Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Start of day issue NEC 1200c and GDC SX-2000 server

This is topic Start of day issue NEC 1200c and GDC SX-2000 server in forum Digital Cinema Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Tom Wienholt (Member # 1510) on 05-06-2012, 01:18 PM:

Just converted one of my screens to digital and I am having a minor problem when starting the first show of the day. We leave the server on 24/7 and put the projector in standby mode overnight. When the first show of the day tried to start, the following error message shows up:

Re-booting the server solves the problem and everything works perfectly for the remaining shows of the day. The next morning, the same error occurs forcing a server re-boot. What is happening here?

Posted by Kris Verhanneman (Member # 5562) on 05-06-2012, 03:07 PM:

What happens if you leave the projector on (lamp off)?
Is this the famous mariage probleme that some people speak of on GDC and Doremi?
And do you get this on all brands of projectors?
(preparing for a test with a media block within a few weeks)

Posted by Tom Wienholt (Member # 1510) on 05-06-2012, 03:19 PM:

I assume that it would work fine if the projector was left on. Like I said, once I reboot the server, all five shows play normally. It's only after the projector is put in standby overnight and I wake it up the next day.

I only have one GDC server and NEC projector running at this time. Just started a full digital conversion recently.

Posted by Richard May (Member # 2627) on 05-06-2012, 06:33 PM:

Unfortunately, we have installed many of these combos and the same issue occurs. Because the server is left on all the time, you have to go to control panel and reboot the server. As soon as you do that, turn on the projector. It will work fine then. We werw told that it's because of the IMB board in the projector not being on while the server is on.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 05-06-2012, 07:44 PM:

This will only occur (that I have seen) if you have the IMB version of the GDC server. As others have indicated...because the IMB is powered by the projector, the marriage is broken when the projector goes to standby...the server then needs to be rebooted.

All server manufacturers should seriously consider powering the IMB FROM THE SERVER with a second cable, if need be...this would avoid this silliness.

-Steve

Posted by Tom Wienholt (Member # 1510) on 05-06-2012, 08:54 PM:

Ok, that being the case, does it even make sense to leave the server running overnight? If I have to re-boot each morning, it seams to defeat the purpose of leaving it on. Also, should the projector be completely powered off overnight of left in standby mode?

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 05-06-2012, 08:57 PM:

We have almost this same setup (except, a NC2000 projector) and don't get this issue. We leave the server on all the time and the projector in standby overnight, also.

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 05-06-2012, 11:53 PM:

Which is a standard procedure that I've seen with a lot of digital installs: Server left on and projector on standby.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 05-07-2012, 12:35 AM:

Mike,

You don't have an IMB though...hence you don't have the problem...your mediablock is in your server so it is powered by the server...thus no problem.

I don't know why folks with the GDC servers have put in the IMBs at this point...for 2K it makes NO sense...they don't bring ANYTHING to the table...not even HFR 2D. The newest IMB from GDC will bring new features to the table though for HFR 3D in 2K and certainly 4K...and is connected via CAT 6.

Posted by Tom Wienholt (Member # 1510) on 05-07-2012, 01:44 PM:

I do have the IMB that is powered by the projector. So, I will have to reboot the server each morning. If I go into the control panel, then select shut down, there is an option for "shut down" and "reboot." I have been using the reboot option. Will this "wear out" the hard drives just as much as a complete shut down and power up?

Posted by Marco Giustini (Member # 4544) on 05-07-2012, 02:52 PM:

No, reboot won't turn the drives off. It's like restart in windows.

Posted by Tom Wienholt (Member # 1510) on 05-07-2012, 04:01 PM:

Ok great! Thanks for all of the help.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 05-07-2012, 08:00 PM:

quote: Tom Wienholt
I have been using the reboot option. Will this "wear out" the hard drives just as much as a complete shut down and power up?

Nope, it is just a pathetically bad design. It's 2012 people. Having to do such ridiculous daily tasks is in no way "state of the art" as people like to claim.

Want to guess what happens if you reboot during a file transfer? [Razz]

Dumb, dumb, dumb. Steve is correct. The GDC IMB buys you nothing except extra time wasted in the booth. If you want to buy GDC, stick with the non-IMB version.

Posted by Tom Wienholt (Member # 1510) on 05-07-2012, 10:38 PM:

Brad,

I agree. Bad design. But, at this point at least I can reboot each morning having to only select three things on the touchscreen...control panel-shut down-reboot. Not ideal but simple enough. Thanks again for the feedback.

Posted by Tom Wienholt (Member # 1510) on 05-10-2012, 12:35 AM:

Is it possible to schedule or cue a daily server reboot?

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 05-10-2012, 12:56 AM:

I assume GDC is run on linux, right? If yes, I think you could set up a cron job that tells it to reboot every day at a certain time. But you'd also want to ensure that nothing is being sent over the the network to it (like ingesting...) at that time.

That said, I've never worked with GDC and am simply throwing this out there.

Posted by Dave Macaulay (Member # 813) on 05-10-2012, 05:22 AM:

I haven't got a lot of experience with GDC, but I failed to find a terminal after looking through the GUI for quite a while. "ping" opened one but I didn't try to keep it open. Is there a way to get a shell terminal with GDC?

Posted by Richard May (Member # 2627) on 05-10-2012, 06:15 AM:

If the projector is not on, a reboot won't help.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 05-10-2012, 06:34 AM:

Anything is possible...particularly if there is an external automation....when the projector "wakes up" have the server reboot. Note, this isn't just a GDC thing...it is an IMB thing. I wish the IMB people just added a power cable so the server STILL powers the IMB...problem solved.

Then again, the IMB could send a message to the server...upon waking up send a reboot to the server. The IMB designers should consider that a bit more.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 05-10-2012, 11:50 AM:

This thread ought to be copied and passed along to all those media types who keep writing that in digital cinema, all you have to do is push Play.