IPBaseT Manager: Rapid Deployment Tool

The exclusive Rapid Deployment Tool from Aurora Multimedia provides the means to record critical device information for every IPBaseT VLX or IPX on a network. The Rapid Deployment tool is part the the IPBaseT Manager Application which can be found via the Customer Portal at Auroramm.com

The process of documenting IP based network devices is necessary but can be time-consuming.

The Rapid deployment tool can create a fully filled out document with a simple connection and click. The spreadsheet created notes the IP information and system settings such as video wall sizing and gap compensation, Baud Rate of the serial ports., device mode, HDCP and HDMI modes and more.

If changes are needed to be made on a network scale - such as changing all units to a particular mode or updating IP Address ranges- the Rapid Deployment can use the updated document to upload the new information.

To Create the document

• Open IPBaseT Manager

• Use the connection tool to connect to the network the devices live on.

  • (if your unit right out of the box they will be set to 169.254.x.x address. You may need to change the ethernet adapter settings on your PC to connect)

• The VLX and IPX will take DHCP address from the Network unless set otherwise

Once Connected and the IPBaseT units are listed in the Encoder and Decoder windows of the software:

• Click Tools | Rapid Deployment

• The Rapid Deployment window will appear

• To retrieve all unit settings into the spreadsheet click the Download button

• Select the location to store the file

• Click| Save

To view the document - locate the .XLS file

• Open in any Spreadsheet program on Text Editor such as NotePad

• Make changes as needed

• Save under new name (Always good practice )

To upload the changes to the devices

• Click Tools | Rapid Deployment

• The Rapid Deployment window will appear

• Click the Upload button

• Locate the file

• Click Apply

The process is simply straightforward, but what are all of the parameters documented in the Rapid Deployment tool, what do they do and what are the options for each? The following is a complete list:

Device ID

This is the factory given Identifier given to the device. It should not be edited. The ID contains the IPBaseT series of device, its Device Mode and the last four digits of the unit serial number. (Your Serial number is located on the bottom of TC units and on the Back Plate of the wall mounted units)

Device Mode:

The Device Mode indicates if the unit is acting as a Encoder (Source) or Decoder (Destination). As the IPBaseT units are Transceivers, meaning they can be set to either mode via a control program, software or even the front panel of TC units, this serves to document the last known state.

Device Name:

The Device Name initially contains the same information as the Device ID but the Device Name can be edited to clearly reflect its location. While not required, for consistency we recommend that you keep the (last 4 digits) serial number in the name.

 

IP Address:

This is the IP address of the unit. The address is either

169.254.x.x - default Class B Address of the units

Static address - entered by installer/ Technician as per project specification

DHCP- Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol - Automatically assigned by the server from a predetermined range and class of IP Addresses.

IP Mode:

The IP Mode indicates, at the time of download, the current IP address mode of the unit.

The IPX can be set to Static or DHCP (dhcp by default).

The VLX defaults to auto IP (Automatic Private IP Addressing, also known as APIPA -Using 169.254.x.y address class) or it can be set to Static (Address you enter) or DHCP.

Mask

 

The Mask Parameter indicated the Subnet mask entered or assigned. Generally the subnet mask is assigned automatically based on the IP Class being used.

There are occasions where an IT Manager will use non standard matching of IP Class and Subnet mask for specific control of the network architecture. Unless an IT manager indicates otherwise use only the standard pair of IP Address to Subnet mask.

Gateway

The Gateway Parameter (often called the Default Gateway) indicates the physical address of the router. The Gateway device manages network data routing from one subnet or class to another.

MAC ID

The Machine Access Controller address is the unique predetermined number given to every network interfaces for communications at the data link layer of a network segment.

This cannot be modified

Front Panel Lock

When the Front Panel Lock parameter is set to True the buttons on the front of the device will no longer be functional.

This allows the installer or network manager to prevent meddling hands from pushing shiny buttons or accidental changes if brushed up against.

Auto Sense

If set to “True”, the input will detect when an HDMI or VGA cable (if using the VLX TCW wall plate) is connected to a device and automatically switch to it.

HDCP Capability

HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection ) can be turned on or off at the Encoder (Source) side only.

HDCP is ubiquitous on consumer media sources but in-house materials may not add this to provide ease of distribution.

HDMI 2.0 support

This field is a report only parameter and indicates whether or not the device supports HDMI 2.0

HDMI 2.0 allows support of higher frame rates like , 4K Ultra HD (2160p 60 and beyond).

The protocol spec also enables higher bandwidth data and a number of esoteric features like 3D, lower resolution dual streams and a variety aspect ratios.

Baud Rate | Data Bit | Stop Bit | Parity

The serial port on the IPBaseT transceivers follow the EIA/TIA 232 standard for bidirectional serial communication with equipment.

The Baud rate options are 9200, 38400, 57600, 115200

The Data Bit options are 7 or 8 bits. Typical is 8 bits

The Stop Bit options are 1 or 2 Stop bits

Parity is fixed at none

Operation Mode

The IPBaseT units can Send Serial commands in two modes:

Redirection Mode

This mode allows you to link VLX serial ports over IP, allowing serial data received on one VLX unit to transmit from the serial port on another VLX unit. This can be routed independently from video and audio, the serial redirection is configured using the web setup pages of the VLX.

Telnet Mode

Sending and receiving RS-232 data from a VLX transceiver is a simple as opening a Telnet connection to port 6752. This could be done from a computer Telnet client (such as Putty or Hercules), or from an AV control system. Once connected, any data transmitted to the VLX via Telnet will transmit out the VLX serial port. Likewise, any data received on the VLX serial port will show as received data in your Telnet client.

SOIP Mode

True or False

Indicates if Serial over IP Mode is on or off

Videowall Enable:

The IPBaseT transceivers, when set to decoder, have the ability to setup videowall configurations. The setup is accomplished by connecting to the decoder, enabling the videowall tab and setting the parameters needed.

The VLX can generate up to an 8x8 while the IPX can handle up to 16x16 videowall sizes.

In setting up a video wall display factors such as size, image scaling and compensating for the bezel size need to be accommodated if the the display messaging is to be effective.

The Videowall enable parameter is followed by thirteen sizing parameters but only the enable can be changed. Once these parameters are set in the device they can be uploaded via the Rapid Deployment tool and used uploaded to devices using the same configuration and displays.

Setting the Videowall Enable parameter to True activates the videowall tab on the browser capable configuration page embedded in each IPBaseT device.

Stream Source

The Stream Source parameter sets which input of the encoder is to sent to the decoder(s). The stream source. can be set to HDMI1, HDMI2 or VGA for VLX-TCW2V-C.

This Parameter only sets the stream source at the time of recording or uploading. Changes can be made via the front panel (if not locked out via the Front Panel Lock parameter), via a control system, device embeded configuration page, or even the IPBaseT manager.

Stream Audio Source

The VLX and IPX can break away the audio signal providing the ability to choose which audio source, if any, routes with the video.

The options on this parameter are Line-In and HDMI Audio. . Line-In streams the line input of the encoder and HDMI streams the HDMI audio.

HDMI Audio

This is the audio source of the HDMI out on a decoder. It can be set to HDMI, which will output the local HDMI audio or, if streaming, the “Stream audio source” set to on the encoder.

Analog Audio Source -HDMI

The IPBaseT units have an audio mixer built in, this option allows the HDMI source audio (from the Encoder) to be routed to the Line out of the decoder.

Analog Audio Source- Line-In

The Analog Audio Source- Line-In enables the Audio mixer to loop local line-in audio to the line out. The source connected to the analog line in connection will be routed to the local line out. This source, when enabled, does not send the local input to streaming.

Analog Audio Source- Dante

The IPBaseT line of Transceivers provide a Dante audio option. Simply adding the Dante option card (installed via the bottom panel access) enables 32 channels of Dante audio.

The Audio mixer option outputs Dante stereo audio mixdown to the line out.

Dante Audio Source

In addition to receiving and processing a Dante signal the VLX and IPX allows you to send local audio sources via the Dante stream.

The options are slightly different depending on whether the unit is set as an encoder or decoder.

The Options are:

“Line-In” or “None” for decoders

“HDMI”, “Line-In” or “None” for encoders.

Line In Mute

This parameter provides the ability to mute or unmute the line in audio feed.

The options are either Off or On

Line in Volume

The level of the input volume may need to be set for optimal signal. The Line input volume, can be set from 0-10

Line Out Volume

The level of the output volume may need to be set for optimal signal. The Line output volume, can be set from 0-10

Device Type:

The Device Type parameter is a report only and should not be modified.

“wv” for VGA wallplate

“wh” for HDMI wallplate

“bx” for a box version

No Signal Timeout

The IPBaseT decoder units default to an ‘No Signal’ screen if the source signal is lost. This image can be any bitmap you choose, but the factory default is a black screen with the IPBaseT logo and IP address info of the decoder.

If the installation requires the no signal screens to be disabled, the “No Signal Timeout” parameter can be turned off.

The parameter options are True or False.

Turn off screen on video loss

All too often an audio source will be turned off, (at the end of presentation or scheduled time for message), but the screen is not turned off.

The Turn off screen on video loss parameter provides a means to send an off command to the display attached to the decoder.

Scaler_Output_Mode

Quite often installations will use a variety of destination displays with differing capabilities. The IPBaseT transceivers provide the ability to scale the source signal to match the destination.

There are six possible scaling options that can be set.

• Pass-Through simply passes the signal on with no change, no scaling occurs.
• Ultra-HD-2160p25 sets the image to 3840 × 2160 at 25Hz
• Ultra-HD-2160p30 sets the image to 3840 × 2160 at 30Hz
• Full-HD-1080p50 sets the image to 1920 x 1080 at 50Hz
• Full-HD-1080p60 sets the image to 1920 x 1080 at 60Hz

Remote Hostname

The Remote Hostname provides a handy list of encoders and their paired decoders. While these listings may change via daily management, the list provides a snapshot of the last known state.

Originally published 2/16/2018