|
Newsletter Archives
Troubleshooting
AxisTV: The Basics
An AxisTV system consists of a Content Server and one or
more Channel Players. The Content Server sends visual communications
across a network and the Channel Player delivers them to various
displays. Sounds simple right?
In this age of fast-evolving technologies and heightened
IT security, integrating new systems isn’t always so easy. It’s
important to first understand your AxisTV system, its various
components, how it works and those points at which the system may fail.
Preparing yourself with a basic knowledge of process flow and
recommendations can save you time and effort, and may possibly prevent
or reduce the expense of a Client Services support call.
First, let’s examine the primary AxisTV system
components:
Content Server
The Content Server
allows customers to use a Web-based interface to create and distribute
visual communications content to a variety of endpoints. This can be
either an imaged machine from Visix with AxisTV pre-installed but not
configured, or a customer’s own server with AxisTV installed.
Client Network
The client network is
often mistaken for a simple set of cabling and switches. In today's
business world, it is a vast system consisting of multiple servers,
intricate virus protections and firewalls, domains with heightened
security and network bandwidth management. Each of these factors can
have unanticipated results when interacting with other technologies.
Channel Player
The Channel Player is
almost always a pre-imaged computer purchased from Visix that runs a
tuned version of Windows® XP Professional®, which allows AxisTV to take
the fullest advantage of available processing power. The Channel Player
can output a variety of signals and use various video distributions
systems.
Before we begin troubleshooting, we should also
understand how the system is used. Keep in mind that this process flow
is highly simplified:
Content Creation
– A
user logs into the AxisTV software interface through an Internet browser
on their local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), or other
browser-enabled device. If the user needs to upload files or create
messages with the FreeForm tool, additional software components must be
installed on their workstation (requiring installation privileges for
the user on that workstation).
Existing Media Files
- AxisTV can deliver media files, such as MPEG, AVI, WVM and Flash®
animations, via the Channel Player. Users can either upload media files
for one-time use, or store them in their AxisTV Library.
Content Scheduling
-
Content is created and scheduled to a playlist and that playlist is
assigned to a Channel Player.
Content Publishing -
The Content Server compiles information created by users and transmits
that information over specific ports to the Channel Player, using the
customer's network. Once the information is received and saved by the
Channel Player, it can distribute content at the scheduled time.
Signal Distribution
- The
video signal generated by the Channel Player is sent out as various
signal types to appear on a display device. Endpoints then display the
visual communications content in selected formats.
Now we can take a
look at the points at which the system may fail:
Installation and Upgrades
AxisTV should be installed and configured
onto a Windows® OS (XP SP2, 2003 Server) as packaged by Microsoft®. Only
after AxisTV is verified to function correctly on the hardware running
the Windows® OS can OS modifications be made.
-
Modifications must be made one at a
time, and each should be tested before another is made.
-
Modifications include the addition of
third-party software, inclusion in domains, application of group
policies, and application of local policies.
-
Upgrades that include additional
functionality (additional licensing) should be treated as new
installations and all functionality verified on a plain Windows® OS
before applying any OS modifications. A prime example is adding
desktop endpoints to an existing installation of displays as part of
an upgrade. The desktop endpoints and distribution mechanism must be
tested free of OS modifications.
Content Creation and Scheduling
AxisTV supports Internet
Explorer® 5.5 and above. While almost all functions of AxisTV can be
performed using other popular browsers, IE is required to use the large
file upload or FreeForm creation tools.
-
To use the large file upload or FreeForm tools, the
user must have Windows® .NET 1.1, 2.0 or 3.0 runtimes installed. The
user must also have installation privileges in order to install the
two aforementioned tools.
-
The user must have network rights to reach the AxisTV
Content Server.
-
The user must have a valid login to AxisTV.
-
Within AxisTV, the user must have the appropriate
playlist access assigned to them in order to schedule content.
Existing Media Files
The media uploaded by the user must be
compatible with AxisTV. Even with compatible content, it is possible to
upload elements that will not run properly on AxisTV.
-
For Flash® content, we recommend using a maximum of
12 FPS (frames per second) and running only vector-based
animations. Flash® is not optimized for use as a movie playback
media.
-
For media files containing video, Visix recommends
that no compression be used and that only mainstream encoders be
used to encode the media. The reason for this is that some encoders
do not follow the exact standard and can cause problems when
interacting with the AxisTV application.
Content Publishing
Once content has been
created, imported or uploaded, the Content Server must be able to render
and distribute it to display endpoints. The user on the Content Server
must have full rights to the AxisTV Directory in order to create and
distribute content properly.
-
If graphics are being retrieved from the customer's
network or the Internet, the appropriate rights must be setup for
the user to access the AxisTV External Graphic Link Service and the
appropriate proxy rights must be given to the same user. The ports
(typically 80) need to be opened to the AxisTV service.
-
In order to publish content to each Channel Player,
AxisTV uses ports 6500, 6501 and 6502. The network needs to allow
traffic over these ports.
Signal Distribution
The Channel Player can
output (depending on mode) to VGA, DVI, Component, Composite or
S-Video. Appropriate signal choices and cabling should be discussed
before implementation.
Because the IT world is changing daily, the processes
used to track down problems will also continue to evolve. However,
referencing these items and following Visix recommendations will
simplify both AxisTV deployment and troubleshooting practices.
Please feel free to
contact AxisTV Technical Support if you
have further questions or contributions.
Copyright 2007. Visix, Inc. All rights reserved.
|
