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    dread - Former HES Forum Member
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Some networking help please!!

Hi,
We have 7 clubs in our complex, with 2 iPC and 5 dedicated Hog3PC systems running the lights. I keep all Hog3 systems software up to date. I do not use any DP2000 or DP8000's. All system dmx are connected via widgets or super widgets. I also have 15 PC's running video, lasers, music and some stage mechanics. I have an AV server which we regularly backup the shows on. All the clubs PC's are connected to a fibre linked gigabit network, and have fixed IP addresses, and have access to internet. There are about 100 PC's across the network. The iPC's weren't connected due to issues I had with Hog3 V2.0.x. but I would like to connect them to the network at some point.
I run XP Professional SP3 on Dual Core systems with 2gig ram, Nvidia Quadro video cards & ELO Touch screens. I have Windows firewall off and run norton internet security 2003 & 2009 on the AV PC's.

Previously I had Hog3PC configured to run off the loopback adaptor, and ignore the network connection, so that network going down etc wouldn't affect running of the shows.
I didn't worry about port and net numbers, apart from each Hog3PC having a different port number. They are all running different shows.

I updated our iPC's with full install of v8.3 image, and updated iPC config and hog3pc v3.0.1.
I updated 1 of Hog3PC system to v3.0.0, and then v3.0.1 when it came out. After a couple of weeks of it running smoothly and we are happpy with it I proceeded to upgrade all systems to v3.0.1 b2425.

Instant headache!! Not 1 system would work!! Even the system which had been running for a couple of weeks now would not work!!
The show server would not load. If I said 'ok' to waiting it would try again but would not start. If I said 'no' it would log off to config screen. If I tell it to launch show it would ask me to unlock, then I would have an "fps: " exception and have to restart the software. No change after restart.
I'm sorry that I did not have time to note down the error messages and steps I took to try and remedy it but with the clubs open or opening soon time was not on my side!
I guessed it was due to the new way of dealing with network in v3.0.x so removed all the network connections from all the systems and got all systems to work! PHEW!!!! I haven't reconnected the systems to the network yet.

So... my question is...
How should I setup the Hog3PC networking in this type of system?
What network settings should I use for the iPC's?
I need to used fixed IP's as I stream music and media to other PC's on the network and cannot have an IP conflict.

Regards,
Craig Burridge.
:hogsign: makes us look better!:hogsign:
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    Both points you had are correct. If you have 2 computers on the same ip address, they will not function properly. Both machines are now confused with each-other and it is just destroying the data between them. Basically when you use either a console or 3pc, the software uses the actual connection to communicate from the software interface to the output interface. So Even if you are using USB widgets, it is using the network to go between the front panel to a virtual DP8000 which communicates via USB to a widget. If you disconnect that link, it no longer has a way of talking between the front panel software and that virtual DP8000. This is why they had to have the loopback driver in the earlier days of Hog PC. Now the software will auto configure itself upon start up. But if you are using a network interface, it will rely on that.

    If you have someone who is changing IP addresses on you, then you should have a talk with them. If you map out your entire network and have each device with its own network IP, then you should be fine.

    As far as someone disconnecting the cable, I would recommend you manually install a loopback driver and just lock it onto that so it won't try and connect via the network card.

    Ryan
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  • 0
    Both points you had are correct. If you have 2 computers on the same ip address, they will not function properly. Both machines are now confused with each-other and it is just destroying the data between them. Basically when you use either a console or 3pc, the software uses the actual connection to communicate from the software interface to the output interface. So Even if you are using USB widgets, it is using the network to go between the front panel to a virtual DP8000 which communicates via USB to a widget. If you disconnect that link, it no longer has a way of talking between the front panel software and that virtual DP8000. This is why they had to have the loopback driver in the earlier days of Hog PC. Now the software will auto configure itself upon start up. But if you are using a network interface, it will rely on that.

    If you have someone who is changing IP addresses on you, then you should have a talk with them. If you map out your entire network and have each device with its own network IP, then you should be fine.

    As far as someone disconnecting the cable, I would recommend you manually install a loopback driver and just lock it onto that so it won't try and connect via the network card.

    Ryan
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