Extron electronics VNM EC 201 User manual

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IMPORTANT:
Go to www.extron.com for the complete
user guide, installation instructions, and
specifications before connecting the
product to the power source.
VNM EC 201 • Setup Guide
The Extron VNM Enterprise Controller 201 is a dedicated control device for managing large VN-Matrix systems. The controller
allows users to view, manage, and dynamically control multiple VN-Matrix systems and networked VN-Matrix domains from a
single user interface.
This guide provides basic instructions for an experienced installer to congure and operate a single VNM Enterprise
Controller201 in a basic VN-Matrix system.
NOTE: See the VNM Enterprise Controller 201 User Guide, VN-Matrix 200 Series User Guide, VN-Matrix 225 Series User
Guide, VN-Matrix 250 User Guide, VN-Matrix 300 User Guide, and the VN-Matrix 325 User Guide for complete installation,
network configuration, and mounting information.
Step 1 — Mount the VNM Enterprise Controller 201
Disconnect power to the VNM Enterprise Controller 201 and turn off all devices that will be connected to it. The controller is
housed in a half rack wide, 11.5 inches deep, 1U high metal enclosure that can be rack mounted or placed on a table (with the
provided rubber feet attached). Select a suitable mounting option and location, and follow the instructions provided with the
mounting kit.
Step 2 — Cable the Controller
0.5A MAX~
100 - 240V
50 - 60Hz~
HDMI RGBHV
GTx
RS-232
REMOTE
Rx
AB
3
1
2
DISPLAYPORT
2
RESET POWER
OUTPUTS
LANUSB
OUTPUTS
ABCDEF GHIJ
O
WER
J
J
VNM EC 201
VNM ENTERPRISE CONTROLLER
CONFIG
PWR
SSD
LAN A
LAN B
K L M
Figure 1. VN Matrix Enterprise Controller 201, Rear and Front Panels
AAC power — IEC connector. Standard AC power: 100 to 240 VAC, at 50 to 60 Hz.
BDisplayPort video output — Connect a compatible DisplayPort display for troubleshooting.
CHDMI video output — Connect a compatible HDMI display for troubleshooting.
DUSB ports — Two USB port connections for one mouse and one keyboard.
EEthernet connector — LAN A for connection to a standard LAN.
FEthernet connector — LAN B is not required for normal operation.
GVGA Connector — One configurable analog output 15-pin HD (VGA) connector for use in troubleshooting.
HSerial Connector — Provides remote control using RS-232 and the High Level Interface (HLI) command control protocol that
allows users to interface a third party control system with the devices on a VN-Matrix network.
IReset button and LED — The VNM Enterprise Controller 201 has two reset modes to restore configuration settings or all
settings back to factory defaults. The LED indicates the desired reset mode, and provides the reset status during the reset
operation. For information on using the reset mode, see the VN Matrix Enterprise Controller 201 User Guide.
JRecessed power button — Press once to initiate a safe shutdown of the system.
KUSB mini-B config port — Connect to a PC for Simple Instruction Set (SIS™) control.
LStatus LEDs — Four LEDs provide the status of the VNM EC 201.
• Network Activity LED (A) — Lights steadily when a network link is established. Blinks to indicate activity.
• Network Activity LED (B) — Lights steadily when a network link is established. Blinks to indicate activity.
• Drive Activity LED — Blinks to indicate drive activity.
• Power LED — Lights when the controller is powered.
MSolid State Drive (SSD) — This removable drive holds the operating system (OS) and software required for operation.
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VNM EC 201 • Setup Guide (Continued)
Initial EC 201 Installation and Configuration
Step 1 — Determine the Network Settings
Before any device is connected to a network, the default network settings of each device must be changed. On an existing
network, check with the network administrator for a range of available IP addresses.
On a closed network used exclusively for VN-Matrix devices, it is recommended to use addresses within the range of
192.168.254.1 through 192.168.254.253 with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0.
Figure 2 shows an addressing scheme for a simple system containing a VNM Enterprise Controller, an encoder, and a decoder.
LAN -1
LAN -2
STATUS
RGB/DVI OVER IP
VN-MATRIX 200 SERIES
LAN -1
LAN -2
STATUS
RGB/DVI OVER IP
VN-MATRIX 200 SERIES
PC (Source)
Display
VNM 225 (Encoder)
Local IP Address: 192.168.254.101
Controller IP Address: 192.168.254.254 Local IP Address: 192.168.254.102
Controller IP Address: 192.168.254.254
Local IP Address: 192.168.254.254
Controller IP Address: 192.168.254.254
VNM 225 (Decoder)
RGB
or
DVI DVI
RS-232 RS-232
Browser User
Control
VNM EC 201
VNM ENTERPRISE CONTROLLER
CONFIG
PWR
SSD
LAN
A
LAN
B
VNM EC 201 (System Controller)
Internet/
Network
Figure 2. VN Matrix System
Map your system IP addresses for all connected devices and write them down.
Step 2 — Install and Configure the VN-Matrix Devices
See the setup guide included with each device. Connect each VN-Matrix device to the control PC, one at a time, and power the
device on. Congure the network settings according to your IP address map. DO NOT use 192.168.254.254. The system
above can be used as a guide for conguring network settings.
Once the new IP address for a device is entered, it can remain connected to the LAN and powered on.
Step 3 — Connect the VNM Enterprise Controller 201 to the VN-Matrix Network
On the rear panel of the EC201, connect the network to LAN A (see figure1, Eon the previous page) using a Category (CAT) 6
twisted pair cable.
NOTE: The LAN B Ethernet connector is not required for normal operation.
Step 4 — Power on the VNM Enterprise Controller 201
Connect a standard IEC power cord to the controller and to a 100 to 240 VAC, 50 Hz or 60 Hz power source. The controller
powers up when an AC source is connected.
Step 5 — Configure the Network Settings of the VNM Enterprise Controller 201
The VNM Enterprise Controller 201 is precongured with the following network settings:
• IP address: 192.168.254.254
• Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
NOTE: With these settings, the VN-Matrix devices must use IP addresses within the range of 192.168.254.1 through
192.168.254.253 and the same subnet mask. The example in figure2 uses the default settings of the VNM EC201.
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Use the following procedure to change the network settings of the VNM Enterprise Controller 201, if necessary.
1. Configure the network settings of a control PC to use an IP address within 192.168.254.1 to 192.168.254.253 and a
subnet mask of 255.255.255.0. Connect the control PC to the VN-Matrix network.
2. Open a web browser on the control PC and enter the IP address of
the VNM Enterprise Controller 201 in the address bar (for example,
http://192.168.254.254). The login screen opens (see figure3).
3. Enter the appropriate username and password.
NOTE: The factory configured passwords for all accounts on
this device have been set to the device serial number. In the
event of a complete system reset, the passwords convert to the
default. The default user name is admin. The default password
is admin. Entries are case sensitive.
Figure 3. Enterprise Controller Login Page
4. Click Login or press the <Enter> key. The web-based user interface defaults to the Devices page (see figure4, 1).
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Figure 4. Devices Page
5. On the default Devices page, click the Configuration tab (see figure5, 1). The Configuration page opens.
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Figure 5. Network Configuration Page
6. On the Configuration page, click the Network link (see figure5, 2).
7. Change the IP Address, Netmask, and Gateway fields (3) as necessary.
NOTE: The MTU field does not require changing.
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VNM EC 201 • Setup Guide (Continued)
8. Click Apply Changes (see figure5, 4on the previous page) to save the configuration.
The controller restarts. After the restart, the network settings are properly congured.
9. On the control PC, configure the IP address so that it is within the address range of the VNM Enterprise Controller 201.
NOTE: Perform this step only if the IP address of the controller uses a network prefix or subnet other than
192.168.254.xxx.
10. If necessary, restart the control PC to save the configuration.
Step 6 — Configure the VNM EC 201 as the System Controller
1. Log in to the controller and click the Configuration tab (see figure6, 1). The Configuration page opens.
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Figure 6. System Configuration Page
2. On the Configuration page, click the System config link (2).
3. From the Protocol drop-down list (3), select the transport protocol for the VN-Matrix system.
NOTES:
• The default transport protocol is unicast.
• Unicast supports up to four simultaneous streams from a single encoder.
• Multicast supports a single stream that can be used by multiple decoders. This protocol requires a network that
supports Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) snooping for correct operation.
• TCP supports a single stream from a single encoder.
4. Ensure that the Clean Switch option (4) is enabled (checked) to smooth transitions when switching between
VN-Matrix200/225/250 device streams.
NOTE: VN-Matrix 300/325 devices do not support Clean Switch and ignore this setting.
5. If necessary, highlight all IP addresses and click Delete (5) to clear the Controllers field.
6. Click Add (6) and enter the correct IP address of the VNM EC 201 previously created in Step 5 — Configure the Network
Settings of the VNM Enterprise Controller 201 on page2 into the window that opens and click OK.
7. Click Apply Changes (7) to save the configuration. The VNM Enterprise Controller 201 restarts and is assigned as the
system controller.
8. Refresh the browser to activate and view the changes.
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Step 7 — Assign VN-Matrix 200 / 225 / 300 / 325 Devices as Encoders and Decoders
1. If necessary, log in, then click the Devices tab (see figure7, 1). The Devices page opens.
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Figure 7. Devices Page — Mode Selection Menu
2. Click the check box in the same row as the desired device. The row highlights and the box is checked (2).
3. Select Mode (3) from the menu at the bottom of the page. The Device Mode dialog box opens (4).
4. Determine the functionality of the device and choose Encoder or Decoder (4) as appropriate.
NOTE: Choosing a mode or toggling a device between an encoder and a decoder can take a few seconds after the
selection is made.
5. Repeat this procedure for other devices as necessary.
Configure the Connected VN-Matrix Devices
Once the VN-Matrix devices are assigned as encoders and decoders in the VN-Matrix network, no further conguration is
required. However, the individual devices on a VN-Matrix network can be further congured using the controller web-based user
interface.
The following sections summarize how to congure devices using the VNM Enterprise Controller 201. For detailed information,
click on the question mark icon (see gure8, 1) located on each of the menu pop-up pages, or see the VNM Enterprise
Controller 201 User Guide and the VN-Matrix 225/250/300/325 User Guides.
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Figure 8. Question Mark Icon for Information
Encoder Configuration
1. Log in to the controller, then click the Devices tab (see figure7, 1). The Devices page opens.
2. Select an encoder (2). At the bottom of the page, several menus are now available (see figure9).
Actions: UpgradeCompression Peripherals LicenseInfo Connections Configure Format Mode Misc Group
Figure 9. Encoder Devices Configuration Menu
NOTE: The menu options change depending on the device selected for configuration.
3. Select the following menus and configure the settings as necessary to allow for optimal encoder streaming.
• Configure — Sets global parameters specific to selected VN-Matrix units. Use this window to change the device name
and configure the operating mode of the device.
• Format — Use this window to view information about the incoming source, make adjustments to the signal, and set
EDID options.
• Compression — Use this window to adjust the amount of compression that is applied to the stream.
4. Repeat this procedure for other encoders as necessary.
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VNM EC 201 • Setup Guide (Continued)
Decoder Configuration
1. Click the Devices tab (see figure7, 1on page5). The Devices page opens.
2. Select a decoder (see figure7, 2). At the bottom of the page, several menus are now available (see figure10).
Actions: UpgradePeripherals LicenseInfo Connections Configure Format Mode Misc Group
Figure 10. Decoder Devices Configuration Menu
NOTE: The menu options change depending on the device selected for configuration.
3. Select the following menus and configure the settings as necessary to allow for optimal decoder streaming.
• Configure — Sets global parameters specific to selected VN-Matrix units. Use this window to change the device name
and configure the operating mode of the device.
• Format — Use this window to adjust the format of the signal being output to a display.
4. Repeat this procedure for other decoders as necessary.
Web-based User Interface Control Options
This section details control options that are available using the web-based user interface. For more information on all available
control options, see the VNM Enterprise Controller 201 User Guide.
Using the Switcher Page
The Switcher page assigns encoders (sources) to decoders (displays). This allows the user to control streaming throughout the
entire system using a single page. Use the following procedure to congure the Switcher page.
1. Click on the Switcher link located at the top right of the web page. The Switcher page opens (see figure11).
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Figure 11. Switcher Page
2. From the Sources column, click on an encoder (see figure11, 1).
3. From the Displays column, click on a decoder (2).
4. Click Take (3). A connection is created between the selected encoder and decoder. Figure 11 shows that Encoder1 is
streaming media to Decoder3.
5. Repeat this procedure to create other connections as necessary.
NOTE: To remove a connection, select a connection (from the Connections column) and click Break Connection.
To remove all connections, select a connection and click Break All Connections.
6. If audio data is present within the stream, click on the edit link located at the top right of the Switcher page (4) and
select the Switch audio with video option (5). This keeps the audio and video data together when you are creating
connections.
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Updating the VNM Enterprise Controller 201 License
Updating the license of the VNM Enterprise Controller 201 is sometimes necessary to enable certain features of the system.
Use the following procedure to update the license.
1. Click the Configuration tab (see figure12, 1). The Configuration page opens (you may need to log in).
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Figure 12. System Configuration Page
2. On the Configuration page, click the System config link (see figure12, 2).
3. In the Controllers field (3), select the IP address of the controller that requires a new license.
4. Click License (4).
The Controller License Management dialog box opens (see gure13). Keep this box open.
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Figure 13. Controller License Management Window
5. Contact Extron Sales Support and provide the following information (contact information is available at www.extron.com):
• The serial number of the VNM Enterprise Controller 201. This can be obtained from the Controller License
Management window or from the side of the controller.
• The order number of the VNM Enterprise Controller 201 from your purchase invoice.
6. Extron Sales Support provides a structure key and a license key.
• Enter the structure key into the Options field (see figure13, 1).
• Enter the license key into the Checksum field (2).
7. Click Update License (3) to assign the new license settings.
8. Close the Controller License Management dialog box.
Logging Out
To log out, click the logout link (see gure12, 6) located at the top right of the web page or close the browser.
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68-2660-51 Rev. A
06 19
For information on safety guidelines, regulatory compliances, EMI/EMF compatibility, accessibility, and related topics, see the
Extron Safety and Regulatory Compliance Guide on the Extron website.
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