Patent ID: 7562155

Claim:
A console switch that selectively connects a terminal to a hardware port of an information processing device that has a plurality of hardware ports connected through a network, the console switch comprising: a first unit that obtains information from the terminal, the information specifying the hardware port of the information processing device to be connected; a second unit that refers to a predetermined database based on the information obtained by the first unit, and establishes a connection path between the terminal and the hardware port of the information processing device; a storage unit for storing first information corresponding to hardware ports; a first tuning button that exchanges said first information corresponding to hardware ports included in the console switch with another console switch connected to the network, the other console switch having a second tuning button that exchanges second information corresponding to hardware ports included in the other console switch with the console switch; wherein if the first information corresponds to less hardware ports than the second information, only the information corresponding to the number of hardware ports of the first information is exchanged; wherein if the second information corresponds to less hardware ports than the first information, only the information corresponding to the number of hardware ports of the second information is exchanged; and an examining unit that determines whether transmission and reception data generated between the terminal and the hardware port of the information processing device are to be accumulated as logs based on said transmission and reception data; wherein when the first tuning button is engaged, a first tuning signal is transmitted to the other console switch; wherein when the second tuning button is engaged in response to receiving the first tuning signal, a second tuning signal is transmitted to the console switch; wherein when the first tuning button and the second tuning button are engaged, the first information and the second information are interactively exchanged between the console switch and the other console switch using a data handshake.