Introducing the IOGear MiniView Switch GCS632

IOGEAR’s MiniView Micro USB PLUS switches are first-rate connectivity accessories designed to help reduce the frustration of managing multiple computer systems. With the MiniView Micro USB PLUS by IOGEAR, you can access two USB computers from a single USB console (USB keyboard, USB mouse and monitor). MiniView Micro USB PLUS allows you to change ports easily by entering Hot Key combinations from the keyboard. Setup is fast and easy; plugging cables into their appropriate ports is all that is entailed.

We hope you enjoy using your MiniView Micro USB PLUS, yet another firstrate connectivity solution from IOGEAR.

Package Contents

This package contains

• 1 MiniView Micro USB PLUS 2 Port KVM Switch (cables built-in)

• 1 User Manual

• 1 Quick Start Guide

• 1 Warranty Registration Card

If any items are damaged or missing, please contact your dealer.

IOGear MiniView Switch GCS632 Specifications

IOGear MiniView Overview

Introducing the two port MiniView Micro USB PLUS KVM switch from IOGEAR – A simple solution for those with more PCs than hands. Use one USB keyboard, one monitor and one USB mouse to control two USB computers. This self-powered KVM switch features the unique USB sniffing technology for USB mouse & keyboard emulation to ensure smooth operation, as well as support for Plug-n-Play monitors and most wheel mice Our patented VSE Video Signal Enhancement technology provides rich, 32-bit color at resolutions up to 2048 x 1536.

Another big plus of this switch is the capability to provide audio support, it allows you to share your multimedia speakers among the two connected computers.

This switch also offers multi-platform support, it is compatible with Macs and Sun Solaris workstations. IOGEAR made a huge breakthrough in supporting Mac and Sun, by allowing Mac and Sun special keys to be functional, either with the Mac or Sun keyboard as the console keyboard, or with a standard PC keyboard. When use a PC keyboard, a special set of hot keys are designated to emulate the Mac and Sun special keys. With KVM cables (6′ long) molded into the unit, all you need to do is to plug it into your computers, and you’ve got a complete KVM solution from IOGEAR .

Features

• Use one USB keyboard, monitor and USB mouse to control two USB computers.

• 6′ long molded-in cables to simplify setup.

• Share your multimedia speakers among the two connected computers.

• Full support for Mac and Sun systems.

• Supports special keys on Mac and Sun keyboards.

• Port selection through convenient HotKeys.

• USB sniffing technology allows complete USB mouse and keyboard emulation for error-free boot-up.

• Plug-n-Play monitor support.

• Support video resolutions up to 2048 x 1536

• No software required.

• Built in AutoScan mode.

• LEDs allow for easy status monitoring.

• 3 Year Limited Warranty

Requirements

Console

• A VGA, SVGA, or Multisync monitor capable of the highest resolution that you will be using on any computer in the installation

• A USB Keyboard

• A USB Mouse

Computers

The following equipment must be installed on each computer that is to be connected to the system:

• A VGA, SVGA or Multisync card

• A USB type A port

Description of IOGear MiniView Switch GCS632

The IOGear MiniView Switch GCS632 is a compact and portable KVM switch that is ideal for users who need to switch between multiple computers with ease. It is designed with a sturdy and durable construction that ensures reliable performance even in demanding environments. The device features dual-press buttons for quick switching between computers, as well as LED indicators that show the current power, source selection, and keyboard/mouse status. Additionally, the GCS632 supports hotkey and OSD (On-Screen Display) configurations, making it easy to customize the device to your specific needs.

Operation

MiniView Micro USB PLUS allows you to access the computers through Hot Key combinations from the keyboard.

Basic Hotkeys to switch ports

The most basic hotkey operation for this unit is to switch ports between the two connected computers. Press [Scroll Lock] [Scroll Lock] will allow you to toggle between the two computers. For some people such as Mac users, pressing [Scroll Lock] is either not feasible or not convenient. There are other ways to switch ports, such as using [Ctrl] [Ctrl]. The following section will discuss how to use these choices.

Advanced Hotkey Operations

Invoking Hotkey Mode
To invoke Hotkey Mode, do the following:

1. Press and hold down the [Num Lock] key
2. Press and release the minus [-] key
3. Release the [Num Lock] key

When Hotkey Mode is active, the Caps Lock, and Scroll Lock LEDs flash in suc-cession to indicate that Hotkey Mode is in effect. They stop flashing and re-vert to normal status when you exit Hotkey Mode. When Hotkey Mode is active, ordinary keyboard and mouse functions are sus-pended - only Hotkey compliant key-strokes can be input. At the conclusion of some hotkey operations, you auto-matically exit hotkey mode. With some operations, you must exit manually. To exit Hotkey Mode manually, press the [Esc] key, or the [Spacebar].

Selecting the Active Port

You can bring the KVM focus to either computer with the following hotkey combination:

1. Invoke Hotkey Mode (see p. 10).
2. Press and release the computer’s port number (1 or 2).
3. Press [Enter].

The KVM focus switches to the computer connected to the port you just specified, and you automatically exit Hotkey Mode.

Auto Scan Mode

The GCS632U Auto Scan feature automatically switches the KVM focus be-tween the two computers at regular 5 second intervals so that you can monitor their activity without having to take the trouble of constantly switching your-self. 

To start auto scanning

1. Invoke Hotkey Mode (see p. 10)

2. Press and release the [A] key

Once scanning begins, it continues until you press [Esc] or [Spacebar] to exit Auto Scan Mode. The Port that is active at the time scanning stops remains active.
Note

1. While Auto Scan Mode is in effect, ordinary keyboard and mouse functions are suspended. You must exit Auto Scan Mode by pressing [Esc] or [Spacebar] in order to regain normal control of their use.
2. Pressing [Esc] or [Spacebar] exits both Auto Scan Mode and Hotkey Mode.

Alternate Hotkey Invocation Keys

An alternate set of Hotkey Invocation keys is provided in case the default set conflicts with programs running on the computers.
To switch to the alternate Hotkey Invocation set, do the following:

1. Invoke Hotkey Mode (see p. 10)
2. Press and release the [H] key

The Hotkey Invocation keys become the [Ctrl], [F12] (instead of [Num Lock] and minus [-]).

Note: This procedure is a toggle between the two methods. To revert back to the original Hotkey In-vocation keys, Invoke Hotkey Mode, then press and release the [H] key again.
Alternate Basic Hotkeys to switch ports
The Basic Hotkeys to switch ports can Alternate Basic Hotkeys to switch ports The Basic Hotkeys to switch ports can be changed from tapping the [Scroll Lock] key twice to tapping the [Ctrl] key twice ([Ctrl] [Ctrl]). To make the change, do the following:

1. Invoke Hotkey Mode (see p. 10)
2. Press and release the [T] key

Note: This procedure is a toggle between the two methods. To revert back to the original [Scroll Lock][Scroll Lock] method, invoke the Hotkey Mode, then press and release the [T] key again.

Restore Defaults

To restore the GCS632U to its factory default settings, do the following:

1. Invoke Hotkey Mode (See Page 11-13)

2. Press and release [R] key.

3. Press [Enter]

The GCS632U’s factory default settings are as follows:

Multi Platform (Mac, Sun, Win) and Multi Language Setup

The default port settings are for a Windows Compatible operating platform, and US English keyboard language code (Refer to the previous section).

Some multi platform operations require you to change the Keyboard platform in order to fully support all the functions under that particular platform. Once the appropriate Keyboard Platform is set, such as Mac or Sun, you will be able to use all the special keys on these special platform keyboards (Mac and Sun).

Following is a matrix table showing the required Keyboard Platform under various multi platform operations:

You can change the Keyboard Platform by bringing the KVM focus to the port you want to change and then do the following:

1. Invoke Hotkey Mode (see p. 10)
2. Press and release the appropriate Function key:
   • [F2] to change to Mac keyboard platform
   • [F3] to change to Sun keyboard platform
   • [F10] to go back to Auto mode

After completing a setting, you automatically exit Hotkey Mode.

To setup language other than English, do the following:

1. Invoke Hotkey Mode (see p. 10)

2. Press [F6], then the language [nn],○ and then [Enter]. The table below is the reference for the language code○ [nn]:

   Language	Code
   US English	33
   French	08
   Japanese	15

After completing a setting, you automati-cally exit Hotkey Mode.

Using a PC keyboard to emulate a Sun Keyboard

After you set up the appropriate Keyboard Platform (refer to Page16), you will be able to use a PC (101/104) key keyboard to emulate the functions of the Sun keyboard when the Control key [Ctrl] is used in conjunction with other keys. The corresponding functions are shown in the table to the right.

NOTE: When using [Ctrl] combinations, press and release the [Ctrl] key, then press and release the activation key.

Windows Keyboard	SUN keyboard
[ Ctrl ] [ F1 ]	Stop
[ Ctrl ] [ F2 ]	Again
[ Ctrl ] [ F3 ]	Props
[ Ctrl ] [ F4 ]	Undo
[ Ctrl ] [ F5 ]	Front
[ Ctrl ] [ F6 ]	Copy
[ Ctrl ] [ F7 ]	Open
[ Ctrl ] [ F8 ]	Paste
[ Ctrl ] [ F9 ]	Find
[ Ctrl ] [ F10 ]	Cut
[ Ctrl ] [ F1 ]
[ Ctrl ] [ F2 ]
[ Ctrl ] [ F3 ]
[ Ctrl ] [ F4 ]
[ Ctrl ] [ H ]	Help

IOGear Setup Guide

Setting up the IOGear MiniView Switch GCS632 is a straightforward process that involves the following steps:

1. Connect the KVM switch to your computer using the DVI, USB, and PS/2 cables provided with the device.
2. Power on the KVM switch using the power adapter provided with the device.
3. Connect your keyboard and mouse to the KVM switch using the PS/2 or USB ports.
4. Switch between computers using the dual-press buttons or hotkeys on the device.

Other Useful Hotkeys

There are two other hotkeys designed for troubleshooting purpose:

USB Console reconnect
This hotkey combination does an au-tomatic console reconnect, which is equivalent to unplug and replug USB keyboard and mouse. It is useful when USB console is not responding. To perform this hotkey, you need to invoke the Hotkey Mode first (see page, 10), and then press [F5].

Current KVM setting statement 

This hotkey allows you to see the cur-rent KVM setting on any opened text file, it can be used as a troubleshoot-ing tool. For example, if you think you already change the keyboard platform to Mac, but you just can not get the special Mac keys to go through, you will be able to use this hotkey to see if this port is actually on Mac keyboard platform or not. To perform this hotkey, you need open a text document, and invoke Hotkey Mode, then press [F4]. Following is an example for what you might see:

• “HK
• NUM LOCK AND SCROLL LOCK SCROLL LOCK
• OS
• PC1-MAC
• PC2-AUTO-
• KB
• PC1-ENGLISH
• PC2-ENGLISH”

You can tell from this statement that computer 1 is in Mac keyboard plat-form, computer 2 is in Auto mode, and both are in English language code.

LED Display Table

IOGear MiniView Switch GCS632 Troubleshooting

Here are some common issues that users may encounter with the IOGear MiniView and how to resolve them:

• If the device is not switching between computers, check to make sure that the DVI, USB, and PS/2 cables are securely connected.
• If the keyboard or mouse is not responding, try using a different keyboard or mouse to see if the issue persists.
• If the device is not receiving power, check to make sure that the power adapter is securely connected and that it is properly plugged into a power outlet.

Warranty                                                    

IN NO EVENT SHALL THE DIRECT VENDOR’S LIABILITY FOR DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES RESULTING FROM THE USE OF THE PRODUCT, DISK OR ITS DOCUMEN-TATION EXCEED THE PRICE PAID FOR THE PRODUCT.
The direct vendor makes no warranty or representation, expressed, implied, or statutory with respect to the contents or use of this documentation, and especially disclaims its quality, performance, merchantability, or fitness for any particular purpose.
The direct vendor also reserves the right to revise or update the device or documentation without obligation to notify any individual or entity of such revisions, or updates.  For further inquires please contact your direct vendor.

Pros & Cons

• Pros: Compact and portable design, easy to use dual-press buttons, hotkey and OSD support, supports resolutions up to 1920 x 1200 @ 60Hz, Plug-and-play operation
• Cons: Only supports DVI-D single link, limited to 2 computers

Customer Reviews about IOGear MiniView Switch GCS632

Customers who have purchased the IOGear MiniView Switch GCS632 have praised its compact and portable design, ease of use, and reliable performance. Some have noted that the device can be a bit difficult to switch between computers using the hotkeys, but this issue can be easily resolved by using the dual-press buttons instead.

The most common complaint about the device is that it only supports DVI-D single link, which limits the maximum resolution to 1920 x 1200 @ 60Hz. However, for most users this should not be a major issue, as the device is primarily designed for use in office or home environments where high-end graphics capabilities are not required.