Raritan Computer purchased CCC FreeVision intellectual property and inventory in October of 2003. Since then, Raritan has offered non-CCC product upgrades for existing FreeVision customers; however, Raritan is not promoting new CCC equipment.

End-of-life product announcements for enterprise-level CCC FreeVision KVM switch will leave customers without a solution when technical problems arise or if expansion is necessary. 42U Sales Engineers are here to assist CCC customers help find product replacements and upgrades for discontinued FreeVision KVM switches. Competitive KVM upgrades for the latest technology include CAT5 KVM switches as well as KVM over IP Digital technology.

New Raritan KVM switches available for CCC FreeVision replacement would include the Raritan Paragon II CAT5-based KVM switch as well as the Dominion KX KVM over IP product line.

To further assist users with upgrading and replacing discontinued KVM products, 42U is offering a port buy-back program to help users recoup a part of the initial KVM investment. Port buy-back allows CCC users to trade-in old KVM equipment and receive credit for new KVM switches that are purchased through 42U.

The KVM buy-back program works on a Port for Port basis and allows users to combine ports on more then one KVM Switch. For example: if 2 KVM Switches with a total of 32-Ports are being considered for port buy-back, users will receive credit for all 32-Ports if a new KVM system totaling 32 ports or more is purchased.

For more information regarding CCC FreeVision Competitive Upgrades or our port buy-back program, please complete our simple Upgrade Project Evaluation Form and tell us about your environment. Please include details concerning which KVM switch product(s) you would like to upgrade from. As always, feel free to send us an email at sales@42U.com or call our Sales Engineers at 1-800-NET2NET (800-638-2638).

Following is some historical information about the CCC FreeVision product line:

CCC Network Systems' FreeVision delivered functionality, scalability and reliability to web-hosting service providers, ASPs and corporate data centers. FreeVision incorporates a combination of hardware and software to enable the switching of keyboard, monitor, and mouse control from virtually any number of servers to any number of user work areas. All this is done without the need to install special cables as FreeVision uses standard Category 5 cabling.

CCC FreeVision Hardware
All FreeVision switches were designed for mission critical, real-time data center environments. Totally modular in design, each component is hot-swappable and can be scaled from 16 to 64,000 servers on demand. Choose from the following range depending on the numbers of users:

• FreeVision X32 (64 servers x 32 users or 192 servers x 32 users)
• FreeVision X64 (128 servers x 64 users)
• FreeVision X192 (128 servers x 192 users)
• FreeVision X512 (up to 64,000 servers x 512 users)

CCC FreeVision 14U chassis
(32 x 192; 64 x 128; 192 x 128; & N x N chassis)

CCC FreeVision (64 servers x 32 User chassis)

CCC FreeVision Software
An enterprise class software system is an integral element of the FreeVision system. The server selection system provides easy location and management of any number of servers, whilst the administration tools and SQL database provides first class security, auditing and control of the data center

C-C-C Mini-Transmit Unit

The FreeVision X Server Management System is the most advanced server switch ever designed. The system brings Keyboard, Video and Mouse (KVM) switching to a new dimension with its infinitely scaleable, non-blocking architecture. Data center personnel can have access from 16 to 64,000 servers to any desktop at a single keystroke.

Dramatic reductions in total cost of ownership
FreeVision X slashes real estate requirements of standard data center design. Even when compared to contentional KVM switches, FreeVision X can save more than 55% in floor and rack space.

Energy
Removing even more VGA monitors than conventional KVM switches, the power consumption and thermal output from peripherals are reduced. This in turn, diminishes power and ventilation requirements.

Personnel efficiencies
FreeVision X can dramatically improve the efficiency of data center personnel. It is designed for data center professionals to take 'out of band' control of a server quickly and effectively. Network operators do not spend time walking around monitoring the data center.

Security
FreeVision X delivers a true 'lights out' data center where personnel do not have to enter the computer room to load and re-boot servers. FreeVision X administration and server selection software adds an additional layer of security by allowing network management the ability to authorize who gets access to each server.

System Architecture

Server Connectivity
Keyboard, monitor and mouse are connected from each server to a choice of ISA based or rack -mounted transmit device (see technical overview- FreeDesk technology). The transmit module carries all signals from the server over a single category 5 twisted pair cable to a high performance keyboard, mouse and video switch. Distances into the switch of over 700 feet on VGA resolutions of 1280x1024 can comfortably be achieved.

Infinitely Scalable Switch
The video switch is of modular design and the number of inputs (servers) and numbers of outputs (users) are totally flexible. The system can be infinitely scaled in any direction. Each hub in the system is powered by dual load-sharing power supplies to minimize downtime whilst dynamic error handling provides complete status reports on the condition of all switch components.

World Class Software

A suite of enterprise class software technology compliments the innovation in switch design.

Both client software and switch server software is based on Windows NT and therefore utilizes all information from the installed NT domain controller. Network management can save and recall server profiles or drop whole groups of servers onto any number of screens even though another user has read/write access. Status of the switch, users and servers can be monitored in real-time through a comprehensive set of management tools that can grant access to servers or groups of servers by specific users or user groups. Access and transaction information is stored to SQL database for subsequent performance analysis.