Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Question about GDC's SX-2000

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Posted by Christopher Schaffner (Member # 6132) on 03-24-2012, 07:13 PM:

Is it possible to re-establish the connection to the IMB without rebooting the server??

I am in the process of attempting to convince management to leave these servers on (12 of em) 24/7 to reduce the amount of problems we have with them. and they might go for it if the projectors don't have to be left on too.

I have already had a RAID array fail, and they still wont listen....(imagine that) [Roll Eyes]

Posted by Dave Macaulay (Member # 813) on 03-25-2012, 08:48 AM:

I don't know of a way to reinitialize the server security manager once the IMB has been powered down other than rebooting the server. Rebooting from the console should not as stressful as a full power cycle.
Maybe if you compare the cost of lost shows and server repairs to the power cost of leaving them on it would be convincing? I haven't seen any studies that test the MTBF difference between always-on and off-every-night for a server.

Posted by Christopher Schaffner (Member # 6132) on 03-25-2012, 01:14 PM:

Okay, that is what I was afraid of, a prime example of why I strongly dislike their new system. I much prefer my two older SA-2100s.

That shouldn't be very hard...
we have lost countless shows because of server mishaps.
We lost two days when the RAID array failed, and these servers run 4 shows a day 7 days a week.

Posted by Alan Gilbertson (Member # 242) on 03-25-2012, 09:20 PM:

The projector has to be fully up before you can turn on the server otherwise marriage will not be established.
With your raid failure, did you try to do a live play from the CRU drive? that should have worked.

Posted by Christopher Schaffner (Member # 6132) on 03-25-2012, 10:18 PM:

Alan, Yes I tried, but for some reason it would not recognize the HDD in the CRU bay until we got new drives for the array.

Normal behavior?? I have no idea.. [Confused]

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 03-26-2012, 12:56 AM:

quote: Alan Gilbertson
The projector has to be fully up before you can turn on the server otherwise marriage will not be established.

A major reason against IMBs. Hopefully somebody will do it right and power the IMB from the server, NOT the projector.

Posted by Dominic Espinosa (Member # 2122) on 03-26-2012, 11:13 AM:

Sony does that [Wink]

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 03-26-2012, 12:09 PM:

One positive doesn't outweigh a thousand negatives, Dom. [Razz]

Posted by Carsten Kurz (Member # 5396) on 03-26-2012, 06:52 PM:

The Sony is not an IMB system. They call it IMB because it is built into the projector housing, but it is just a server/MediaBlock combination like a normal Doremi or Dolby.

I would call the Sony way of doing it 'Integrated Server'.

- Carsten

Posted by Olivier Lemaire (Member # 5579) on 03-26-2012, 07:05 PM:

Does this means that Sony will not perform High Frame Rates for upcoming The Hobbit?

Posted by Dominic Espinosa (Member # 2122) on 03-26-2012, 10:45 PM:

It can handle the framerate with a firmware upgrade I believe. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong.

Carsten: that's true. But at least you don't have to reboot it to re-establish the marriage.

Brad: Truth. IMHO nothing will make up for the poor ventilation due to the dumbass design of it. I've got one with a temp alert right now even though the vents were all cleaned less than 600 hours ago and the exhaust pushes over 1200cfm at the stack. It's just the way it's designed.

But I digress.

Posted by Carsten Kurz (Member # 5396) on 03-27-2012, 05:46 AM:

I think Sonys do not even need a 'marriage'. A marriage is needed because of the Cinelink Connection/Link Decryptor present in DLPs using external HDSDI signal connections, which technically allows to connect servers to different projectors.
Also to make sure a specific media block stays tied to a specific server/SMS.

The Sonys use a different security system, no link encryption over their LVDS connection. They might use a similiar formal tying of server and projector, but as Doremis can be used as servers for Sony machines as well, this doesn't seem to be an exclusive system. As the Sony machine concept can easily assure combined power-up and power-down of server and projector or graceful handling of typical power cycling, 'remarriage' is no issue under normal conditions.

'IMB' is not a formal necessity for HFR - it's the bandwith. For DCI DLP, only the IMB interface path into the projector has the necessary bandwith for 3D HFR, unlike Dual-HDSDI.

Sony has more than enough bandwith over their 4k LVDS connection, and with their specific split-screen 3D approach, the bandwith needs are even more relaxed.

- Carsten

Posted by Dominic Espinosa (Member # 2122) on 03-27-2012, 09:41 AM:

2 DCI upgrades back they introduced marriage on the Sony's. The last round of software updates automated procurement of a new certificate from the NOC when a major component is swapped forcing nullification of the certificate. It's much nicer than having to call them now.

Posted by System Notices (Member # 2357) on 06-24-2015, 06:47 AM:

It has been 1183 days since the last post.

Posted by Christopher Mondt (Member # 719) on 06-24-2015, 06:47 AM:

Hello anyone can tell me the installer password for the gdc 2001?

I have to install a mchine like that tomorrow.

thanks

christopher

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 06-24-2015, 06:55 AM:

Christopher...Passwords are not issued on these sites and even if someone were to post one, it would be blacked out pretty fast. What is the point of the password if everyone is to have it? Anything on the internet essentially means everyone.

As for people PM handing them out...they would have to know you to qualify if you are indeed entitled to have the password. I've found that there is almost always a legitimate means to get passwords you need. Have you tried contacting GDC? They are pretty darn responsive.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 06-25-2015, 04:11 PM:

This is one reason why I use SX-3000's almost exclusively now. You can leave the PDP-3000 raid array running 24/7 as it contains the hardware raid controller. You can also shut down the server while the projector is on as well as leave the projector in standby and then remotely bring the projector and server back on line together. At a certain point in the boot sequence the SX-3000 looks for the PDP-3000 and connects to it. You hear a short beep when that happens. There are a lot of advantages to using the SX-3000!

As far as losing hard drives in older units I have actually lost very few. And before just replacing one or all three drive's check the SMART errors as the drive may have just been kicked out of the raid for some fluke. You can put the drive back in the raid and let it rebuild. If it kicks it again then for sure replace it. Hard drives are like xenon lamps. They are expendable and you need not replace all three drives. Just be sure to replace the bad drive with the same type of drive. If you get three to four years out of drives that's about right. I have many that are older than that.

Mark