Overview
Most of Adders VNC remote access products, including the IPEPS-PLUS, ALD-IPEPS, and AL-IPEPS have the ability to control a KVM Switch if connected to their console port using a macro (hotkey sequence). The macro can be configured to send a sequence of keyboard presses to instruct the KVM switch to change the port that it is showing.
Hotkey Sequence
Almost any combination of keypresses can be emulated using the following notations:
+ means press down the key that follows;
- means release the key that follows
+- means press and then release the key that follows
* means add a delay. The standard delay period is 250ms, however, if a number immediately follows the asterisk, this will define an alternate delay period (in milliseconds)
Notes
- The entries are not case sensitive.
- All characters can be entered using their ASCII codes, from 32 to 126 (i.e. A,B,C, …1,2,3 etc.) with the exception of the special characters above.
- It is not necessary to specify all keys to be released at the end because they are all released automatically after the last code.
- A number of KVM switches from alternative manufacturers use hotkey sequences that begin with a press/release of either the Scroll Lock or Ctrl keys. These often require a delay between the initial key press and the channel number to allow the switch to respond. A 500ms delay is usually sufficient
Main Control Keys
Backspace | Tab | Return | Enter | Ctrl | Alt | Win | Shift | LShift | RShift LCtrl | RCtrl | LAlt | AltGr | RAlt | LWin | RWin | Menu | Escape | Space | CapsLock | NumLock | PrintScreen | Scrolllock
Central Control Keys
Insert | Delete | Home | End | PageUp | PageDown | Up | Down | Left | Right | Print | Pause
Keypad keys
KP_Insert | KP_Delete | KP_Home | KP_End | KP_PageUp | KP_PageDown | KP_Up | KP_Down | KP_Left | KP_Right | KP_Enter | KP_Add | KP_Subtract | KP_Divide | KP_Multiply | KP_0 to KP_9
Function keys
F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 | F6 | F7 | F8 | F9 | F10 | F11 | F12
Creating macro sequences
Hot key macro sequences can be up to 256 characters long. All keys are assumed to be released at the end of a line, however, you can also determine that a key is pressed and released within a sequence. Any of the following three examples will send a command that emulates and a press and release of the Scroll Lock key:
+SCROLL-SCROLL
+-SCROLL
+SCROLLExample:
+-SCROLL+-SCROLL+1+ENTER
Press and release scroll twice, press 1 then enter then release all keys (equivalent definition is +SCROLL-SCROLL+SCROLL-SCROLL+1+ENTER-1-ENTER)
Using abbreviations
To reduce the length of the key definitions, any unique abbreviation for a key can be used. For example: “scroll”, “scr” and even “sc” all provide an identifiable match for“ScrollLock” whereas “en” could not be used because it might mean “Enter” or “End” (“ent” would be suitable for “Enter”).
Note: Hotkey sequences and abbreviations are not case sensitive.
Examples
- To send the command Ctrl + Alt 4 you should use the following: +Ctrl+Alt+4.
- To send the command Ctrl + Alt 12 you should use the following: +Ctrl+ALT+–1+2 (the ‘+–1’ entry causes the 1 key to be pressed and released before the 2 key is pressed).
- To send the command Scroll lock 1 + Enter (with a 500ms delay) you should use the following: +–Scr*500+1+Ent
How to set up the Macro's
- Log in using a VNC Viewer as an Admin to the unit.
- Click on the Config button in the top right-hand corner to open the Configuration menu.
- Click on the Host Configuration option.
- You will see a list of hosts, you can configure up to 256.
- Double-click on an empty host slot to edit it, for example, slot 1.
- Enter the name of the host.
- The following example assumes that the hotkey combination used by the KVM Switch to change its port is Ctrl + Alt and the port number is 1. This is entered into the KVM Switch Macro field.
- The Hotkey Host Number can be left blank. However, if you enter a number, then you can use it as part of the VNC Viewers Hot Key Sequence.
- The Power On, Power Off and Reboot options are not available on all the products. If they exist then leave them blank.
- Press Save and then Save again to return to the main menu.
- Click on Return to Host to exit the configuration menu.
- You will now notice that there is a Hosts button, and when pressed reveals a list of available hosts that have been configured, in this example, Computer 1.
- When you chose the host from the list, the unit will automatically send the key sequence to the attached KVM Switch to change port.