Draco Major KVM & DVI Matrix Switch and
Video Router System
DRACO Major KVM and DVI Matrix Switch
The Draco Major sets a new milestone in high quality KVM and DVI switching. For the first time, sources to 1080p (and beyond) may be switched instantaneously and distributed to remote points over long distances using CatX or Fibre cables.
The Draco Major solution offers various modes of KVM and video operation, enabling switching of up to 32 CPUs or real time video sources to 16 monitors within a single chassis, with simultaneous handling of USB HID, audio and serial devices. Direct interfacing to copper and fibre cabling allows sources and displays to be located at great distances without quality degradation: up to 120 metres either side of the switch unit using CatX cables, and 10 km with singlemode fibre. The system's modular construction even allows mixing of CatX and fibre interfaces.
The system has numerous operation modes enabling it to be tailored to suit virtually any routing application. Flexible system management via OSD, network, or serial interfaces further enhances the capability of the switch, allowing efficient integration with users’ custom control equipment (such as macro keypads and touch panels).
Basic System Overview
The Draco Major switch chassis is used in conjunction with an extensive range of CatX and fibre extenders offering numerous interface options and formats to connect CPUs, and other video sources, to monitors, projectors, video walls and other high quality displays.
The range includes options for single, dual and quad-head video, analogue/digital audio, serial ports and transparent USB 2.0 (High-Speed). These devices are compatible with today’s high specification DVI (single-link) video formats, including 1080p, with new versions being introduced regularly to further enhance the application of the Draco system.
Basic System Description
Extensive flexibility is achieved using the Draco Major solution at the centre of a full KVM or audio-visual network through the use of KVM or media extender interfaces. These are small standalone devices that are placed close to the source CPU and video equipment (Local Units) and at the display points (Remote Units).
These devices perform the task of converting signals within the system and their combination and duplication where appropriate. An extensive range is available for system designers to configure a full solution based on their specific requirement.
Interconnection between the Local and Remote Units and the Matrix Switch is either by CatX cable or fibre. Individual input modules on the Matrix Switch permit a mixture of types in groups of 8 inputs or outputs; a cost-effective way of achieving both local and long distance transmission within the same system.
The overall matrix size may be increased through the use of slave and/or cascaded Draco Switch chassis.
Expert Training and Evaluation
To fully appreciate the Draco system it is best to get a ‘hands-on’ experience with a complex system set-up. Scene Double now has a fully equipped training and evaluation suite located at our head office in Borehamwood, UK.
Expert customized sessions are offered via appointment.
Draco: Key Features
- Combined Matrix Switch & Extender Solution
- Crystal-clear DVI video operation up to 1900 x 1200 (single-link)
- Instantaneous video switching
- Real-time: no video or mouse latency
- Configurable as a KVM matrix switch or DVI video router
- CatX or Fibre interconnect (mixed operation possible)
- Long extension distance (on either side of the switch):
- CatX: 120 metres
- Multimode: 400 metres
- Singlemode: 10 km
- No video signal degradation over distance
- Supports USB HID devices as standard
- USB 2.0, Audio, and Serial support options
- Each 2U chassis provides up to 32 x 16 flexible matrix:
- KVM Single-Head: 32 CPU to 16 users
- KVM Dual-Head: 16 CPU to 8 users
- KVM Quad-Head: 8 CPU to 4 users
- Video: 32 sources to 16 monitors
- Video: 16 sources to 32 monitors
- Highly Scaleable (to 1024 CPUs from 16 consoles)
- Numerous operational modes for maximum flexibility
- System control and administration via OSD, Serial, Network or Web
- Instant switch reconfiguration using stored profiles and user macros
- Full user management (to device level)
- Front panel status display screen (with IR remote control)
- Easily interfaces to 3rd party control systems and macro keypads
- Modular construction in 2U rack mount format
- Available pre-configured or unpopulated chassis
- Redundant PSU option for greater reliability
Flexibility is the key ...
On-screen control combined with flexible user administration and numerous operational modes enable connected devices to be configured in groups to meet individual application requirements, including dual and quad head configurations.
Here are some example applications. Please CLICK on the images to enlarge
Draco Major acting as a Video Router Matrix
Draco Major acting as a Dual-Head KVM Switch
Draco Major acting as a Quad-Head KVM Switch
Draco Major acting as a Single-Head KVM Switch
Draco Major acting as a Teacher-Student System
Draco Major supports USB 2.0 devices
Draco System Components
Draco Switch Chassis
The Draco Major solution consists of one (or multiple) switch chassis together with Local and Remote extender units to interface with all attached devices.
A number of pre-configured chassis for CatX cabling are available:
| Code | Description | |||||
| DRACO/U8C8 | DRACO Major Switch: 8 x User, 8 x CPU (CatX) | |||||
| DRACO/U8C16 | DRACO Major Switch: 8 x User, 16 x CPU (CatX) | |||||
| DRACO/U8C24 | DRACO Major Switch: 8 x User, 24 x CPU (CatX) | |||||
| DRACO/U8C32 | DRACO Major Switch: 8 x User, 32 x CPU (CatX) | |||||
| Code | Description | |||||
| DRACO/U16C8 | DRACO Major Switch: 16 x User, 8 x CPU (CatX) | |||||
| DRACO/U16C16 | DRACO Major Switch: 16 x User, 16 x CPU (CatX) | |||||
| DRACO/U16C24 | DRACO Major Switch: 16 x User, 24 x CPU (CatX) | |||||
| DRACO/U16C32 | DRACO Major Switch: 16 x User, 32 x CPU (CatX) | |||||
For more complex requirements, the chassis can be custom specified to suit any application:
| Code | Description | |||||
| DRACO/UC0 | DRACO Major Switch: Base Chassis (8 to 16 Users, 8 to 32 CPUs) | |||||
| DRACO/OSD | DRACO Major OSD Card (Per 8-User) | |||||
| DRACO/DIS | DRACO Major Chassis Status Display | |||||
| DRACO/C8 | DRACO Major 8-Port Interface Card: CatX | |||||
| DRACO/M8 | DRACO Major 8-Port Interface Card: Fibre Optic (Multimode) | |||||
| DRACO/S8 | DRACO Major 8-Port Interface Card: Fibre Optic (Singlemode) | |||||
| DRACO/X8 | DRACO Major 8-Port Interface Card: Empty | |||||
| DRACO/1C | DRACO Major GBIC Port Module for DRACO/X8: CatX | |||||
| DRACO/1M | DRACO Major GBIC Port Module for DRACO/X8: Fibre Optic (Multi-Mode) | |||||
| DRACO/1S | DRACO Major GBIC Port Module for DRACO/X8: Fibre Optic (Single-Mode) | |||||
| DRACO/RPSU | DRACO Major Redundant PSU Option | |||||
Draco Local and Remote Units
A Local (CPU) Unit is connected between the switch and each CPU (or video source) whilst a Remote (CON) Unit is required between the switch and each user console (or monitors). Various models available each with different interface options, all of which may be rack mounted.
| Interconnect | Distance | DVI-D | Single-Head/ Dual-Head |
Serial-Audio/ USB 2.0 options |
| CatX | 120 metres | Compressed DVI-D | Yes | Yes |
| Multimode | 400 metres | Compressed DVI-D | Yes | Yes |
| Singlemode | 10 Km | Compressed DVI-D | Yes | Yes |
Two extender ranges are available for use with the Draco Major: DVX and Draco Extender.
We recommend the latest Draco Extender modules for use in the most demanding applications.
For full details on the Draco Extender range, please click here.
The DVX range is more cost-effective for CatX applications where 1080p video is not required.
For full details on the DVX Extender range, please click here for CatX or Fibre devices.