I again got good customer support, transcripts below!
ME: Sent: Sunday, February 24, 2013 12:51 PM
To: info@highseclabs.com
Subject: High Sec Labs General Inquiry Form - Price Request
Looking for DisplayPort 1.2 KVM Switches, yours is one of the few that offers it. But... No links to buy, nothing on price. Which probably means it is Crazy expensive? Or not to market yet? Please inform! Also, is it DualMode (= DisplayPort++)? And more info on USB... Is it truly transparant? I suppose so, but... And this device is multi-headed too? Love to hear from you guys... :)
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ZOHAR VERED @ HSL: Our devices are secure KVM switches. This means that it is EAL 4+ certified and not exactly competing against standard KVM switches. The USB that will be mapped is only for mouse, keyboard and SC reader nothing else.
Here are the prices:
K504 - 4-Port High Security DisplayPort KVM Switch, USB PS/2 keyboard and mouse, DisplayPort video, Active anti-tampering, Front panel push-buttons, CPN06442 $660
K504E - 4-Port High Security DisplayPort KVM Switch, USB PS/2 keyboard and mouse, DisplayPort video, Audio out, USB user authentication port, Active anti-tampering, Front panel push-buttons, CPN06445 $700
K524E - 4-Port Dual-head High Security DisplayPort KVM Switch, USB PS/2 keyboard and mouse, 2 x DisplayPort video, Audio out, USB user authentication port, Active anti-tampering, Front panel push-buttons, CPN06448 $990
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ME: You are right, security sec is not what I am looking for, but I do see advantage in total seperation of hardware / data.
Also, you offer DisplayPort v1.2, which not many do.
I am looking for dual head & dual mode. Do you support dual mode? Eg. can I easily use a passive converter to use the switch for DVI/HDMI/VGA CPUs? Also known as DisplayPort++? Terminology is vague / confusing :)
Price might be a little over budget, but I am willing to go the extra buck. Which brings me to my last question: how do you handle complex USB mice & keyboards? This is a big problem for many (older) KVM switches. Does our security features solve this for me?
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ZOHAR VERED @ HSL: Dual mode is not supported (I don’t think it will be supported with 1.2 at all). All the passive convertors will not work between the KVM and the monitor.
There are two ways to handle USB.
1. The mouse and keyboard ports will handle only mouse and keyboard. All mouse and keyboards should work but if it is sending a macro or any other commands which are not keyboards related it will be blocked (such as a Bloomberg keyboard for example).
2. We have a DPP (dedicated Peripheral Port) port on the device which can be used for any peripheral. Usually we limit the use for SC readers or any other device requested by the customer but we can open it completely (remove all restriction) which will allow any USB device to be connected.
To switch between channels you can either use hotkeys, via push buttons or use RDC.
What we can do, is for you to purchase a switch and I will allow you to return it if you are not happy. The best way to purchase is via Norway but I have a partner in NL as well.
If you will purchase from Norway and are not requiring a secure device I can also discount the product a bit. (EDIT: that's service! :>)
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ME: 2 (smaller) questions that pop to my mind (a next reply will no doubt have more questions:)...
- no dual mode, and won't be implemented (probably). Is this because of some technical impossibility I did not think of yet? Or is it just not important for your current KVM Switch's product branch?
And does this also mean I can only use Digital Links? I might still be lacking technical know-how on this topic... Your patience truly is appreciated!
- USB... Again, a tough topic! Do you mean to say that only keyboards & mouses that are fully USB HID compliant are allowed? Or are complex keyboards and mice supported too? Eg., is it truly transparant USB? And if non-HID KB/M's are used, will they still support hotkey??
:) Till my next question & peace!
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ZOHAR VERED @ HSL:
1. The answer is both. In DP 1.2 the frequency does not seem to match passive convertors. Also for security we did not explore this avenue.
2. Through the DPP is 100% truly transparent. Through the mouse and keyboard ports its only HID complaint. I must say that I did not get many that did not work. If you send me a link to your keyboard I will tell if it will work on not through the keyboard port.
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RESEARCH (c.) by Devnullius ('013) - OR how passive conversion fails for DP 1.2 :/
I Googled for:
dp 1.2 passive converter
and
produce displayport 1.2 signal from (hdmi OR dvi)
And found: STMicroelectronics STDP2690 high-speed DisplayPort to DisplayPort dual mode converter
http://www.st.com/st-web-ui/static/active/en/resource/technical/document/data_brief/DM00056675.pdfNO current resellers found - I contacted a distributor that is going to look into it... But later I also found this:
http://www.eetindia.co.in/ART_8800669050_1800004_NP_eeb8d286.HTM (ST's Mystique family products: A/V converters bridge HDMI, DisplayPort). ST seems to be the only one trying to tackle this problem. Also see first "*Research link" at the bottom of the page (chipset manufacturer).
Copy Paste from the manual:
This device includes a VESA DP Standard Ver. 1.2 compliant receiver and transmitter, implementing single link DisplayPort input and output ports comprising four Main lanes, AUX CH, and HPD.
The STDP2690 uses ST's latest generation DisplayPort dual mode transmitter technology that supports both DisplayPort and TMDS signal formats (DP++).
DisplayPort receiver and transmitter support HBR2 speed, a data rate of 5.4 Gbps per lane with a total bandwidth of 21.6 Gbps link rate.
In addition, the transmitter is capable of supporting HDMI or single link DVI output through a passive level translator (dongle).
When configured as HDMI output, this device supports link rate up to 2.97 Gbps that corresponds to a pixel rate of 297 MHz, quite adequate for handling video timings up to FHD 120 Hz 3D formats.
This device delivers deep color video up to 16-bits per color at 1080p 60 Hz and lower video resolutions.
The STDP2690 allows audio transport from the source to desired audio rendering devices over the DP++ output or through the SPDIF port. The audio signal from the source can be routed simultaneously to DP++ and SPDIF output ports. For example, the STDP2690 allows routing of any two audio channels on the SPDIF port, while transporting up to eight channels on the DP++ port.
The STDP2690 supports RGB and YCbCr colorimetric formats with color depth of 16, 12, 10, and 8 bits.
This device features HDCP 1.3 content protection scheme with an embedded key option for secure transmission of digital audio-video content. It also operates as an HDCP repeater for the downstream sink.
The AUX-to-I2C translator in the STDP2690 allows the upstream DisplayPort source to access EDID and transfer MCCS commands to a downstream sink over the HDMI interface when used with a level translator.
The device has an on-chip microcontroller with SPI and I2C host interface for system configuration purposes. STDP2690 can be configured with an external SPI Flash for custom applications or simply configured from an external host controller through I2C interface. (END COPY PASTE)
ALSO note from:
http://www.displayport.org/faq/ Q: I just purchased a monitor that only has a DisplayPort connection. How can I hook this up to my computer that only has VGA, DVI or HDMI?
A: There is not a cost effective way to do this. The adaptors that are available only work from a DP computer to a VGA, DVI or HDMI monitor and not the other way around.
In general, searching for DisplayPort 1.2 KVM Switches is hard... Try this (exact) google search to see for yourself: --->
((dp OR displayport OR "display port" OR display-port) AND +(1.2 OR v1.2)) "kvm switch" multi-mode <---
Abstracting this information... I'd say it (=dual-mode DP 1.2) could be done, technical, but at a high cost.
Question that remains for me is: what KIND of signal does DisplayPort v1.2 offer?? I should research that further before nagging support again ;)
Some research links:
* DP hub/splitter?
http://superuser.com/questions/230744/looking-for-a-real-displayport-hub-splitter* STMicroelectronics (ST.com) Mystique DisplayPort 1.2 converter (DVI/VGA/HDMI)
https://encrypted.google.com/search?aq=f&oq=STmicroelectronics+mystique+(%E2%82%AC+OR+%24)&q=STmicroelectronics+mystique+(%E2%82%AC+OR+%24) . As far as I can tell, it was released June 2012 and then went DEAD :(
*
http://www.displayport.org/faq/* "Full HD 3D" & DisplayPort 1.2?
http://www.avsforum.com/t/1336045/full-hd-3d-displayport-1-2CONCLUSIONS:
- I would love this device. Industrial quality (me always likes that), DP v1.2.
- USB probably will be stable. Manufacturer will check when needed, but he hardly ever experienced any problems. Tweaks are available (less security=lower cost, opening USB for specific hardware or everything - done at reseller's(?)).
- According to information I found I could attach a HDMI-screen to a CPU with DP port without problems. But NOT a DP monitor to a HDMI CPU. What does this mean for me, with this KVM Switch?
This KVM Switch comes with DP "CPU"? I should check this logic with support!
So to DP CPU I could attach my old screens? But I do not attach a screen, I attach a real computer. That computer is the OUT-port. From that a cable starts (HDMI/DVI) ending in... DP KVMS. DP KVMS would be the "screen" in this logic, and therefore must originate in DP too. Which it didn't, it started with HDMI at the CPU computer...
ERGO ==> This KVM Switch with Display Port version 1.2 can only support CPUs with Display Port 1.2 and therefore is not a good solution to me (I need allround compatibility!).
BUT I am really fixated at Display Port v1.2 technology (bandwith! future compatibility). So if I MUST buy this device I must also buy a device that will transform "classic" HDMI/DVI/VGA to DP. There is not passive conversion possible. So this device would be expensive and COULD make mistakes... Currently, only st.com seems to have the technology (chipset) to do this. Very few product lines actually use this chipset and those that do are kinda invisible in Real Life :s - support request is outstanding...
FOR NOW I cannot advise this device... Still I'm open to buy extra hardware, if only it was available (and reasonably priced would be nice too! less that 100$? 200$ greatly appreciated;p).
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ZOHAR: In general it’s OK. I think the Blackbox product is a none secure product as far as I know.
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Karma...
devnullius!