Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: NEC DCC communication issue (resolved)

This is topic NEC DCC communication issue (resolved) in forum Digital Cinema Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Justin Hamaker (Member # 2165) on 03-28-2014, 11:41 PM:

At our other location they've started having a problem with DCC communications errors. They are using 5.0.5.0.

When they go to connect, it just times out without connecting. They are able to connect via the web interface (go to the projector's address in a browser), and they can connect to all the GDC servers (via VNC). This issue seems to happen between DCC and all 7 of their projectors. Other computers within the theatre are able to log into the projectors with the same version of DCC.

Is there some kind of network protocol which might cause DCC communication to not work, but still allow VNC and web based communication?

For what it's worth, the computer in question is running Windows XP, where all other computers using DCC are on Windows 7. And yes, I know Microsoft will stop supporting XP in the very near future.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 03-29-2014, 02:54 AM:

I have neither experienced nor heard of this issue. Make sure that the port number is correct on the DCC...it is easy to accidentally have this mis-set or erased. It should be 43728 for series 2 projectors.

Posted by Marco Giustini (Member # 4544) on 03-29-2014, 10:15 AM:

Are you saying that just one computer is not connecting?
Did you disable the Firewall?

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 03-29-2014, 11:06 AM:

Also make sure the "I.P. Address" box is checked and not the "Host Name" box.

Mark

Posted by Dave Macaulay (Member # 813) on 03-29-2014, 11:56 AM:

Make sure no firewall is running. I have had lots of connection issues with Windows when one of the available firewalls - the Windows firewall or an antivirus one - is on. Some things work, some don't. You might talk to a server but not a CP750 for example.
Assuming this PC used to communicate through DCCS OK with the NECs, something has obviously changed. Do you do MS updates on it?
You could remove DCCS and reinstall it, that might help if you don't see any other problems. DCCS works fine on XP for me.

Posted by Justin Hamaker (Member # 2165) on 03-29-2014, 12:27 PM:

What I'm being told is they were using the DCC from the downstairs computer to switch off several projectors following the last show of the night. It worked for one projector, then stopped working when they went to do the next projector. Now they can't connect to any of the projectors. But it seems like DCC is the only thing having issues connecting with our DCinema network.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 03-29-2014, 07:09 PM:

For sure drop your firewall and try it. If that fixes it then you need to poke a hole through it for DCC. If you upgraded to a new version in the last few days perhaps it has something to do with that. I have never had any issues with DCC connecting with Windows 7 on well over 200 TMS and booth computers. And if you look at the typical W7 install there is nothing set in the firewall for DCC.

Try rebooting that computer forst if they have not done so already... If thats a no go then you could also delete the current DCC and try reloading it. It could have become corrupted.

Mark

Posted by Justin Hamaker (Member # 2165) on 03-29-2014, 09:11 PM:

Got this resolved. Turns out the person who was using it had changed the IP address from the projector IP (.195) to the GDC address (.115). This was so basic that it didn't catch my attention.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 03-30-2014, 07:06 PM:

If you're using a local computer downstairs to turn the projectors and such on and off I would suggest using the web servers in the equipment that does offer them. Just save these under favorites on your web browser. Then no changes need be made to IP addresses. Just call them Projector 1 and Automation 1 and so on down the line under "My Favorites".

For GDC or Dolbly you'll have to stick with VNC to do the job, but at least all they'd have to do there is change the last digit of the last octet to get to the right auditorium's server.

Mark

Posted by Ian Freer (Member # 1940) on 03-31-2014, 10:39 PM:

I use TightVNC for my GDC's and Datasat AP20's.
(I assume it's not a feature unique to TightVNC), but I save a shortcut to each server and processor on the desktop (including the password) so the staff just have to go to desktop and double click which ever server etc they want; no IP address changes required at all for VNC this way.