User`s guide

Configuring the SGI Media Server for Control by Remote Devices

007-4403-003 47

Conﬁguring the SGI Media Server for Control by Remote Devices

To conﬁgure the SGI Media Server so that it can be controlled by remote devices, use the

/usr/vtr/config/control-in.conf ﬁle . The SGI Media Server supports devices

that use one of the following protocols:

• Video Disk Communications Protocol (VDCP) using RS-422

• The industry-standard, Sony-compatible VTR RS-422 control protocol

• Multiport Video Computer Protocol (MVCP) using TCP/IP

The /usr/vtr/config/control-in.conf ﬁle has three parts:

• Control port (serial port) conﬁguration—one line per device

• Other control ports—one line per device

• Signal port conﬁguration—one line per device

The control port and signal conﬁguration lines are described in the following

subsections.

Control Port Conﬁguration Line

You use the conﬁguration ﬁle /usr/vtr/config/control-in.conf to specify basic

connection parameters between the controlling devices (Sony and VDCP) and the

SGI Media Server. Connection parameters include such information as which serial port

controls a speciﬁc video board and the precise means of control interaction between the

port and video board.

For each serial port to be connected to a controlling device (such as an automation or edit

controller), insert a line in the /usr/vtr/config/control-in.conf ﬁle that uses the

following format:

protocol type port speed parity signalport rate latency [clips=path/*]

The following line shows a sample conﬁguration:

sony rs422 4 38400 1 1 29.97 0 clips=press-conference/*

This example speciﬁes that a controlling device using the Sony-compatible VTR protocol

is connected via an RS-422 serial line to serial port 4 on the server. The serial connection

speed is 38400 bits/s, using odd parity. The device is controlling the video port identiﬁed