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Hardware => Lynx EtherDongle => Topic started by: Penfold on January 20, 2012,

Title: 5 Port Ethernet Switch
Post by: Penfold on January 20, 2012,
If this has already been addressed, then I am sorry for re-posting.

Would it be possible to hook up multiple EDs on one Ethernet card provided you have it hooked up to say a 5 port Ethernet switch, or would it just be better to get another Ethernet card hooked up in the computer?

Mike
Title: Re: 5 Port Ethernet Switch
Post by: JonB256 on January 20, 2012,
That is how you would do it.

Common home setup has Internet coming into some sort of modem. That box will usually also be a combination router and switch with multiple Ethernet ports. Your computer goes into one of the ports. Your Etherdongle goes into another port. Your computer will be able to communicate with every Etherdongle you connect (as long as they have non-conflicting TCP/IP addresses).

Because my router was not Gigabit speed, but I have 3 computers that will do Gigabit, I got an 8-port Gigabit Switch. All my computers plug into that, plus my E1.31 (I don't have an actual Etherdongle yet).  That switch then connects to my router. This allows all my equipment to stay a maximum speed.

ps - since the Etherdongle and all the E1.31 devices I've seen are only 100mb speed, be sure any Gigabit switch you buy supports multiple speed connections. Some of them will slow everything down to match the slowest thing plugged into a port.
Title: Re: 5 Port Ethernet Switch
Post by: chrisatpsu on January 20, 2012,
if you currently have two or more etherdongles, they can be used on the same betwork, but will share the same set of channels...   to use the 2nd etherdongle for another set of 16k channels, you would have to wait till rj releases the new firmware for this, or run them on seperate networks, controlled by seperate software.
Title: Re: 5 Port Ethernet Switch
Post by: Penfold on January 20, 2012,
Hey Jon and Chris,

Then theoretically speaking you could run on the same computer provided you had a different network card.  As far as separate software couldn't you use the same software as long as you setup different universes on the second to reflect the new IP address that you would designate for the network card or am I over simplifying this?. 
Title: Re: 5 Port Ethernet Switch
Post by: Steve Gase on January 20, 2012,
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Hey Jon and Chris,

Then theoretically speaking you could run on the same computer provided you had a different network card.  As far as separate software couldn't you use the same software as long as you setup different universes on the second to reflect the new IP address that you would designate for the network card or am I over simplifying this?.
I was thinking of the same... but how would the plugins (Vixen? LSP?) know which NIC to use to reach one ED or the other?  We really need a configuration tool, new firmware, and...?
Title: Re: 5 Port Ethernet Switch
Post by: chrisatpsu on January 20, 2012,
who's really going to need more than 16k channels?  >:D

[/sarcasm off]
Title: Re: 5 Port Ethernet Switch
Post by: Penfold on January 20, 2012,
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who's really going to need more than 16k channels?  >:D

[/sarcasm off]
It's funny you should ask!

Someone that has 110 DMX universes perhaps?  I guess you would call it a cosmos! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZWXtLNMDOw
Title: Re: 5 Port Ethernet Switch
Post by: rdebolt on January 20, 2012,
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who's really going to need more than 16k channels?  >:D

[/sarcasm off]

ME X 3  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Re: 5 Port Ethernet Switch
Post by: dpitts on January 20, 2012,
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Hey Jon and Chris,

Then theoretically speaking you could run on the same computer provided you had a different network card.  As far as separate software couldn't you use the same software as long as you setup different universes on the second to reflect the new IP address that you would designate for the network card or am I over simplifying this?.
I was thinking of the same... but how would the plugins (Vixen? LSP?) know which NIC to use to reach one ED or the other?  We really need a configuration tool, new firmware, and...?

I think LSP lets you select which nic to use for multicast. I have a local and a wireless nic and they both show up in e131 setup.
Title: Re: 5 Port Ethernet Switch
Post by: chrisatpsu on January 20, 2012,
can lsp use different netowrks for multicast of different channels?  say 1-10 on network 1, and 11-20 on network 2?
Title: Re: 5 Port Ethernet Switch
Post by: dpitts on January 20, 2012,
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can lsp use different netowrks for multicast of different channels?  say 1-10 on network 1, and 11-20 on network 2?

I don't think so. The universe number would have to be different in the "Configure Controller Output Plugin" screen for the two networks. Because the "Configure Controller" screen uses the "Zone/Network" setting to know which universe and configured network card to send the data to. At least that is my understanding of LSP and E131 plug-in.
Title: Re: 5 Port Ethernet Switch
Post by: chrisatpsu on January 20, 2012,
so then, you can't currently control 2 eD's with the same software on the same computer.
Title: Re: 5 Port Ethernet Switch
Post by: dpitts on January 21, 2012,
Now as a disclaimer I do not have an EthernetDongle yet. I missed first coop. But theoretically you should be able to. I attached a screen shot of what I think may work. Where universe 1-32 is first Ethernet Dongle and 33-64 is second. Notice I did not show universes 2-31 or 34-63 because I did not want to take time to set them up. Universe 1-32 use "multicast local network" and 33-64 use "wireless network". LSP uses the universe number (zone/network) to direct the data to correct interface like I stated in my last post. But the channel numbering for both networks is the same. 

So I do not think you need additional interfaces or control screens added to LSP. Although the EtherDongle might not be able to receive universes beyond 32 which could limit the amount of EtherDongles to one. But this would not be an LSP E131 plug-in limitation.  Just my thoughts, may be wrong.


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so then, you can't currently control 2 eD's with the same software on the same computer.
Title: 5 Port Ethernet Switch
Post by: rm357 on January 21, 2012,
With the current firmware, multiple ether dongles will mirror each other. The multicast will flow to all ether dongles that are connected to your network.

I don't think there is a way to restrict multicast messages to specific Ethernet interfaces in the current version of windows...

With e1.31, the last octet of the ip address matches the DMX universe number that it is listening for. To run multiple EtD for more universes, the ip addresses that EtD #2 is listening for needs to be changed. I might be wrong, but that seems like a fairly easy change, but really - are any of you planning more than 16,000 channels for this year? If so, what software are you planning to use? Unless you go Madrix, I don't think the current software - vixen, lsp or lor, is up to the task...

If you are not planning more than 16k channels this year, then this discussion is purely academic.
Regardless, With a little patience, I think RJ will release the firmware you seek. If not, you can still use your USB dongles for additional universes.

RM
Title: Re: 5 Port Ethernet Switch
Post by: smartcontrols on January 21, 2012,
My Halloween show last year was over 16,000 channels using Vixen. I plan to be at about 30,000 channels for Christmas this year.

If the conductor does make it out this year, these dynamics may change a lot. I am thinking it will change how we do high channel counts anyway. Just have to wait and see.

Title: Re: 5 Port Ethernet Switch
Post by: dpitts on January 21, 2012,
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I don't think there is a way to restrict multicast messages to specific Ethernet interfaces in the current version of windows...

I have verified that LSP running on Windows 7 32-bit does send multicast message to only the Ethernet interface that is selected in the E131 setup.
Title: Re: 5 Port Ethernet Switch
Post by: RJ on January 21, 2012,
As I have posted before you guys are all worring about how to work around the system to run two of them and you do not need to. The system is designed to run many of them it takes a little patience. I have much going on and so you will be a month or so before you have this ability.

What I am trying to say is why try to figure out how to hack something to bypass the phase coupled inductor coil to output reverse axis neutrons when you can relax and seqence for a month while the update is tested and find that you need do nothing to make it do it on its own with out the hack. Since this is what it was design for to start with.

RJ
Title: Re: 5 Port Ethernet Switch
Post by: JonB256 on January 21, 2012,
I've had better luck if the I phase shift the coupling coils slightly. Then my neurons stay coherent and stable.
Title: Re: 5 Port Ethernet Switch
Post by: lineman on January 21, 2012,
Darn Flux capasitors <fp.
Title: Re: 5 Port Ethernet Switch
Post by: chrisatpsu on January 21, 2012,
i still need to replace the dingle arm
Title: Re: 5 Port Ethernet Switch
Post by: dpitts on January 21, 2012,
One application I am going to use two Ethernet interfaces will be to connect my neighbor to my left up to the show. I will run my EtherDongle from local area lan and connect to his wireless and EtherDongle with my wireless interface. This setup will save the cost of a wireless bridge. I really do like this E131 equipment :).
Title: Re: 5 Port Ethernet Switch
Post by: Penfold on January 23, 2012,
Wow guys,

Sorry for stirring up a hornets nest. :-[
Title: Re: 5 Port Ethernet Switch
Post by: chrisatpsu on January 23, 2012,
well, if you didn't ask, then you might not have known about future plans for the device, that would suit your needs.
Title: Re: 5 Port Ethernet Switch
Post by: RJ on January 23, 2012,
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Wow guys,

Sorry for stirring up a hornets nest. :-[

From this I think you misunderstand my reply,

 I am trying to say do not let the post about all the complicated ways you might be able to work around what is being seen as a limit, mislead you to doing a bunch of work not knowing that it will not be required.

RJ