This is topic CineStore SoloG3 - repair, is it worth it? in forum Digital Cinema Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.


To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://ft-forum.com/ft/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=16;t=003686

---

Posted by Peer Tritz (Member # 10855) on 05-16-2019, 12:26 PM:
 
Hi Guys,

I've salvaged a Barco CineStore SoloG3, little did I know it had no drives or ram... The server is EOL by Barco, if I got new ram & drives for it, is it even worth the effort? I would only want to use it with series 1 projectors but would it still do the job? Is it even still possible to get the install file for the SMS software V5.7? (if anyone has any tips on getting it, that would be appreciated). Also, is the process just as simple as getting the software and installing it or are there other factors that I must consider?

Best regards
Peer
 

---

Posted by Marco Giustini (Member # 4544) on 05-16-2019, 12:58 PM:
 
Barco? I thought that was an XDC - which I believe was subsequently acquired by Barco indeed.

I am not very familiar with the thing but in any case I would try and spend very little (=0) on it before you can test it. See if you can borrow some drives and RAM for a test.
 

---

Posted by Carsten Kurz (Member # 5396) on 05-16-2019, 03:14 PM:
 
The essential question is, will you be able to source the latest software release and perform an installation.

- Carsten
 

---

Posted by Ioannis Syrogiannis (Member # 3235) on 05-16-2019, 05:05 PM:
 
The key question here is not RAM nor HDDs, it’s the media block.
Is it present? Is it working?
If not, better use it to run something useful.
 

---

Posted by Peer Tritz (Member # 10855) on 05-17-2019, 05:58 AM:
 
So I have 2 media blocks that are identical see the photo. I don't know much about how current they are... but if anyone can confirm they are still viable I will try contacting Barco about the software

 

---

Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 05-17-2019, 10:16 AM:
 
If it's been powered down for a significant time, the chances are significant that it's bricked, I'm afraid. Media blocks have either a battery or a supercapacitor in them, that stores the TLS certificate while the device has no mains power. Per DCI, this certificate has to be stored in volatile memory. For ones with a battery (e.g. Doremi Dolphin), you need to replace it per the recommended schedule. For ones with a soldered on supercap, it's important not to leave them for too long without power. Personally I'd say power them up for a few hours every month at the absolute least.

That having been said, following the breakdown of one in service, I once took a DSP100 down from a shelf where it had been sitting for 15 months, fired it up, and it was still good! I wasn't really expecting that to happen, but had nothing to lose by trying.
 

---

Posted by Peer Tritz (Member # 10855) on 05-17-2019, 11:55 AM:
 
Thank you Leo. So I suppose I will try to get it powered up with bare minimum hardware; try to coerce Barco for a functional software version and confirm that the TLS certificate is still present. I will probally fail with Barco, so Is there any kind of alternative open source OS I can use just to verify the TLS certificate is still there? (can it be done in windows? in other words?) I ask as a blan B if/once Barco shuts me down...
 

---

Posted by Carsten Kurz (Member # 5396) on 05-17-2019, 03:20 PM:
 
This is very early hardware, and not necessarily DCI compliant. There may not even be a stored certificate on these media blocks. Some of these early cards were just JPEG decoder boards, and everything else was handled in server software.

This media block (as many other early media blocks) was built by german (Berlin) company MikroM. I don't know if they still exist.

https://www.cpi.co.jp/upfile/MVC200-DC.pdf

Plan B would be to find someone else with a working Solo G3 and try to clone it's disc.

The question is, are you specifically interested in a Solo G3, or would you simply want to own a low cost DCP playback server? In that case, you should maybe try to get a second hand DSS200. They can be bought under 1000€ occasionally, and they still receive limited software support and are fully SMPTE compliant.

- Carsten
 

---

Posted by Peer Tritz (Member # 10855) on 05-17-2019, 03:32 PM:
 
Thank you for the extra info, that is helpful. I already spent 400 euro getting it... not really knowing what I was getting myself into in the first place. IF I can find a low cost DSS200 I'd be happy, I'd also be happy to get this Solo G3 running too giving old hardware a new life is always worth it, if possible.
 

---

Posted by Marco Giustini (Member # 4544) on 05-18-2019, 02:07 AM:
 
You said ‘salvaged’! 400 for an XDC G3 is way too much. I hope you can make it working!
 

---

Posted by Marcel Birgelen (Member # 6801) on 05-18-2019, 04:31 AM:
 

quote: Carsten Kurz

---

This is very early hardware, and not necessarily DCI compliant. There may not even be a stored certificate on these media blocks. Some of these early cards were just JPEG decoder boards, and everything else was handled in server software.

---