Strand OLE in Remote mode

[floyd99]

Hi all,

I'd like to have a play with the Strand OLE software on PC in remote mode - to be able to do plotting etc from the auditorium without going to the hassle of moving the 520i console down 6 flights of stairs <_<

 

I've installed VMWARE workstation and in that loaded up Win 98SE.

 

I then boot Win98 in MS-DOS mode.

 

If I run "geniusp", the OLE fires up and works really nicely. It's very responsive. That's just in offline mode though, and pretty useless to me !

 

However, if I run "geniusp remote", it errors not being able to initialize the network driver.

 

I looked at the "neton.bat" file and notice it wants to load a 3com packet driver. However, I'm not running a 3com card :)

 

Has anyone succesfully got this working without using a 3com ? Sure, I could build a dedicated PC, throw a 3com card in it, and possibly get this working... but I'd REALLY like to get it working on my laptop, for obvious reasons.

 

The Strand doco on this is horrible.. I didn't even know about the "remote" command line parameter until I found another post on it here on this site, and when I looked at the geniusp.bat file a little closer.

 

Cheers

Dave

[peter]

Have you installed the networker portion of the Strand software? IIRC thats a seperate download and install. Both have to be installed in 'offline' mode, AFAIK.

 

I'm not sure that its possible to get the offline software working via network when using a VMWARE type installation - firstly, does VMWARE support network passthrough? If not, you're going to be fighting a losing battle even if you can get the driver support into the software.

 

If you want a remote, you might be best off looking at the xConnect designers remote - around £120 but runs natively under non-DOS operating systems (XP and OSX).

[floyd99]

thanks Peter

 

Yes, I've installed both the C5 (o/s) and CN (network) portions of the strand software.

 

VMWARE does support network passthrough, the win98 side of things has network connectivity.

 

I'd kinda like to get this working if I can... spending $300AU on the designers usb thing would be good, but money is always tight.

[strand600X]

It is possible to do what your asking but you need to change the 220node.cfg file in your laptop...

I have done it in the "workshop" at work linking to a 520i via a cat5 cable and network hub

It works

I'll try to remember how then get back to you

Baz

Opera North

[Andi_Davis]

However, if I run "geniusp remote", it errors not being able to initialize the network driver.

 

I looked at the "neton.bat" file and notice it wants to load a 3com packet driver. However, I'm not running a 3com card <_<

 

The Strand doco on this is horrible.. I didn't even know about the "remote" command line parameter until I found another post on it here on this site, and when I looked at the geniusp.bat file a little closer.

 

What error do you get? Something like "115 - network could not be initialized"? (Paraphrasing slightly from memory!) What happens if you run neton.bat at the command line rather than running geniusp.bat with the remote switch? Running neton directly may give you a bit more of a clue what the nature of the problem is (it may not of course!)

 

If by any chance neton.bat runs without a problem (extremely unlikely given what you've said in your post!) run IOFTPDOS from the command prompt whilst your laptop is attached to the network, and then run WHO to identify if you can see the network. (This is a kind of useful half way house to establish what communication is going on, before trying to launch as a remote). As someone mentioned, before trying to connect to the network you should open 220node.cfg (which will be held in the geniusp directory, and check that the IP does not clash with one that is already used on your network. Its very possible the IP will have defaulted to 192.168.0.68 (default address for a main console) in which case you will obviously need to change it in order to avoid a clash.

 

If you haven't looked at it, may I suggest a quick glance over a document that Rob (Halliday) wrote on running offline editor in Virtual PC on OS X. Although the details will obviously differ, its a good place to start when trying to run GeniusPro in an emulator. Many of the issues it mentions will have direct equivalents when running VMWare. You should be able to find it on the Strand website...

 

Andi.

[strand600X]

If your rumming WIn98 as you suggest then you don't need VMWARE just boot the PC up in dos by pressing the F8 key whilst it is booting up then go into the geniusp prog then run geniusp

 

As I said you need to change 220node.cfg to suit and the IP address needs to be static something like 192.168.0.64 would do...

BAZ

 

Here is the 220node.cfg file you need I have made the changes just copy it then change it for the one in your laptop

 

Baz

#

# Copyright © Strand Lighting Ltd 1994-2003.

# All rights reserved.

#

# Networker node configuration file

#

# $Id: 220node.cfg,v 87.3 2003/09/02 13:20:06 rtl Exp $

#

# Configures this node for the Strand ShowNet network.

#

# You can edit this file, but be aware that the system

# can rewrite it to change some of the fields. Lines

# are marked (user-edited) or (system-edited) accordingly.

#

# You can add comment lines starting with #, or change

# the order of the lines.

#

# To find out how to upgrade SN node software over the

# network, see the file SW2ALL.BAT on the SN software disk.

#

 

# Address, name & type of this node on the network (user-edited)

# nodeaddr = xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx Must be unique for each node.

# nodetype = (300/425/430/510/520/530/550/510i/520i/530i/550i/

# SN100/SN102/SN103/SN104/IOFTP/

# DESIGNER_PC/BACKUP_PC/CS_PC/NET_MON)

# hostname is 8 characters max. Must be unique for each node.

nodeaddr = 192.168.0.64

nodetype = DESIGNER_PC

hostname = Laptop

 

# TCP/IP Netmask: (user-edited)

netmask = 255.255.255.0

 

# TCP/IP Gateway: (user-edited)

gateway = 0.0.0.0

 

# File server IP address: (user-edited)

# 0.0.0.0 means file server not used

# Used by consoles and PCs to locate the file server

file_server_addr = 0.0.0.0

 

# Network DMX slot range IP addresses: (user-edited)

# 0.0.0.0 means use default of subnet broadcast

# The 4 ranges relate to the 4 ranges in Console Setup.

net_dmx_slot_range_1_addr = 0.0.0.0

net_dmx_slot_range_2_addr = 0.0.0.0

net_dmx_slot_range_3_addr = 0.0.0.0

net_dmx_slot_range_4_addr = 0.0.0.0

 

# IP address of main console to connect to: (user-edited)

# Used by backup and remote consoles to locate the main console

console_addr = 192.168.0.68

 

# Disable or enable the login display: (user-edited)

# The Server application needs to be installed for this to work

# 0 (disable) or 1 (enable)

login_display = 0

 

# Disable or enable console outputs: (user- and system-edited)

# Offline means all local and network DMX and handhelds are off

# 0 (offline) or 1 (online)

on_line = 1

 

# Define how this node starts up: (user- and system-edited)

# 0 (remote) or 1 (backup) or 2 (main console)

backup_mode = 0

 

# Defines how CLR & SHIFT CLR operate (user-edited)

# 0 (clr deletes single key, shift clr deletes whole command line)

# 1 (clr deletes whole command line, shift clr deletes single key)

clr_mode = 0

 

# Defines if preview field locking is used or not (user-edited)

# 0 (disables field locking - fields are always editable)

# 1 (enables field locking - fields locked until SHIFT-TRACKBALL)

field_lock_mode = 0

 

# Defines if current cue is common to all users (user-edited)

# 0 (all users have their own current cue)

# 1 (current cue is common to all users)

common_user_mode = 0

 

# Max intensity channels (user-edited)

# 0 (use password as limit)

# 1..password_limit

max_intensity_channels = 0

 

# Number of show to load at startup: (user- and system-edited)

# 0 (current show) or 1 -> 5 (listed in <user_name>.usr file)

user_show = 0

 

# Name of last logged in user: (user- and system-edited)

# Up to 8 characters, no spaces

user_name =

 

# Password of last logged in user: (user- and system-edited)

user_pw =

 

# PanelId (user- and system-edited)

# These entries list the Panel Ids for the panels attached to a

# 300 processor unit. If the panel is not present, it should have

# the value 00-00-00-00.

panelid_1cc = 00-00-00-00

panelid_1fdr = 00-00-00-00

panelid_2fdr = 00-00-00-00

panelid_3fdr = 00-00-00-00

panelid_4fdr = 00-00-00-00

panelid_5fdr = 00-00-00-00

panelid_6fdr = 00-00-00-00

panelid_7fdr = 00-00-00-00

panelid_smpte = 00-00-00-00

panelid_1vlcd = 00-00-00-00

panelid_2vlcd = 00-00-00-00

panelid_3vlcd = 00-00-00-00

panelid_4vlcd = 00-00-00-00

panelid_shlcd = 00-00-00-00

 

#

# End of file

#

 

 

This of course assumes your desk is set as standard with an IP address of 192.168.0.68 if not then you need to change that line to suit

 

Baz

Opera North

[Chris Davies]

Hi,

 

As others have mentioned you will need to edit the 220node.config file in order to setup the OLE as a remote.

 

I have found that the easiest way to do this is through the NOTES Page of the console. You will therefore need to boot the OLE on your laptop normally to start with, then edit the config file to be a remote and then restart it.

 

Although not exactly what you are trying to do (if I have understood your post correctly) there are two topics within the Blue Room that might be of some help to you:

 

- Strand 500 linking two together

 

(May be of some help with regards to the 220node config file part)

 

- Saving a show to Laptop

 

(May be of some help with running the OLE and networking etc)

 

Just have a search for them

 

CHRIS

[Andi_Davis]

If your rumming WIn98 as you suggest then you don't need VMWARE just boot the PC up in dos by pressing the F8 key whilst it is booting up then go into the geniusp prog then run geniusp

 

 

If I'm reading the original post correctly, there is no indication of what the native operating system is - merely that the hosted operating system running within VMWare is Windows 98. Unless of course the original poster thought it might be fun to emulate Windows 98 in VMWare on a Windows 98 native OS, which would be either peverse or ironic in the extreme!

[floyd99]

thanks everyone.

 

My laptop runs WinXP. I have tried running neton.bat and I also copied that file and edited it, removing @echo off and adding some pauses. The problem occurs because neton.bat only has a couple of packet drivers installed, 3com, SMC, Intel etc. VMWARE presents the network card as something else, so those packet drivers all fail to load not finding a card.

 

I do see they've included the DEC chip card, which is what Microsoft Virtual PC uses, so I might give Virtual PC a try. I work in I.T. during the day, so I'm fortunate in having knowledge in this area and access to lots of software. I must say, the documentation on this stuff is extremely poor... Strand should be hit over the head with a nice heavy harmony profile.

 

I decided to put that on hold and load DOS (FreeDOS) onto an old PC and I've managed to succesfully get that up and running with a 3com card. I just popped down to the theatre and gave it a try... works like a treat. So that's a good fallback, but I'd really like my laptop to work. Ideally I'd like to throw the old PC up in the fly tower at dimmer level.

[MarcT]

You need a DOS based packet driver for whatever network card you have.

 

VMWare workstation presents a virtual "AMD PCNET" network adapter - so that's the one you need. There will be other config files to edit if you stray away from the Strand 3com default (neton.bat, etc)

 

Looks like Strand include drivers for:

 

3com Etherlink III (3c5x9)

3com Vortex series (3c90x)

SMC 91Cxx

DEC (Compaq) dc21x4 (As emulated in Virtual PC)

Intel(?) E100

 

...so getting it working in VMWare could take a bit of effort. Its something I've been meaning to look into for a while.

 

Regards,

Marc