The AB-MX switches are available in three primary versions. The most common A/B version provides the same basic peripheral sharing functions as the familiar manual A/B/C/D switch boxes that the industry grew up with.

However, these switches are controlled through an RS-232 connection (an RS-232 Filtered Adapter is required) or remotely through one of CPS's Remote Controllers (SP-RRC, 3P-RRC or N-RRC), as well as manually (push button). This opens the door to other network switching applications such as Remote back-up, Security, Resource Allocation, etc., in addition to the peripheral sharing functions.

The Controllers provide the desired type of communications interface (Phone Line, TCP/IP or Cell). They also add password security, and the ability to share a phone line as well as other programmable features. The controllers are the same as those that are used for the CPS rebooting products. They follow the same flexible "Base Unit + Controller" concept.

VERSIONS
The A/B-CD versions connect a common device on port A to either of its slave ports B/C/D/S. "S" is a logical security port (no connection). Note that TTL level control is also available for the three port configurations.

A High Speed option (-HS) has recently be added for the three port (A/B/C) versions. This was to better facilitate 10/100MB LAN switching applications. This version can also be switched by sensing the state of the AC power. See below.

The Matrix-M version connects any port to any other port or multiple ports.

The X2 version has more of a security or rebooting flavor rather than switching. It connects/disconnects two 8-wire connections, such as two LAN connections, servers or to reset the power on wireless LAN Access Points that use PoE (Power over Ethernet). It makes an ideal running mate in this rebooting application since it can also share the "daisy chain" with addressable AC Power Base Units.

All of the versions are available in Three or Four port models with:

• RJ-11 connectors for telephone phone line switching applications (4 wire)
• RJ-45 connectors for switching Ethernet, Token Ring or T1 circuits (8 wire).
• DB-9(25)/RJ-45 adapters are available for 8 wire RS-232 switching applications.

EXPANSION
The AB-MX Switches are also dip switch addressable. Up to 31 of them can be daisy chained from one RS-232 Port or one Single Port Controller. A Multi Port Controllers can support a daisy chain from each port. As an example, a 3P-RRC (three port controller) could support up to 93 AB-MXs (31 per port). An eight port controller can support up to 248 AB-Ms.

They connect to the controllers, and to each other, with standard RJ-11 telephone cables at a combined distance of up to 2000 feet. Any of the addressable CPS AC power control "Base Units" can also be intermixed within the same "daisy chain" (IPN, APB, U-X1, U-X3 or CPSs) for additional application flexibility.

Additional devices can also be switched to Port A by wiring multiple units together.

COMMAND EXAMPLES
SIMPLE ASCII COMMANDS

The A/B Version Command A typical RS-232 serial command to connect port (B)-2 to port (A)-1 (common) may look like:

* AD 2# (Use Hyper-term or any terminal emulator.)

* is an attention command for the AB-M since there is no controller to wake it up.
AD is the address of the Switch if daisy chained (01-31).
2 is the Port that is going to be connected to port (A)-1.
# terminates the command.

If this command were sent through a Touch-tone controller you would precede it with the commands for the controller and it would look like this:

#8 PASS 1 AD 2#

#8 is the attention command for the controller that you are using.
PASS is the controllers password (consult the controller manual).
1 is the port on the controller (for multi-port controllers).
Controller Touch-tone commands can be entered manually or appended to the AT dial string.

TTL LOGIC LEVEL switching for any three port version is

+ 5V (high) = A connected to B
0V (low) = A connected to C

AC POWER SENSING switching for the three port High speed version (HS).

No power = A connected to B
AC Power applied = A connected to C

A-M Matrix Version Command

* AD 24

* is an attention command for the AB-M since there is no controller to wake it up.
AD is the address of the Switch if daisy chained (01-31).
Note: if multiple switches have the same address they will all take the command.
2 & 4 will connect (a 234 would connect ports 2-3 & 4 together).
# terminates the command.
Note: Do not use spaces they are used for clarification only.
Controller Touch-tone commands can be entered manually or appended to the AT dial string.

A-X2 Version Command

* AD 1

* is an attention command for the AB-M since there is no controller to wake it up.
AD is the address of the Switch if daisy chained (01-31).
Note: if multiple switches have the same address they will all take the command.
1 Disconnects the continuity of the first pair (ports 1 & 2).
# terminates the command.
Controller Touch-tone commands can be entered manually or appended to the AT dial string.

Need an extra RS-232 port?  Consider the USB to Serial Adapter.