Owner's manual

136 Chapter 4 Networking Generators
Overview
This chapter describes how to use the generator in a networked environment.
Quantum 882 generators can operate and be administered over an Ethernet LAN
connection. By networking multiple generators together, you can centralize control in
production environments.
When networking generators, a file server containing a set of system and resource files is
installed on the network. This arrangement allows you to:
• Set up generators to automatically retrieve and use a centrally-stored set of system and
firmware files upon startup. This ensures that each generator on the network is running
the same firmware.
• Set up generators to access a common set of objects, such as images and formats,
from a file server. This allows each generator on the network to access the same set of
standard and custom library files.
• Easily upgrade a generator’s local system and library files from the file server. This
ensures that each generator on the network is using the most current system and
library files when booting and accessing files locally.
• Control and maintain your network of generators remotely from a single host PC. You
can manage the generators through the command line interface, through the Virtual
Front Panel in a Web browser, or by transferring files using the Generator FTP Browser.
Generator file system
The 882 generator file system is comprised of two main directories (folders): 1) System
and 2) Library. The System folder contains the realtime operating system and firmware file
(vxWorks) and the gateware. The Library folder contains the following resource files:
• Fonts - Object files used to define the font types.
• Formats - XML files defining the format parameter settings.
• FormatLib - XML files for configuring the source list of formats
• Images - C++ object files, executables, bitmaps, and XML files for rendering images.
• ImageLib - XML files for configuring the content list of images
• Sequences - XML files with instructions for test sequences.
• Users - XML files for user configuration profiles