Installation User guide

MLC 226 IP Series • Software-based Confi guration and Control
4-2
Software-based Confi guration and Control
PRELIMINARY
Confi guration and Control: an Overview
An MLC 226 IP Series controller must be confi gured before use or it will not be
able to control other devices. The MLC 226 IP can be confi gured and controlled via
a host computer attached to the rear panel Host Control port or LAN port, or the
front panel Confi g port. See chapter 2 for pin assignments and other details on the
confi guration and control ports.
N
Extron recommends confi guring and controlling the MLC via the LAN
connector. Ethernet connections are faster and more reliable.
• The primary means for confi guring the controller is by using the Extron Global
Confi gurator (GC) software. This method requires a properly confi gured PC
with Windows
©
2000, Windows XP, or a higher version of Windows installed.
Global Confi gurator generates GlobalViewer
™
Web pages that are uploaded
to the MLC and can be used to control the MLC and make adjustments to its
settings.
N
Microsoft Internet Explorer is currently the only Web browser that supports
GlobalViewer pages.
• Alternatively, the default Web pages embedded within the MLC 226 IP provide
a means to perform some setup, adjustment, and control via a Web browser
(Netscape Navigator version 6.0+, Internet Explorer version 5.5+, or Mozilla
Firefox version 1.0+) from any type of network-enabled computer.
N
Netscape and Firefox cannot be used for viewing the Serial Control pages of the
factory-embedded Web page. Run Internet Explorer to use those pages.
• The third way to control and confi gure the controller is by using Simple
Instruction Set (SIS) commands via Telnet, a Web browser, or RS-232. SIS
commands are discussed in detail in chapter 5.
The Basic Steps: a Guide to this Chapter and Other
Resources
1
Confi gure the MLC for network communication. See “Confi guring the MLC
for Network Communication“ in this chapter.
2
Download or install Global Confi gurator and other Extron software (IR
Learner) and device drivers. See chapter 1 of the MLC 226 IP Series Setup
Guide, the software disk(s) that were shipped with the unit, and the Extron
Web site (www.extron.com) for instructions.
N
The printed MLC 226 IP Series Setup Guide is shipped with the MLC. It
is also available as a PDF fi le on the Extron Web site (www.extron.com). The
CD included with the unit contains software, device drivers, a PDF fi le of the
full user’s manual, and additional documentation available when the unit was
shipped. The setup guide outlines most of the common tasks required to set up
an MLC.
3
Create a Global Confi gurator project and confi gure basic settings and
functions. See the MLC 226 IP Series Setup Guide, chapter 3, for step-by-step
procedures.
4
Confi gure additional or advanced functions, if desired. See “Advanced
Confi guration,” later in this chapter, for information on IR learning and on
advanced confi guration options in Global Confi gurator.
5
Save and upload the confi guration to the MLC. See the MLC 226 IP Series
Setup Guide, chapter 3.