Ross NK User manual

NK-Hub User Guide
Version 01

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NK-Hub · User Guide
• Ross Part Number: 9807DR-0012-01
• Release Date: March 30, 2015.
The information contained in this Guide is subject to change without notice or obligation.
Copyright
©2015 Ross Video Limited, Ross®, and any related marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Ross Video
Limited. All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies. PATENTS ISSUED and PENDING.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any
form or by any means, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of
Ross Video. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this document, Ross Video assumes no
responsibility for errors or omissions. Neither is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of the
information contained herein..
Patents
Patent numbers US 7,034,886; US 7,508,455; US 7,602,446; US 7,802,802 B2; US 7,834,886; US 7,914,332; US
8,307,284; US 8,407,374 B2; US 8,499,019 B2; US 8,519,949 B2; US 8,743,292 B2; GB 2,419,119 B; GB
2,447,380 B; and other patents pending.
Notice
The material in this manual is furnished for informational use only. It is subject to change without notice and should
not be construed as commitment by Ross Video Limited. Ross Video Limited assumes no responsibility or liability
for errors or inaccuracies that may appear in this manual.
Important Regulatory and Safety Notices to Service Personnel
Before using this product and any associated equipment, read all the Important Safety Instructions listed below so
as to avoid personal injury and to prevent product damage.
Products may require specific equipment, and /or installation procedures be carried out to satisfy certain regulatory
compliance requirements. Notices have been included in this publication to call attention to these Specific
requirements.
Symbol Meanings
The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the
presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature
accompanying the product. Failure to heed this information may present a risk of damage
or injury to persons or equipment.
Warning The symbol with the word “Warning” within the equipment manual indicates a
potentially hazardous situation, which if not avoided, could result in death or serious
injury.
Caution The symbol with the word “Caution” within the equipment manual indicates a potentially
hazardous situation, which if not avoided, may result in minor or moderate injury. It may
also be used to alert against unsafe practices.

EMC Notices
US FCC Part 15
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a class A Digital device, pursuant to part 15
of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the
equipment is operated in a Commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio
frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful
interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful
interference in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own expense.
CANADA
This Class “A” digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.
Cet appareil numerique de la classe “A” est conforme a la norme NMB-003 du Canada.
Notice The symbol with the word “Notice” within the equipment manual indicates a situation,
which if not avoided, may result in major or minor equipment damage or a situation,
which could place the equipment in a non-compliant operating state.
Warning
Hazardous
Voltages
The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol within an equilateral triangle is intended to
alert the user to the presence of uninsulated "dangerous voltage" within the product’s
enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of shock to persons.
ESD
Susceptibility This symbol is used to alert the user that an electrical or electronic device or assembly is
susceptible to damage from an ESD event.
Warning
Important Safety Instructions
1. Read these instructions.
2. Follow all instructions and heed all warnings.
3. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel.
4. The equipment’s external power supply AC appliance inlets are the means to
disconnect the product from the AC Mains and must remain readily operable for
this purpose.
5. To avoid the risk of electrical shock and to completely disconnect the apparatus
from the supply AC appliance inlets prior to servicing.
6. The safe operation of this product requires that a protective earth connection be
provided. A grounding conductor in the equipment's external power supply line
cord provides this protective earth. To reduce the risk of electrical shock to the
operator and service personnel, this ground conductor must be connected to an
earthed ground.
7. Indoor Use: WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose
this apparatus to rain or moisture.
8. Warning: This product includes an “Ethernet Port” for connection to a local area
network (LAN). This Ethernet port interface is designed for intra-building
networks only.
Do not connect this port to networks that go outside of the building.
Notice Changes or modifications to this equipment not expressly approved by Ross Video Ltd. could
void the user’s authority to operate this equipment.

EUROPE
This equipment is in compliance with the essential requirements and other relevant provisions of CE Directive
93/68/EEC.
INTERNATIONAL
This equipment has been tested to CISPR 22:1997 along with amendments A1:2000 and A2:2002 and found to
comply with the limits for a Class A Digital device.
Warranty and Repair Policy
The product is backed by a comprehensive one-year warranty on all components.
If an item becomes defective within the warranty period Ross will repair or replace the defective item, as
determined solely by Ross.
Warranty repairs will be conducted at Ross, with all shipping FOB Ross dock. If repairs are conducted at the
customer site, reasonable out-of-pocket charges will apply. At the discretion of Ross, and on a temporary loan basis,
plug in circuit boards or other replacement parts may be supplied free of charge while defective items undergo
repair. Return packing, shipping, and special handling costs are the responsibility of the customer.
This warranty is void if products are subjected to misuse, neglect, accident, improper installation or application, or
unauthorized modification.
In no event shall Ross Video Limited be liable for direct, indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages
(including loss of profit). Implied warranties, including that of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose,
are expressly limited to the duration of this warranty.
This warranty is TRANSFERABLE to subsequent owners, subject to Ross’ notification of change of ownership.
Extended Warranty
For customers that require a longer warranty period, Ross offers an extended warranty plan to extend the standard
warranty period by one year increments. For more information, contact your regional sales manager.
Notice This is a Class A product. In domestic environments, this product may cause radio interference,
in which case the user may have to take adequate measures.
Notice Changes or modifications to this equipment not expressly approved by Ross Video Limited
could void the user’s authority to operate this equipment.

Environmental Information
The equipment that you purchased required the extraction and use of natural resources for its production. It may
contain hazardous substances that could impact health and the environment.
To avoid the potential release of those substances into the environment and to diminish the need for the extraction
of natural resources, Ross Video encourages you to use the appropriate take-back systems. These systems will reuse
or recycle most of the materials from your end-of-life equipment in an environmentally friendly and health
conscious manner.
The crossed-out wheeled bin symbol invites you to use these systems.
If you need more information on the collection, reuse, and recycling systems, please contact your local or regional
waste administration.
You can also contact Ross Video for more information on the environmental performances of our products.
Company Address
Ross Video Limited
8 John Street
Iroquois, Ontario
Canada, K0E 1K0
Ross Video Incorporated
P.O. Box 880
Ogdensburg, New York
USA 13669-0880
General Business Office: (+1) 613 652 4886
Fax: (+1) 613 652 4425
Technical Support: (+1) 613 652 4886
After Hours Emergency: (+1) 613 349 0006
E-mail (Technical Support): [email protected]
E-mail (General Information): [e-mail]
Website: http://www.rossvideo.com

NK-Hub User Guide (v01) Contents • i
Contents
Introduction 1
Overview of this Guide..........................................................................................................................................1-1
Overview 2
System Requirements.............................................................................................................................................2-1
System Diagram.....................................................................................................................................................2-1
System Setup 3
Setting Up an NK Series System for the NK-Hub.................................................................................................3-1
Installation 4
Overview................................................................................................................................................................4-1
Installing the NK-Hub............................................................................................................................................4-1
Operating the NK-Hub 5
NK-Hub User Interface..........................................................................................................................................5-1
Adding NK-IPS Devices........................................................................................................................................5-2
Configuring NK Series Routers and Panels...........................................................................................................5-3

ii • Contents NK-Hub User Guide (v01)

NK-Hub User Guide (v01) Introduction • 1–1
Introduction
NK-Series router devices connect together via T-Bus, a proprietary RS485-based serial communications link. In
some installations, it is not practical to connect devices directly to the bus and it would be preferable to access the
control system via TCP/IP.
The NK Hub is an application that connects NK-IPS devices together across a TCP/IP network. This allows
NK Series routers and panels to be connected like they were on the same T-Bus network.
Overview of this Guide
This guide is for system administrators, installers, and operators of the Ross Video NK Series NK-Hub. It provides
instructions on how to install the NK-Hub, how to set up an NK Series system for the NK-Hub, and how to operate
it. It assumes that you are experienced with general broadcast concepts, and that you are familiar with the planning
requirements for a routing switcher system.

1–2 • Introduction NK-Hub User Guide (v01)

NK-Hub User Guide (v01) Overview • 2–1
Overview
System Requirements
The NK-Hub requires the following:
• Windows XP, Windows 7, Mac OSX, or Linux
• Java SE 6 or later
• 128MB RAM
• 128MB disk space
System Diagram
The following diagram provides an example of the NK-Hub in an NK system.
A local connection enables two NK-IPS devices within the same network to communicate with NK Series
components connected to each. A remote connection, via an Internet connection or Virtual Private Network (VPN),
allows two or more NK-IPSs to communicate over longer distances.
Internet / LAN / VPN
Internet Protocol Server
NK Series Control Panel
NK Series Router Levels
Legend
T-Bus
Ethernet
Internet Protocol Server
NK Series Control Panel
Computer
NK Hub Control
Configuration

2–2 • Overview NK-Hub User Guide (v01)

NK-Hub User Guide (v01) System Setup • 3–1
System Setup
Setting Up an NK Series System for the NK-Hub
Your system will incorporate at least two NK-IPS devices, and multiple NK-Series routers, panels, and interface
devices. These will be split into T-Bus networks, with each T-Bus network consisting of one NK-IPS and any
number of NK-Series devices connected via T-Bus.
The TCP/IP network must be configured so that the NK Hub can establish TCP/IP connections with each NK-IPS.
The NK-IPS devices do not need to be able to communicate directly with each other.
Tips for Setting Up the NK Series System
Messages are sent fastest between two devices on the same T-Bus network. You can optimize your system by:
• connecting panels and the routers that they control on the same T-Bus network if possible.
• connecting the NK-VRC to the same T-Bus network as routers, if using an NK-VRC virtual routing core.
• connecting the NK-3RD to the same T-Bus network as routers, if using an NK-3RD protocol interface.

3–2 • System Setup NK-Hub User Guide (v01)

NK-Hub User Guide (v01) Installation • 4–1
Installation
Overview
The NK-Hub must be installed on either Windows XP, Windows 7, Mac OSX, or Linux.
Installing the NK-Hub
Use the following instructions to install the NK-Hub on either the Windows, Mac, or Linux operating systems.
Windows
The following procedure explains how to install the NK-Hub on Windows XP and Windows 7.
To install the NK-Hub on Windows:
1. From the installation CD menu, select Install NK-Hub.
The NK hub control window opens.

4–2 • Installation NK-Hub User Guide (v01)
2. Click Next.
If the required Java Runtime Environment is installed, a window opens indicating that it has been found.
3. Click OK.
The NK-Hub control window prompts the user to choose an installation location.
4. Enter the file path for the installation or click Browse and select a location for the installation.

NK-Hub User Guide (v01) Installation • 4–3
5. Click Install.
A progress bar indicates the progress of the installation. The NK-Hub control window indicates when the
installation is complete.
6. Click Close.
The NK-Hub control window closes and the NK-Hub is ready for use.
Mac OSX and Linux
The following procedure explains how to install the NK-Hub on Mac OSX and Linux.
To install the NK-Hub on Mac OSX or Linux:
1. From the installation CD menu, select Browse the CD.
2. Double-click the software folder.
3. Double-click the NK-Hub folder.
4. Unzip the NKHub.zip file to a location on the hard drive.
5. Open the location on the hard drive where the file was unzipped.
6. Double-click the NKHub.jar file to run.

4–4 • Installation NK-Hub User Guide (v01)

NK-Hub User Guide (v01) Operating the NK-Hub • 5–1
Operating the NK-Hub
NK-Hub User Interface
This section describes the user interface of the NK-Hub. The following image provides a general overview of the
NK-Hub user interface:
File Menu
Use the File menu to open and save configuration files.
Open Config — select this to open a saved configuration file. Once a file has been opened, the NK-Hub will
automatically open that file on future start-ups.
Save Config — select this to save the current configuration.
Exit — select this to exit and close the NK-Hub.
Help Menu
Use the Help Menu menu to access information about the NK-Hub.
About — select this to view the version information about the NK-Hub.
IPS Table
Shows list of IPS Devices that to which the NK-Hub can connect. The table contains the following information:
#— the NK-IPS number in the table.
IP Address — the IP address of the NK-IPS.
TCP Port — the TCP port that is used to connect to the NK-IPS.
The TCP port must match the Client TCP Port setting in the NK-IPS configuration.
File Menu Help Menu IPS Table
Connect / Disconnect
Button
Add Button
Remove Button
Connect On
Startup
Checkbox
Status Bar

5–2 • Operating the NK-Hub NK-Hub User Guide (v01)
Connected — displays the connection status:
• — not connected
• — connected
Comms — displays the T-Bus comms traffic on the NK-IPS:
• —T-Busidle
• — T-Bus active
Connect Button
Click this button to connect to the NK-IPS devices listed in the IPS table.
Add Button
Click this button to add another row to the IPS table.
Remove Button
Click this button to remove the selected row in the IPS table.
Connect On Startup
Select this check box to automatically connect the NK-Hub to all devices listed in the IPS table on startup.
Adding NK-IPS Devices
Use the following procedure to add NK-IPS devices to the NK-Hub.
To add NK-IPS devices:
1. Using the DashBoard NK Plugin, find out the IP address and port for each NK-IPS device to be connected:
a. In DashBoard, place the cursor over the NK-IPS in the Basic Tree View.
A popup displays the IP address.
b. Double-click the NK-IPS to open the editor.
A tab for the NK-IPS opens in the main window. The Client TCP Port field displays the port number.