Installation Guide: Chassis & Card Installation

Overview

This guide covers rack mounting the FLEX chassis, installing input and output cards, and completing the initial cabling and power-on sequence. Follow the steps in order — cards must be installed before power-on.

Before You Begin

• Plan your card configuration before installation. Determine how many FLEX-HDMI8IN, FLEX-HDMI12OUT, and FLEX-CAT12OUT cards are needed based on your I/O count.
• Have all cards, cables, and the chassis on-site before starting.
• Power down the chassis before installing or removing any cards at any time.

Step 1 — Rack Mounting

1. Confirm rack space: FLEX-MF8X10 = 2U, FLEX-MF16X20 = 2U, FLEX-MF24X36 = 4U, FLEX-MF24X60 = 4U.
2. Install rack ears on both sides of the chassis using the included screws.
3. Slide the chassis into the rack and secure with rack screws — minimum 4 screws (2 per side).
4. Allow at least 1U of clearance above and below the chassis for airflow. The chassis has internal fans; do not block ventilation slots.

Step 2 — Card Installation

Power must be OFF before installing or removing cards.

1. Remove the blank slot cover(s) from the card slot(s) you intend to use.
2. Align the card with the slot guide rails. Cards are keyed — input cards install in input slots, output cards in output slots. Do not force a card into the wrong slot type.
3. Slide the card in firmly until the edge connector is fully seated. You should feel a positive engagement.
4. Secure the card’s retention screws (or locking lever, depending on chassis model).
5. Repeat for all cards.
6. Replace blank covers on any unused slots to maintain airflow.

Step 3 — Cabling

Input Connections (FLEX-HDMI8IN)

• Connect HDMI 2.0 cables from sources to the input card ports. Label each cable with the source name and input number.
• Maximum HDMI cable length: 5m passive; use active HDMI cables or extenders for longer source runs.

HDMI Output Connections (FLEX-HDMI12OUT)

• Connect HDMI 2.0 cables from output card ports to nearby displays.
• Label each cable with the output slot, port number, and display location.

CATx Output Connections (FLEX-CAT12OUT + FLEX-CATRX)

• Connect solid-core CAT6a cables from FLEX-CAT12OUT ports to each remote display location.
• Maximum run: 100m at 4K60. Label each run with output slot, port, and destination.
• At the display end, connect the CAT6a cable to the FLEX-CATRX RJ45 input. Connect the FLEX-CATRX HDMI output to the display.
• Enable PoC on each port in the web GUI after first boot to power the FLEX-CATRX receivers.

Management Network

• Connect the chassis management Ethernet port to the network switch for web GUI and IP control access.

RS-232 Control (Optional)

• Connect DB9 RS-232 cable from the chassis rear panel to the control system processor if using RS-232 control.

Step 4 — Power-On Sequence

1. Verify all cards are fully seated and secured.
2. Connect the chassis power cable(s) to a UPS-protected power circuit.
3. Power on the chassis. Internal fans will spin up.
4. Wait approximately 60 seconds for the system to fully initialize. The front panel display shows the chassis model, firmware version, and IP address.
5. Power on displays after the chassis is fully booted.

Step 5 — Verify Card Detection

1. Open the web GUI via the chassis IP address.
2. Navigate to System → Card Status or the routing matrix view.
3. Verify all installed input and output cards are detected. Each card’s slot position, type, and port count should be listed.
4. If a card is not detected: power down, reseat the card, and reboot.

Cooling Notes

• The FLEX chassis uses forced-air cooling with internal fans. Ensure the rack has adequate front-to-rear airflow.
• Do not stack items directly on top of the chassis.
• Operating temperature: 0–40°C (32–104°F). Maintain ambient rack temperature within this range.

Related Articles

• System Design Guide: Sizing Your Flex Matrix
• Network Setup: IP Control & Management
• Features & Configuration: HDBaseT & CATx Extension
• Troubleshooting & FAQ: Flex Matrix