A passive video multiplexing method and apparatus for encoding video
synchronization signals within a KVM extension system. A Rack Interface
Pod (RIP) is provided for receiving video signals from a network server
and providing them to a remote user via a local area network (LAN). The
analog signals received by the RIP are transmitted to a Rack Connection
Manager (RCM) having video processing logic, a supervisory processor, a
KVM switch system, and Ethernet interface circuitry. A plurality of ARI
systems are connected to the RCM, and a plurality of network servers,
intended to be controlled by the remote user, are connected to each ARI
by a respective wiring strip or Pod Expansion Module (PEM). The RCM
performs selective switching by sourcing current through a pair of diodes
associated with an active channel of the PEM while reverse biasing diodes
associated with an inactive channel to select a network server among the
plurality of network servers. Switching of video is accomplished without
processing the video signals.