Tasks 

Chapter reference

1

Install DASDEC Hardware in a rack or elsewhere. Install or plan for installing wiring/cabling for video, audio, serial port, GPIO, USB, and ethernet. For DASDECs equipped with the optional MPEG2 Encoder, complete MPEG Encoder Card Wiring.

3.3           Back Panel Connectors

3.4           Audio Wiring

3.8           MPEG Encoder Card Wiring

2

Choose a way to connect to the DASDEC for initial network configuration and/or regular interaction in the planned system.

A. Direct connection using VGA monitor, keyboard, and mouse. If this method, connect a VGA CRT monitor (some LCD monitors do not work well), keyboard and mouse to the correct ports on the back of the DASDEC. A PS/2 mouse with three buttons (a middle wheel button works fine) works best.

Power up the DASDEC and the monitor and allow to boot to the login shell prompt.

Or

B. Network connection from a host computer. If using this method connect:

I. Via an existing LAN (can be simply a switch or hub) via a networked host computer. Your network must be able to reach 192.168.0.200 and not already be using this address.

Or

II. Via a crossover ethernet cable between the DASDEC and a network capable host computer. Your host computer must be able to reach 192.168.0.200 and not already be using this address.

Power up the DASDEC and allow to boot.

4.1           Power Up, User Interface and Initial Setup

4.1.1    Using a VGA monitor, keyboard, and mouse with a DASDEC

4.1.2    Directly connecting a networked host computer

3

Bring up a Web browser to the DASDEC Login page.

A. Direct connection:

Login as root on the initial Linux shell prompt. The default password for root is "dasdec1'.

Use the command line app "dasdec_set_network" to set the network address (you can not set the DNS with dasdec_set_network if it is needed). If all you needed was to change the IP address, then this task is done and you can now access the DASDEC from another host computer on the LAN.

 or

Run "startx" from the Linux shell prompt. Wait for the KDE desktop to fully launch. If this fails, try a different monitor.

To configure the DASDEC click on the provided icon for "DASDEC Local". This brings up a Web Browser to the standard DASDEC login screen.

OR

For B. and C. LAN connection

Configuration can be performed through any Web Browser on the host computer. Type the address http://192.168.0.200 into the Web browser. A web page should immediately come up and redirect you to the standard DASDEC login screen. If a connection is not made, troubleshoot the network connection to the DASDEC. Make sure you can really get to 192.168.0.200. Try to ping the address from a command line utility on the host computer.

4.1      Power Up, User Interface and Initial Setup

4.1.1    Using a VGA monitor, keyboard, and mouse with a DASDEC

4.1.2    Directly connecting a networked host computer

4

From the Web Browser DASDEC Login page, login to the DASDEC Web Server Interface. Default user is Admin and the default password is "dasdec".

4.2      Web Server Login

5

Review DASDEC Page Organization, Web Interface and Navigation in the User Manual. Take note of how Web page form changes are submitted and take note that the Web interface DASDEC provides its own Back and Refresh Buttons.

4.3      DASDEC Page Organization, Web Interface and Navigation

4.3.4    Web Interface and Navigation.

6

Go to Setup->Server.

Edit the Server Name as needed. The Server Name is a way to identify the DASDEC through the web interface. Submit the change with Accept Changes button.

* Virtually all customers will have purchased a set of features pre-installed, so the next part of this step is rarely if ever necessary.

If needed License Key ed features are not pre-installed or are if purchased keys are missing, stay in Setup->Server. If new license keys are needed, find Platform ID on the page, note the needed features and contact Digital Alert Systems.

5.1.1    Main/License: Server Name & License Key Configuration

7

Go to Setup->Network.

Set Server Network Hostname, network ethernet IP addresses and network gateway. If using a second network, plug in the USB adaptor and configure. Consider the main and secondary network addresses for the DASDEC and edit the static routes configuration as needed. The DASDEC by default includes static routes to 10.0.0.0 and 192.168.0.0 networks. You will likely need to disable either or both of these routes if they conflict with the desired system network. For example, if the DASDEC will be a part of a 10.100.###.0 network, the static route for 10.0.0.0 should probably be disabled.

Re-login as necessary.

If you are using a direct connection with monitor, keyboard, mouse, but plan on placing the DASDEC on a LAN, consider connecting up to the LAN now and trying to login from a remote host computer from a Web browser. If successful, you can proceed with the rest of the configuration from that host.

5.2.1    Configuration: Server Network Configuration

8

Go to Setup->Time.

Set Timezone if needed. This will force a logout.

After timezone change, set date and time if needed.

Set NTP server if available. This is the preferred method for accurate time.

5.3      Setup > Time: Server Date and Time Configuration

9

Go to Setup->Users. This step can be delayed until later.

Set up other users beside Admin. Set permission levels for other users. Set session idle timeouts.

5.4      Setup > Users

10

Go to Setup->EMail->EMail Server. This step can be delayed until later or can be easily modified later.

Enter outgoing email server and optionally the From: name.

Test connection to Email server using provided Set & Test button. Make sure network has a gateway to the email server and DNS if the server name is not a numeric IP address.

Test sending an email using the provided interface.

Restart the mail server if the network hostname Is changed. 

Go to Setup->EMail->Event Email to set which events will generate emails and set the recipients. Do the same under Setup->EMail->Decoder Email and Setup->EMail->Encoder EMail.

5.5.1    EMail Server: Server EMail Server Configuration

5.5.2    Event Email: Server Event EMail Configuration

5.5.3    Decoder Email: Decoder EMail Configuration 

5.5.4    Encoder Email: Encoder EMail Configuration

11

Go to Setup->Audio->Audio Output Levels & Test.

Changes on this page are immediate.

Test audio output over the various output ports from this page. Buttons are provided to play tones and audio WAV files. The interface at the bottom of the page allows WAV file upload.

You can adjust the volume of the front panel speaker by setting the output level control. To mute the front panel speaker, set the level to 0. Similarly, the volume of the other audio outputs can be set.

If your system is using the analog audio passthrough feature, to hear the pass through system audio, you need to uncheck the toggle in the Main Audio table to allow audio output only during EAS alert. To test the Main audio output with a tone or audio file, you must have this toggle checked.

If you have the AES audio output option, you may need to increase the output sample rate to 32000 or more samples.

5.6.1    Audio Output Levels/Tests: Direct Audio Output Levels and Tests

12

Go to Setup->Audio->Decoder Audio.

Changes on this page are immediate.

Examine the interface and find the tables for the decoder input channels. Make sure the input sources are correct for internal radio operation or for external sources. On the Main Audio, the Input Source must be set to Internal/Radio to use the built-in radios. On the Auxiliary Audio 1 card, the Input Source must be set to Internal A to use the built-in radio/and rear connector input.

If your system has internal radios, tune the radios. To do this go to Setup->Audio->Radio Tuners or just click on the provided decoder channel name link to the radio setup page.

Attach antennas as needed and tune radio stations (AM, FM, or NOAA frequency) and examine the signal strength. Test radio reception after tuning by using the provided Listen To buttons on the Setup->Audio->Radio Tuner page. Remember to stop the monitoring when done with the red Stop button.

Alternately, use the Decoder Audio Monitoring interface on the Setup->Audio-Decoder Audio page. Use the Decoder Audio Monitoring interface to listen to the decoder channels on the Front Panel speaker. If your DASDEC has EAS NET, you can also listen to a decoder over a LAN from a media player on a remote host. Set Decoder channels input levels until Audio Level Status is OK (or occasionally Elevated).

Test reception and radio tuning as needed until acceptable (stations are clear and decoder channels are at the proper input level).

Make sure Alert forwarding audio is enabled on the correct audio output ports on this page (bottom of page). Most systems will need the Encoder Alert Forwarding enabled on the Main Audio Output.

5.6.2    Decoder Audio: Alert Decoding Audio Configuration

5.6.4    Radio Tuners: Radio Configuration

13

Go to Setup->Audio->Encoder Audio.

Changes on this page are immediate.

Make sure Alert origination audio is enabled on the correct audio output ports on this page. Most systems will need the Encoder Alert Origination enabled on the Main Audio Output.

If audio recordings will be made directly on the DASDEC, configure the recording device from this page.

5.6.3    Encoder Audio

14

Go to Setup->Video/CG.

Select and set operational parameters of external serial port controlled character generators.

Select and set options of built-in full screen NTSC internal character generation if this is needed.

NOTE: Running the NTSC video details generator will slow down the start of every alert by a few seconds as the video system is initialized from a VGA console state to a video output state. Depending on the required timing of your on-air system, this can be objectionable. Only enable DASDEC NTSC video details output if it is needed.

Set Spanish translation on if needed in addition to English.

5.7      Setup Video/CG > Video/Character Generator Configuration

15

Go to Setup->Decoder->Forwarding.

Changes on this page are immediate.

Set options for alert forwarding (alert send after decode).

Set Station ID, alert audio options, and Auto-Forward options (manual or auto-forward mode, forward mode timers, duplicate alert handling, EAS type and FIPS code filters).

If configuring Multistation mode, enable and configure each used station. Set the per station override and hardware selection settings. NOTE: Station interfaces enabled under the Setup->Decoder->Forwarding page are stay enabled under the Setup->Encoder->General page. Also, many options that are configured under the Setup->Decoder->Forwarding page also apply to alert origination. 

5.8.1    Forwarding: Decoder Forwarding Configuration

5.8.1.1 Forwarding: Multistation Decoder Forwarding Configuration

16

Go to Setup->Encoder->General.

Changes on this page are immediate.

Set Station ID (usually the same as Forwarding Station ID).

Set Origination code and optionally the custom translation of the origination code.

Set the attention signal duration (default of 8 seconds is standard).

Set the available EAS codes and FIPS codes that will appear on the Encoder->Send EAS->General EAS page. 

If configuring Multistation mode, enable and configure each used station. Set the per station override and hardware selection settings. NOTE: Station interfaces enabled under the Setup->Decoder->Forwarding page are enabled under the Setup->Encoder->General page. Also, many options that are configured under the Setup->Decoder->Forwarding page also apply to alert origination. 

5.9      Setup > Encoder

5.9.1.1 General: Multistation Main Encoder Configuration

17

Go to Setup->Encoder->Required Tests

Changes on this page are immediate.

Set options for issuing one-button and automatic random weekly test alerts.

5.9.2    Required Tests

18

If your system has any network alert features, go to Setup->Net Alerts.

else skip.

For each Net Alerts feature available (EAS NET, EAS NET Decode, DVS644/SCTE-18, Stream MPEG2/4, CODI Net/CG, Net GPIO) enable toggles for send upon forwarding and origination as required by your system.

For each Net Alerts feature, build client interfaces as required.

5.10    Setup > Net Alerts: Setup Network Alert Protocol Options

5.10.1  EAS NET (Decode/Live Audio Web Streaming/Send)

5.10.2  DVS644 (SCTE18): Alert Send to DVS644 (SCTE 18) device

5.10.3  Stream MPEG: MPEG Streaming Clients Alert Send

5.10.4  CODI CG Net: CODI Digibox Client Alert Send

5.10.5  Net GPIO: Alert triggered Net GPIO

19

If your system has GPIO (standard hardware, unavailable on software only versions of DASDEC)

go to Setup->GPIO.

else skip.

Program General Purpose Inputs and Outputs (GPIO) according to your system requirements.

5.11    Setup > GPIO: Setup GPI

20

Go to Setup->Alert Storage.

Set storage options as needed. 365 days for saving is the recommended setting.

5.12    Setup > Alert Storage: Setup Storage Management Options

21

Go to Setup->Server->Configuration Management: Now that the initial configurations are set correctly, create a backup of the configuration settings and download the configuration file to another host computer using the provided interface.

Repeat this step as you adjust settings. The backup can be used to restore your DASDEC system to a known state.

5.1.2    Configuration Management: Server Configuration File Management

22

Go to the Decoder->Decoded Alerts page to see how to view active and expired decoded and forwarded alerts. 

6.1      Decoded Alerts

23

Go to the Encoder->Send EAS->One Button EAS page to examine the web interface for issuing a weekly test (RWT). If settings are incorrect, follow the provided page links back into the Setup->Encoder pages to reset until correct. 

NOTE: The provided button "Send Preconfigured Weekly Test" works IMMEDIATELY WITHOUT A CONFIRMATION STEP. So proceed with appropriate caution.

The same weekly test can also be triggered from the front panel button on the DASDEC.

7.1.2    One-Button EAS

24

Go to the Encoder->Send EAS->General EAS page to examine the web interface for issuing any kind of EAS alert. If settings are incorrect, follow the provided page links back into the Setup->Encoder pages to reset until correct.

Any alert issued from this page will present a confirmation dialog.

7.1.1    General EAS

25

Go to the Encoder->Originated Alerts page to examine the active and expired alerts sent from this unit.

7.2      Originated Alerts

26

Go to the Server->Status->Operation Log page to view the daily run log. This page can always be quickly traversed to using the active shortcut link found at the bottom of every page. All important alert activity will be logged here.

9.3.2    Operation Log

27

Go to the Server->Logs ->Web Session Log page to view the daily DASDEC Web Server access log. This page can always be quickly traversed to using the active shortcut link found at the bottom of every page. All access to the DASDEC will be logged here.

9.3.1    Web Session Log

28

Go to the Server->Logs ->Security Log page to view the current DASDEC/Linux remote access log.

9.3.4    Security Log

29

Go to the Server->Status->Main page to see the overall status of the DASDEC on a single web page.

9.2      Server > Status: DASDEC Server Status

30

Configure local or network Printer (optional). This can be done from either KDE/XWindows desktop using the Redhat Start Icon->System Settings->Printing tool or from the command line shell using "printconf". Networked Postscript laser printers are recommended.

5.12    Setup> Printer

31

If logged in directly using a monitor and keyboard and mouse:

If logged onto the KDE desktop, logout of the KDE desktop using the menu that pops up with a right mouse button click.

Consider changing the default Linux root password. If changed, remember to STORE IN A SAFE location. It is difficult to restore the machine back to defaults if the root password is LOST!

Logout from root by Cntrl-D or typing logout and then <enter>.

4.1.1    Using a VGA monitor, keyboard, and mouse with a DASDEC, section "Changing default Linux root password"