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This topic comprises 6 pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6
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Author
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Topic: Best Server?
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Brad Miller
Administrator
Posts: 17775
From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall)
Registered: May 99
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posted 07-22-2012 01:00 AM
quote: Marco Giustini
Any chance to have that huge sequence of line commands? They could be useful on the field.
Oh boy. I don't have one in front of me to look through the menus, so this is from memory. You're also going to have to have all of the passwords.
First you have to pull power and physically swap the chip. You need a #2 phillips for the task, and literally this is the easiest part.
Next you need to configure the networking. I can't tell you what to enter because each location is different. (Just remember there can only be one gateway, so leave the gateway on eth1 blank.)
Reboot.
You need to setup VNC next. Doremi will send you the file to put in the root directory of a usb stick. Ingest the file.
Reboot.
Go into terminal and set the new password. I think the command is vncpasswd /doremi/etc/vnc/passwd but I could be missing some critical space or something in that command.
Time to rebuild the raid. Again go into terminal and I think it is sh /doremi/sbin/reinit_raid.sh In there you have to select how many drives you are using and go through all of the prompts. After awhile you want to verify both md0 and md1 say "active raid" before proceeding.
Go into the diagnostic tool in the GUI and verify all hard drives are green. You can start ingesting content once the "healthy" message appears.
Next you have to jump into the macro editor and re-setup all of your macros.
After that don't forget to update the certificates. Doremi can send this to you. I usually just FTP it into the rc.once directory and reboot. Keys won't load until you do this!
Time to go back into the device manager and re-add all of your devices such as the projector.
If you are running Dolby 3D you've got to go through a mess trying to get the Doremi to re-acknowledge the license. This is the one part of Doremi that I do not like, because curse words usually are uttered as it takes the license file and setup file, but after going through it all won't actually provide the DFC100 in the device manager when you've done all of it. Don't forget to re-shoot your colors and such.
Like I said you CAN re-install the OS in the field, but it isn't very straightforward and keep in mind I've trivialized the process since I've never sat down and written out a play-by-play on this and neither has Doremi to my knowledge. It will also eat up the better part of your day.
Dolby on the other hand, you just drop the disc in and let it go. 15 minutes later all you must do is set the ip and answer a few basic questions in a wizard and you're done.
Don't take this as anti-Doremi. They do make a very good server and it is definitely my second favorite when all factors are taken into account (including reliability), but again, this thread is about the BEST server, and Dolby just wins on way too many points...the hardware based raid being the most important one. (Well, to some people price is most important, but they win there too.)
Do not underestimate the importance of a hardware based raid!
Going back to the OS question, then there's GDC. They boast that they have a backup OS on each machine. Well, they do, but not really. You see the backup OS is on a PARTITION on the SAME...SINGLE...NON-RAIDED hard drive. Really, what's the point in that? Oh wait, there is none...because when the hard drive fails, there goes your "backup" partition. GDC also stores the media block information on this OS drive, so when it dies, you are at the mercy of buying another one for that specific machine from GDC and waiting for it to be made and shipped to you.
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Olivier Lemaire
Expert Film Handler
Posts: 118
From: Paris, Ile de France, France
Registered: Jan 2010
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posted 07-22-2012 04:51 AM
Doremi boot stick: pretty easy to use, no "long command line black magic ..." associated with. Pretty simple and stupid in fact. The most difficult part is probably to open the beast to plug the stick, so... when SSD fail, it's most of the time the operator that does the USB stick boot to save the next show and wait for a replacement action.
And yes SSD can and do fail: on a 2000 machine fleet, we can count about 3 to 7 SSD failures per year.
Anyway, seems to have some differences between States and Europe:
* In Europe, GDC is among the lower price, then comes Doremi, then Dolby. But of course, YMMV as we're talking about money and negotiation can move the lines.
* In Europe, GDC has an exchange/repair program - which is assumed by GDC integrators.
In Europe, the fact that Doremi did, since it's very begging, deliver upgradable machines, with a strong sense of service behind, could explains why Doremi represent more than 85% of market share in some big countries.
The fact they are the only one to have an IMB, sold since 2 years now, that comes with 4K and HFR by a mere software upgrade, explains probably why do peoples thinks Dorremi is a reliable manufacturer that knows is business and try to keep at the forefront of new needs.
From the integrator point of view, I must admin that their machines are also pretty easy to service - no hidden stuff.
I'v got some Dolbys (DSS-100 and 200), and we can spot around 3% of Dolby in the fleet I'm working on. Ok, they are good machines too - but the price was not the best one so far (yes, It's changing) - so that explains this small percentile. From the integrator point of view, I must admit that I personally feel at home with Doremi (pure design, no big bloatware, using embedded oriented software pieces) and somewhat a more a stranger on a Dolby (big SQL engine, Java anywhere, security by obscurity). Of course, it's a personal point of view.
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Marco Giustini
Film God
Posts: 2713
From: Reading, UK
Registered: Nov 2007
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posted 07-22-2012 05:13 AM
Thanks Brad, very kind of you.
I was aware of the procedure for replacing the SSD, reconfiguring the entire server, reconfiguring the RAID etc. etc.
What it would nice to know is how to re-install the OS on the field. I know that the procedure is to swap the SSD, but since you mentioned the possibility to reinstall the OS on field, it would be nice to have that procedure too in my 'digital toolbox' just in case. If you ever came across it again, please share it with us!
Olivier: can you confirm that I am mistaken and that the emergency stick is NOT server dependent? I appreciate that the correct certificates have to be reloaded afterwards, but that wouldn't be a problem, those ara 24/7 available on Doremi FTP.
I know it's easy to use, but let's face it, it won't take 5 minutes. Think of a pedestal install, with tight cables on the back. It would take 10 minutes just to access the back and unplug everything, not to mention power the server down, open it, and power it back again. Not a big deal, sure. But on a Dolby you just need to stick in a CD and wait. And you can walk out of the theatre with the server 100% up and running, no need to go back to swap the emergency stick with a proper SSD.
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Olivier Lemaire
Expert Film Handler
Posts: 118
From: Paris, Ile de France, France
Registered: Jan 2010
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posted 07-22-2012 05:19 AM
Marco: I confirm, USB sticks are not server dependent. Certificates are dealt by the hardware, and at boot-time, place automagically by them on the SSD/USB stick partition without any intervention.
And yes, the most "complex" operation is using them is surely the hardware manipulation (open the pedestal, unplug the Doremi unit, open it, place the usb stick, replug the unit).
The time needed is not far away to the one needed to change a lamp bulb.
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