Barco R9830350 User Manual
R9830350
Installation and User’s Guide
OCTOPUS
R9830350
Title: OCTOPUS – Installation and User’s Guide
ID-no.: R9830350
Date: 2001-08
Release: O
chapter 1 new
chapter 2 new
chapter 3 new
chapter 4 new
chapter 5 new
chapter 6 new
chapter 7 new
chapter 8 new
chapter 9 new
new: The corresponding chapters are new or completely revised.
corr.: Passages of the corresponding chapter were corrected; see modification bars.
add.: Passages of the corresponding chapter were added; see modification bars.
CTOPUS 2.1 Service Release 1
main issue update
Document History
Modifications which result in a new version are indicated by a vertical bar.
Version
This manual refers to OCTOPUS Software Release 2.1 Service Release 1
Keep this sheet!
Trademarks
Brand and product names mentioned in this manual may be trademarks, registered trademarks or
copyrights of their respective holders. All brand and product names mentioned in this manual serve as
comments or examples and are not to be understood as advertising for the products or their
manufacturers.
Copyright © 2000 by Barco Control Rooms
Die Weitergabe sowie die Vervielfältigung aller Unterlagen, die von uns überlassen werden, deren
Verwertung und Mitteilung ihres Inhaltes an Dritte ist nicht gestattet, soweit dies nicht ausdrücklich
zugestanden ist. Urheberrechte, insbesondere auch solche an Software, werden nur insoweit übertragen,
als es für die Erreichung des speziellen Vertragszwecks erforderlich ist. Zuwiderhandlungen können zu
Schadensersatz verpflichten. Alle Rechte aus der Erteilung eines Patents oder der Eintragung eines
Gebrauchsmusters verbleiben bei uns.
Copyright © 2000 by Barco Control Rooms
All rights reserved. No part of this document may be copied, reproduced or translated. It shall not
otherwise be recorded, transmitted or stored in a retrieval system without the prior written consent of Dr.
Seufert GmbH.
Guarantee and Compensation
Barco Control Rooms provides a guarantee relating to perfect manufacturing as part of the legally
stipulated terms of guarantee. On receipt, the purchaser must immediately inspect all delivered goods for
damage incurred during transport, as well as for material and manufacturing faults. Barco Control Rooms
must be informed immediately in writing of any complaints.
The period of guarantee begins on the date of transfer of risks, in the case of special systems and software
on the date of commissioning, at the latest 30 days after the transfer of risks. In the event of justified
notice of complaint, Barco Control Rooms can repair the fault or provide a replacement at its own
discretion within an appropriate period. If this measure proves to be impossible or unsuccessful, the
purchaser can demand a reduction in the purchase price or cancellation of the contract. All other claims,
in particular those relating to compensation for direct or indirect damage, and also damage attributed to
the operation of software as well as to other services provided by Barco Control Rooms, being a
component of the system or independent services, will be deemed invalid provided the damage is not
proven to be attributed to the absence of properties guaranteed in writing or due to the intent or gross
negligence on the part of Barco Control Rooms.
If the purchaser or a third party carries out modifications or repairs on good delivered by Barco Control
Rooms, or if the goods are handled incorrectly, in particular if the systems are commissioned or operated
incorrectly or if, after the transfer of risks, the goods are subject to influences not agreed upon in the
contract, all guarantee claims of the purchaser will be rendered invalid. Not included in the guarantee
coverage are system failures which are attributed to programs or special electronic circuitry provided by
the purchaser, e. g. interfaces. Normal wear as well as normal maintenance are not subject to the
guarantee provided by Barco Control Rooms either.
The environmental conditions as well as the servicing and maintenance regulations specified in this
manual must be complied with by the customer.
Revision sheet
To:
Barco Control Rooms GmbH
An der Rossweid 5 • D-76229 Karlsruhe • Germany
Phone (49) (721) 6201-0 • Fax (49) (721) 6201-298
E-mail
info.de.bcd@barco.com Web www.barcocontrolrooms.de
BARCO N.V. Projection Systems
Noordlaan 5 • B-8520 Kuurne • Belgium
Phone (32) (56) 36-8414 • Fax (32) (56) 36-8526
E-mail
sales.bcd@barco.com• Web www.barcocontrolrooms.com
From:
Date:
Please correct the following points in this documentation (R9830350):
page wrong correct
Contents
1 Introduction.................................................................................................................................1-1
1.1 How this manual is organized ..................................................................................................1-2
1.2 Styles And Symbols .................................................................................................................1-3
2 Summary .....................................................................................................................................2-1
2.1 The Software Octopus..............................................................................................................2-2
3 Getting Started ............................................................................................................................3-1
3.1 Octopus Software Installation ..................................................................................................3-2
3.1.1 Hardware Prerequisites..........................................................................................................3-2
3.1.2 Software Prerequisites...........................................................................................................3-2
3.1.2.1 Central Installation vs. Individual Installations..................................................................3-2
3.1.2.2 Administered Use vs. Non-administered Use.....................................................................3-2
3.1.2.3 Network Topology .............................................................................................................3-3
3.1.2.4 Gathering information before installation ..........................................................................3-3
3.1.3 General Installation Guidelines.............................................................................................3-4
3.1.4 Octopus Server Installation Considerations ..........................................................................3-8
3.1.5 Client Installation Considerations .........................................................................................3-8
3.1.6 Administration Client Installation Considerations ................................................................3-8
4 Operating.....................................................................................................................................4-1
4.1 Octopus Server.........................................................................................................................4-2
4.1.1 Application startup................................................................................................................4-2
4.1.2 Application use......................................................................................................................4-3
4.2 Octopus Client..........................................................................................................................4-3
4.2.1 Application startup................................................................................................................4-3
4.2.2 Application use......................................................................................................................4-4
4.2.3 Activate .................................................................................................................................4-6
4.2.4 Operation while active ..........................................................................................................4-6
4.2.5 Queued ..................................................................................................................................4-6
4.2.6 De-activating the client .........................................................................................................4-7
4.2.7 Multiple server operation ......................................................................................................4-7
4.2.8 Octopus Client options..........................................................................................................4-7
4.2.9 Connecting To A Unix Server...............................................................................................4-9
4.2.10 Not redirectable keys.........................................................................................................4-10
4.3 Octopus Administrator...........................................................................................................4-10
4.3.1 Application Startup ...............................................................................................................4-1
4.3.2 Connecting to an Octopus Server..........................................................................................4-1
4.3.3 Viewing access information..................................................................................................4-2
4.3.4 Control Room Computer Organization .................................................................................4-5
4.3.4.1 User Access Management from Administrator Interface ...................................................4-8
5 Hotline.......................................................................................................................................5-10
6 Octopus server license.................................................................................................................6-1
7 Octopus Server on MS Windows 2000 / X Window System......................................................7-1
7.1 Summary ..................................................................................................................................7-2
8 Troubleshooting ..........................................................................................................................8-1
8.1 Logfiles ....................................................................................................................................8-2
8.2 Known Incompatibilities..........................................................................................................8-2
9 Table of Figures ..........................................................................................................................9-3
1 Introduction
OCTOPUS is a software system which allows an operator sitting at his or her Windows NT workstation to
control the mouse and keyboard of a networked Windows NT computer. This feature gives operators in a
control room the ability to manipulate a shared wallboard display as though it is the display on the desk in
from of him or her. Octopus has been designed to be easy to install, easy to use, and easy to integrate into
a control room setting.
This manual will cover the following topics:
Installation hardware requirements
Pre-installation preparation
Startup, shutdown and usage of each of the software components
R9830350 Octopus User Guide (2001-08) 1-1
1.1 How this manual is organi zed
This manual is divided into 9 chapters:
Introduction
explains the structure of the manual itself and the used typographic styles and symbols.
Summary
provides an overview of the features of OCTOPUS software
Getting Started
lists the installation requirements and introduces the installation modes
Operating
explains the operation of OCTOPUS software
Hotline
lists the addresses to contact if any problems occur.
License information
lists the procedure and the addresses to get a license key.
Octopus Server on Windows NT/2000 / X Window Systems
gives an overview of the options which are only available on Windows NT/2000 or on X Window
Systems.
Troubleshooting
lists hints and incopatibilities.
Table of Figures
gives an overview of the screenshots included in the manual.
Numbering
Chapters, pages, figures and tables are numbered separately. Chapters are indicated by a »point syntax«,
e. g.
4.2.3, pages by a »dash syntax«, e. g. 2-1, as figures and tables are, e. g. Figure 5-4.
R9830350 Octopus User Guide (2001-08) 1-2
1.2 Styles And Symbols
The typographic styles and the symbols used in this document have the following meaning:
Helvetica bold
Labels, menus and buttons are printed in the Helvetica bold font.
Condensed
Links to both other chapters of this manual and to sites in the Internet are printed condensed. In the on-line
version of this manual all hyperlinks appear
teal.
Courier
Names of files and parts from programs are printed in the Courier font.
Courier bold
Inputs you are supposed to do from the keyboard are printed in Courier bold font.
Within a piece of programming code this arrow marks a line, that must be
made up in two lines, though meant to be one line.
This arrow marks tips and notes.
This symbol denotes actions or information which need to be taken or
understood to make the software work properly.
R9830350 Octopus User Guide (2001-08) 1-3
2 Summary
This chapter introduces the OCTOPUS software.
R9830350 Octopus User Guide (2001-08) 2-1
2.1 The Software Octopus
The O
CTOPUS software system is separated into three distinct software modules, each of which has
specific installation and operation requirements, these modules are:
O
CTOPUS CLIENT is software that is installed on the operators workstation. This software package is the
user interface to the system, allowing operators to move between manipulating their local desktop and
that of the remote wallboard.
O
CTOPUS SERVER is a software service/application that is installed on the wallboard display system. This
software accepts network connections from both the O
CTOPUS CLIENT and the OCTOPUS ADMINISTRATOR
client. It communicates mouse movements and keyboard input received from the OCTOPUS CLIENT to the
wallboard. The server also implements the prioritization requests sent to it via the O
CTOPUS
ADMINISTRATOR.
O
CTOPUS ADMINISTRATOR is optional software that implements prioritization of access to the wallboard.
Windows NT is an inherently single user system, and thus if there are several operators which require
access to the wallboard display, this can only be accomplished in a serial fashion. The O
CTOPUS
ADMINISTRATOR software permits an administrator to establish rules of access, allowing some users
access to the wall, and others not. In addition to access rights, it also implements override priorities,
where certain users can have privileged access to the wallboard. This software is typically installed on an
administrators workstation, and should only be accessible to administrative personnel.
Octopus simplified network view
R9830350 Octopus User Guide (2001-08) 2-2
Figure 1
3 Getting Started
This chapter lists the installation requirements and introduces the installation modes.
R9830350 Octopus User Guide (2001-08) 3-1
3.1 Octopus Software Installation
Before installing Octopus 2.1 Service Release, please de-install all earlier versions
of Octopus!
Use the Add/Remove Software Option from the Windows Control Panel to uninstall
Octopus!
3.1.1 Hardware Prerequisites
Pentium or Pentium II computer, 200MHz minimum recommended CPU
CDROM reader
32MB RAM minimum
2MB free disk space per module
Network card
3.1.2 Software Prerequisites
Windows NT 4.0 (SP3 or higher) or Windows
TCP/IP support
Administrator privileges
Installation of the O
CTOPUS software generally requires some decisions to take place prior to actual
installation. Here is a synopsis of the decisions to be taken:
3.1.2.1 Central Installation vs. Indivi d ual Installations
The binary software for each of the O
CTOPUS modules can be installed in a central location, on an
application server (this can be the wallboard processor), or installed on each client machine as needed.
We recommend installing the software in a central location to ease maintenance of the software as
upgrades and patches are made available. This will require that all computers that are going to use the
software have access to the directories that contain the installed software. In MS Windows operating
systems, this means that the installation directories must be shared with each user having sufficient
permission to read the directories.
If you plan to install the software on each computer individually (e.g.: in a small control room), then these
restrictions do not apply, although each machine must have it's own CDROM reader.
3.1.2.2 Administered Use vs. Non-a dministered Use
The O
CTOPUS software can operate in essentially two modes, one where all users have identical access
rights, and where each user has a defined priority level. When the software is installed, a default priority
is granted to all users which if left as it is will permit first-come-first-serve access to the wallboard. If this
is not a desired effect, then it is possible to assign each user, user and computer, or a global category a
priority level, which will determine access rights to the wallboard. On order to facilitate this process, it is
worthwhile to write down each of the users names, the machine names from which they will access the
wallboard, and the roles each will play in the operation of the wallboard system. The issues surrounding
this decision will be elaborated upon in a subsequent section of this manual.
R9830350 Octopus User Guide (2001-08) 3-2
3.1.2.3 Network Topology
Although this manual is not meant to be general treatise on network setup, it should be noted that there
are some rules of thumb which make setting up a control room with O
CTOPUS software easier.
Specifically, the more homogeneous the organization of the control room computer facilities, the better.
Users, in general, should be in the same domain or workgroup. Duplicate user names across different
domains or workgroups should be avoided. O
CTOPUS privilege levels should parallel those of the
network, i.e. users with greater network authority should most likely have greater access authority to the
wallboard. User names should differ from group names and the name "All" should be avoided for both
computer and users, as it is used as the global name
3.1.2.4 Gathering information before installation
The O
CTOPUS software is protected by license key mechanism. In order to get a license key from Barco
Control Rooms, one must provide certain information which identifies the computer. We require the
MAC address of the computer's network card along with the name of your company. During installation,
a dialog will be displayed containing all of this information, which can be printed, e-mailed or saved to
file for later use. Be aware that depending on the configuration of your e-mail client, some of the
information might be missing from the e-mail message body. In that case, go in the message body part
and paste the data there using <SHIFT-INS> or <CTRL-V> (the information is already in the clipboard).
This license key is only needed for the O
CTOPUS SERVER. Send this information to Barco Control Rooms
(support).
License information for Octopus Server
Figure 2
Once you have gathered this information and sent it, the license key can be delivered to you via e-mail,
fax, or over the telephone. Please see
R9830350 Octopus User Guide (2001-08) 3-3
6 Octopus server license, where all necessary addresses are listed.
3.1.3 General Installation Guidelines
For the installation of the OCTOPUS software you'll need to log in as local administrator of your NT-PC.
To start the installation, insert the O
CTOPUS CDROM in your computer's CDROM drive (if you are
sharing a CDROM over a network, insert the CDROM into the appropriate drive).
Click on
appropriate drive and path and
setup.exe in the Octopus folder on the CDROM or use the shortcut Start|Run and enter the
setup.exe. The following dialog pops up:
installation of Octopus
On the next dialog you are asked which software modules of Octopus you want to install:
Figure 3
Program selection
R9830350 Octopus User Guide (2001-08) 3-4
Figure 4
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