ETC Cobalt Light Server Quick Guide

ETC® Setup Guide

Cobalt™ Light Server

Congratulations on your purchase of the ETC Cobalt™ Light Server. The Cobalt Light Server may be
configured to run the Cobalt application software as a server, backup, or client in a Cobalt, Congo
Congo jr

™

, or Congo Kid® console system.

®

,

Note:

To use the Cobalt Light Server with Cobalt or Congo Family products, all products
must be running the same software version.

• When the unit is configured as a server, it is the master and maintains the show file and controls
output to the lighting system.

• When the unit is configured as a backup, the unit will perform synchronized backup with a server
and will take control of the lighting system upon the loss of communication with the server.

• When the unit is configured as a client, you can access real time inputs and outputs of the lighting
system through the server.

This document will guide you in the setup and simple operation of the Cobalt Light Server for use with
the Cobalt, Congo, Congo jr, and Congo Kid control systems. For information on integrating the Cobalt
Light Server with your Cobalt Family console, please refer to the Cobalt User Manual that shipped with
your console or you may download it from our website at www.etcconnect.com

.

Check Shipping Contents

Check the shipping carton to ensure all contents have arrived and are undamaged. Your Light Server
ships with the following items:

• USB Mouse • USB Keyboard

• Cobalt User Manual (on USB Drive) • 19” Rack Mount Kit

• IEC Power cord

Electrical and Environmental Specification

• Operating voltage - 100-240VAC, 50-60Hz (2 amps at 120 VAC)

• Ambient temperature and humidity - 0 to 40 degrees C, 95% non-condensing humidity maximum

• Storage temperature and humidity - 0 to 40 degrees C, 95% non-condensing humidity

• CE and ETL Compliant

• Installation Category II, Indoor use only

• Pollution degree 2

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London, UK
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Service:
Web:
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Cobalt Light Server Setup Guide Page 1 of 3 Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc.

 Unit 26-28, Victoria Industrial Estate, Victoria Road, London W3 6UU, UK  Tel [phone]  Fax [phone]

Via Pieve Torina, 48, 00156 Rome, Italy  Tel [phone]  Fax [phone]

(Americas) [e-mail] 

www.etcconnect.com 

 Rev A  Released 2013-12  ETC intends this document to be provided in its entirety.

 3031 Pleasant View Road, P.O. Box 620979, Middleton, Wisconsin 53562-0979 USA  Tel [phone]  Fax [phone]

 Ohmstrasse 3, 83607 Holzkirchen, Germany  Tel [phone]  Fax [phone]

QSF 4.1.9.1

(UK) [e-mail]  (DE) [e-mail] 



Copyright © 2013 ETC. All Rights Reserved.  Product information and specifications subject to change.

(Asia) [e-mail]

ETC Setup Guide

Hard Power Switch

DMX512/RDM

x2

Phone

Remote

DVI-I Video

Ports

Audio Ports

(Audio In Not

Currently Enabled)

IEC Receptacle

MIDI In

& Out

Remote

Trigger

USB

x6

Ethernet

Ports

Hardware Setup

Connect Cables

Step 1: Attach the appropriate IEC power cord to the power connector, then to the IEC receptacle.
Step 2: Connect any monitors to the proper ports on the back of the Light Server.

Cobalt Light Server

Note:

Step 3: Connect the USB mouse and keyboard to the USB connectors.
Step 4: Attach a network ethernet cable to an ethernet port.
Step 5: Connect optional cables as desired including remote trigger, MIDI, DMX512/RDM, and

Step 6: When all connections are made, switch the hard power switch on.
Step 7: Press the soft power switch, on the front of the unit, to power up the Light Server.

Note:

The Cobalt Light Server can support up to three DVI-I monitors.

phone remote.

If the unit does not power up, check the rear panel to ensure the hard power switch
is on.

Cobalt Light Server Setup Guide Page 2 of 3 Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc.

ETC Setup Guide

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

15

14

13

12

11

10

9

Ground

Ground

+ 12Vdc

+ 12Vdc

S1

S2

S3

S4

Relay Out, Normally Closed

Relay Out, Normally Open

Relay Out, Common

8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

15 14 13 12 11 10 9

Pin Use

1 Common (shield)

2Data -

3Data +

4 no connection

5 no connection

Remote Trigger

connector pinout

DMX 512/RDM

connector pinout

Ch

1

Esc

2

Thru

All

3 Mod

4

Ins

+

Del

5

Live

@

Go To

6Frmt

Outp

Go

7

Tab

8Brws

.Go Ba

9

Macro

C Rec Shift

0

LdPly

Server

Master

Backup

Sync

Client

Offline

Label Strip

20

Command

Keypad Buttons

Backlit

Indicators

USB

Soft Power

Switch

Connector Pinouts

Push

5

1

4

2

3

Operation Overview

Cobalt Light Server

Cobalt Light Server Setup Guide Page 3 of 3 Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc.

Backlit indicators identify the operating status of the light server.

LEDs indicate which mode the unit is operating (server, backup, client) and the status of the operation
(master, backup sync or offline).

• The “Server” LED will illuminate when the unit is configured as a server.

• The “Backup” LED will illuminate when the unit is configured as backup.

• The “Client” LED will illuminate when the unit is configured as a client.

• The “Master” LED will illuminate when the unit is controlling the lighting system, and will blink

when the Backup is in control.

• The “Sync” LED will illuminate when the unit is synchronized with a server and will blink when the
connection to the server has been lost.

• The “Offline” LED is illuminated when the unit is running offline.

20 command keypad buttons are configured for single Cobalt commands.

The 20 command buttons are set to default button assignments for optimal operation. Press and hold
the [Shift] button to select the alternate function of any button (for example: [Shift] [1] to Escape).

USB port is provided for updating software and for easy show loading to or from a USB storage
device.