Crestron E-Control Sdk; Ethernet Connection Information; Recommended Connection; Isolated Network Connection - Crestron SW-SIMPL Installation & Operating Manual

Software

Ethernet Connection Information

146 • Crestron SIMPL Windows

Crestron e-Control SDK

The Crestron e-Control SDK is a separately purchased Software Development Kit
(SDK) that enables computers to behave like Crestron touchpanels. These "virtual"
touchpanels can consist of HTML pages viewed in a browser (WebControl) or may
be a stand-alone application written in a language such as Visual Basic or Visual
C++ (ActiveCNX). The SDK provides the necessary Java and ActiveX components,
the CNX Gateway software (which allows the computer to communicate with
Crestron hardware over Ethernet), and full documentation for their use.
When working with the SDK, you must add "virtual touchpanel" definitions to the
corresponding SIMPL Windows program in order to enable communications
between the control system and computers connected to the CNX Gateway, just as
you add a VT-3500 definition to your program whenever you program a system
using "physical" touchpanels.
In the SIMPL Windows Configuration Manager, open the device folder marked
"Ethernet Control Modules," and drag-n-drop the "Virtual Touchpanel" device onto
the DPA card or the Ethernet Units arrow. Double click on the icon to set the IP ID
and the corresponding IP address. The IP address is the address of the computer
running the CNX Gateway (to which additional computers may be connected). In the
Program Manager, program the Virtual Touchpanel device exactly as you would
program an actual touchpanel. See the documentation (PDF format) that comes with
the Crestron e-Control SDK for more information.

Recommended Connection

CNX control systems and CEN network modules can be connected directly onto an
Intranet with static IP addresses and subnet masks assigned by the System
Administrator. The "gateway address" is the address of the Intranet's existing router.
An inexpensive Ethernet hub may be used to provide physical connections.

Isolated Network Connection

This method is for connecting devices directly to the PC without connecting to a
larger Intranet. It can be used when valid IP addresses have not yet been assigned
and should be used for brief testing purposes only, because multiple Ethernet devices
may see only the PC, and not each other.
Connect all CNX devices to an Ethernet hub, as well as the PC. Disconnect the hub's
connection to the Intranet. To conform with TCP/IP standards, you should set all
devices to an IP address of 192.168.2.x (where x can range from 1 to 254), as these
addresses have been set aside expressly for testing purposes. Set the ARP (Address
Resolution Protocol) table on your PC so it knows how to route the packets:
Bring up an MS-DOS prompt (Windows 95/98) or a Command Prompt (Windows
NT) and type:
arp -s <ip-address> <MAC-address>
for each device that the PC should see.
Crestron SIMPL™ Windows
Installation & Operations Guide – DOC. 5728C