System information

Setting up the E Desk units after a successful compilation

Message

: Could not assign audio I/O channels in the unit # __.

Explanation

: Indicates a software problem. Please contact Whirlwind.

Messages

: Available range of Instance IDs is nearly exhausted.

Range of Instance IDs has been exhausted.

Explanation

: The total number of Instance IDs, as assigned to component and

line objects, is limited to 65,535. When component objects are

removed from a design, their Instance IDs are not automatically

re-assigned to new component objects. Therefore, the messages

above indicate that a significant number of Instance IDs has been

wasted. Set 'Reassign Instance IDs' under Tools>Options>Compile

and re-compile to recover wasted Instance IDs. CAUTION: This

will change most component Instance IDs, and will render existing

external control command scripts useless. Once Instance IDs have

been recovered, turn off 'Reassign Instance IDs' to avoid further

re-assignments.

System Network Considerations

The computer must have a 10/100 BaseT network card (NIC) installed. When connecting directly to the Ethernet port

on single E Desk™ unit, a 'cross-over' CAT5 cable is used. When connecting to a network (or system) of multiple E

Desk units, a 'straight-through' CAT5 cable is used (via an Ethernet switch). A separate switched Ethernet network is

strongly recommended for CobraNet, and is mandatory when using multicast bundles. Ethernet switches (not 'hubs')

must be 10/100 BaseT compatible, with sufficient ports for connection to each E Desk unit (multiple switches may be

used). If Ethernet switches are 'managed', be careful to assign all CobraNet connections to 100 BaseT, and all

Ethernet connections to 10 BaseT. These connections also use 'straight-through' CAT5 cables. When a system using

only two E Desk devices has been configured, and the computer connection is removed, both Ethernet and CobraNet

connections may be made directly between the two units using 'cross-over' CAT5 cables.

Ethernet and CobraNet both have a cable length limitation of 100 meters, between the Ethernet switch and an E Desk

device. However, fiber-optic cable may be used to extend this distance limitation to 2 km. Fiber-optic cable can be

used with switches that have fiber-optic ports, or media converters can be used to interface fiber-optic cable with

standard RJ-45 ports.

Due to network delay, CobraNet has a limitation of seven (7) 'hops' (one-way transmissions) within a network.

Additionally, because CobraNet transmits (32) channels of digital audio on (4) 'bundles' of (8) channels, each E Desk

device can transmit digital audio to no more than (4) other Audia devices within a network. The same is true for

receiving digital audio over CobraNet. When utilizing CobraNet Latency of 1.33mS (see Equipment Table), the total

number of bundles (transmit + receive) for an E Desk device is reduced to four.

The computer must be assigned an IP address (under Network Card Settings>Properties). Most computers set TCP/IP

address automatically, but E Desk devices require manual assignment. Initially, the computer IP addresses should be

assigned as 169.254.1.X (where range of X = 1~254). Each E Desk device must also be assigned a unique IP address

(see Device Maintenance). The factory default IP address for all E Desk devices is 169.254.1.200.