All chassis connect together and function as one using SMNP - This permits ports in the video chassis to switch concurrently with associated KMASS ports 
*    Each chassis has a dedicated on-board Linux cpu (pc) module for control and administration - These cpu modules may be accessed via a network connection (browser), or a serial port for 3rd party controller (AMX, Crestron, etc.) integration 

Scalable and Modular Design
 
*    Each chassis may be scaled in 8 port (DCS-32) or 16 port (DCS-72 and DCS-144) increments as customer requirements dictate 
*    Each chassis is made up of the following modules: 
*    1. Linux cpu module 
*    2. Input (source) port module(s) 
*    3. Output (destination) port module(s) 
*    4. Fan modules and trays 
*    5. Power supply modules (current sharing, redundant) 
*    6. 8-port input and output modules (DCS-72 only) 
*    All modules and trays are hot-swappable, except the cpu 

On-board diagnostics 

*    Each chassis has a Linux controller, which can determine whether or not an optical signal is present, possibly indicating a fiber disconnect or breakage 
*    Voltage monitoring 
*    Temperature monitoring 
*    S.M.A.R.T. Drive diagnostics 
*    SNMP management functions 
*    Complete suite of Linux administrative functions and diagnostics 

Cable management 

*    Fiber in and fiber out eliminates all copper cable issues associated with traditional matrix switches 
*    Single fiber connection supports a complete RGB or DVI video signal 
*    Single fiber connection supports all non-video signals associated with a workstation, including keyboard, mouse, USB, serial, stereo graphics, and full duplex stereo analog audio 
*    Fiber connectivity may be ST, SC or LC depending upon extender model 
*    All Thinklogical fiber products use multimode fiber 
*    Copper cabling is limited to connecting source computers to Thinklogical fiber transmitters and display and desktop devices to Thinklogical fiber receivers. This permits copper cable (length) related artifacts and performance issues to be minimized 

Security 

*    The DCS retains no video or KMASS information in any type of memory format. The DCS is a conduit for routing signals from an input port to an output port 
*    Information through the switch is indecipherable without a fiber optic transmitter and receiver 
*    Return signals through the KMASS switch may be turned off to assure there is no unintended path from the user back to the cpu through the DCS 
*    Since the DCS routs user interface device signals, including video, in a proprietary way, there is isolation between switched signals and networks 
*    Fiber optic cables are immune to EMI and RFI security concerns and eliminate electronic eavesdropping 
*    Users may be grouped and given group-specific rights and permissions pertaining to computers they may switch to 
*    Administrators have total access to the DCS diagnostics and may create, edit and delete users, sources, destinations and groups 
*    All users must login with a unique user ID and password prior to making or breaking connections 

Graphical User Interface 

*    Easy to use browser-based GUI allows users to select a computer or source by name and connect to a user destination by name 
*    Groups of ports may be created and switched simultaneously 
*    Any individual video (and/or audio) source may be multicast or broadcast to multiple destinations. (Note: "Multicast" is defined as one source to more than one destination and "broadcast" is defined as one source to all destinations) 
*    Users may be created, modified or deleted by administrator level individuals 
*    Administrators have complete access to many diagnostic elements via the Linux OS and SNMP 
*    Connections may be locked and protected as programmed by an administrator 
*    Users may make or break connections according to their permission set 
*    Serial control is also available

Specifications

Ports 8 x 8 minimum configuration                 Up to 32 x 32, 72 x 72, 144 x 144
Power Requirements                                     AC input: 100-240VAC, 47-63 Hz - Universal AC power supply
Power Consumption                                     Configuration dependant 600W to 1800W
Operating Temp.                                           0°-50°C; (32°-122°F)
Humidity                                                       5-95% RH, non-condensing
Dimensions                                                    Rack size: EIA 19”
                                                                    Height: 9U-15.75” (40cm)
                                                                    Depth: 14” (35.56cm)
                                                                    Width: 17.25”(43.82cm)
                                                                    Weight: 60lbs. (27.22 kg)
                                                                    Shipping Weight: 100 lbs. (45.36 kg)