Changes for page Toolbox Basics

Last modified by Alexander Mott on 2024/03/19 21:00
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edited by Alexander Mott
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edited by Alexander Mott
on 2023/12/13 20:55
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28 28  
29 29  = Connecting to Devices =
30 30  
31 -In order to connect to any lighting devices, your computer must be physically connected to the lighting device or the lighting network. Typically, this is achieved via TCP (i.e. Ethernet or WiFi) or USB (usually a USB-A to USB-B cable), though some older devices may require an RS-232 serial connection.
31 +In order to connect to any lighting devices, your computer must be physically connected to the lighting device or the lighting network. Typically, this is achieved via TCP (i.e. Ethernet or WiFi) or USB (usually a USB-A to USB-B cable), though some older devices may require an RS-232 serial connection or a different USB cable.
32 32  
33 33  Any Toolbox tool which requires connecting to a device has several buttons and fields at the lower left which relate to device connection:
34 34  
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37 37  These elements have various functions:
38 38  
39 39  1. Address Book Menu - Used to view and edit the current address book, or to change the active Address Book to a different Address Book
40 -1. Current Connected Device - If the currently connected device is in the Address Book, it's name in the Address Book will be displayed here. This drop down menu can also be used to connect to a different device within the current Address Book
40 +1. Known Device Dropdown - This drop down menu can also be used to connect to devices in the current Address Book. If the currently connected device is in the Address Book, it's name in the Address Book will be displayed here
41 41  1. Manual Connection Menu - This menu is used to manually connect to a device that is not in the current Address Book. It can be used regardless of the connection type or device being connected to:
42 42  1*. [[image:1663625644870-585.png]]
43 43  1. Quick Function Menu (keyboard shortcut: ALT+F) - menu containing a few useful functions
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84 84  1*. If the lighting network is on the building LAN, then you may need to reach out to the building's IT department for instructions on how to access the lighting network or VLAN.
85 85  1. Use a Cat 5a or Cat 6 cable to connect your laptop to the lighting network at an open port
86 86  1*. Most newer laptops will require some sort of adapter in order to connect to a Cat 5a/6 cable
87 -1. Configure your laptop's network settings to be compatible with the lighting network:
87 +1. Configure your laptop's network settings ([[FAQ page>>https://wiki.chiefintegrations.com/FAQ/How%20do%20I%20change%20my%20computer%27s%20network%20settings]]) to be compatible with the lighting network:
88 88  11. Navigate to Control Panel>Network and Internet>Network Connections
89 89  11. Locate the network adapter that is connected to the lighting network
90 90  11. Right click the network adapter and click "Properties"
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106 106  11*1*. You can verify this by opening the Windows Command Line tool and running "ipconfig" command to view your current adapter settings
107 107  1. Open Toolbox and then open the desired tool
108 108  1. Connect to the device:
109 -1*. If you have created an address book, then select the device from the drop down menu
109 +1*. If you have created an address book (see [[Export to Address Book>>doc:SHOWRUNNER™ Setup Guide.SHOWRUNNER™ Installation Guide.Preparation.Toolbox Basics.WebHome||anchor="HExporttoAddressBook"]] below), then select the device from the drop down menu
110 110  1*. If you have not created an address book, then you should click the Pencil Icon to open the Manual Connection Menu:
111 111  1*1. Leave the connection type as "TCP"
112 -1*1. Type in the IP address of the device you wish to connect to
112 +1*1. Type in the IP address or Hostname of the device you wish to connect to
113 113  1*1. Generally, the "Auto Detect" box should be left at "Auto Detect", though if you know what type of connection you need then you can manually change it
114 +1*1*. CEN-GWEXERs with Authentication enabled require manually setting the connection type to "TSL/SSL"
114 114  1*1. Leave Model, Hostname, and Serial fields blank
115 115  1*1. If the device has authentication enabled, expand the Advanced options and input the username and password
116 116  1*1. Click "OK"
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120 120  1*. If the device has just recently powered up, it may take a few minutes to completely wake up before it can be connected to
121 121  1*. If you have issues connecting, see [[Troubleshooting a Failed Connection>>doc:SHOWRUNNER™ Setup Guide.SHOWRUNNER™ Installation Guide.Preparation.Toolbox Basics.WebHome||anchor="HTroubleshootingaFailedConnection"]] below
122 122  
124 +== Troubleshooting a Failed Connection ==
125 +
126 +Sometimes, a connection attempt will fail and you will need to do some troubleshooting to figure out why exactly the connection could not be established. Toolbox will give different error messages, though sometimes it can be helpful to attempt to connect with another software such as PuTTY just in case the error message is more informative from the alternate software.
127 +
128 +"Device refused to identify"
129 +
130 +* This message typically means that the device is not online or could not be connected to
131 +* This message may also occur when a device has blocked your username or IP address due to making too many incorrect login attempts
132 +** IP addresses are blocked for 24 hours by default, but you can attempt to circumvent this block by changing your IP address and trying again
133 +** Users are blocked for 30 minutes by default, and it is only possible to circumvent this if another user has already been created, otherwise you must wait for the block to expire before connecting again
134 +** The below commands are useful if you are able to connect to the processor through some other means (specific commands may vary depending on the device):
135 +*** ##listblockedip## and ##remblockedip## commands can be used to view/unblock an IP address
136 +*** ##listlockeduser## and ##remlockeduser## commands can be used to view/unblock specific users
137 +*** ##setloginattempts## and ##setlockouttime## commands can be used to modify how many login attempts are allowed before blocking an IP address and how long an address will be blocked
138 +*** ##setuserloginattempts## and ##setuserlockouttime## commands are used to modify how many login attempts are allowed before blocking a user and how long that user will be blocked
139 +*** ##setlogoffidletime## command can be used to modify how long you can be inactive before the processor automatically logs you out
140 +
141 +"Device not found in database"
142 +
143 +* This message typically means that the version of your device database is out of date and the device being connected to is not in it. Use Crestron's MasterInstaller tool to ensure that Toolbox and all installed Crestron components are up-to-date
144 +
145 +See our FAQ for additional tips:
146 +
147 +* [[I can't connect to my processor via Ethernet?>>https://wiki.chiefintegrations.com/FAQ/I%20can%27t%20connect%20to%20my%20processor%20via%20Ethernet]]
148 +* [[I can't connect to a 4-Series processor via USB?>>https://wiki.chiefintegrations.com/FAQ/I%20can%27t%20connect%20to%204-Series%20processor%20via%20USB]]
149 +
150 += Basic Tool Usage =
151 +
152 +Crestron Toolbox has many tools that are essential for starting up or troubleshooting any ShowRunnerCLC™ installation. The tools covered here are the most commonly used in commercial lighting contexts, but it should be noted that this list is by no means exhaustive.
153 +
123 123  == Device Discovery Tool ==
124 124  
125 125  Crestron's Device Discovery Tool is used to "discover" any Crestron devices which are connected to your laptop. The most useful feature of the Device Discovery Tool is the ability to export all discovered devices to either a "Device Summary" text file or an Address Book. Discovered devices are listed in a scrollable list on the left side of the menu, and double clicking a discovered device will bring up additional configuration options on the right side. Below is an overview of the Device Discovery Tool UI:
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135 135  1. Discover Devices button - press this to restart the discovery process
136 136  1. Export... button - use this button to export discovered devices to either a Device Summary or Address Book (covered in more detail below)
137 137  
169 +=== Export to Address Book ===
170 +
171 +Address Books provide a convenient way to easily connect to different devices without memorizing all the different IP addresses and credentials for devices on your network. When an Address Book has been created for a job, you are able to connect to specific devices using the dropdown menu on the lower left of the tool instead of manually inputting the IP address or hostname using the Pencil menu. Note that when exporting devices to the Address Book, it is possible to add devices by either Hostname or by IP Address, and if the device settings are modified then it may be necessary to update your Address Book or create a new one.
172 +
173 +To create an Address Book in Toolbox:
174 +
175 +1. Connect to the lighting network and open Device Discovery Tool in Toolbox
176 +1. The Device Discovery tool will automatically report how many Ethernet devices have been discovered
177 +1. Verify that the expected number of Ethernet devices have been discovered, including any TSWs, GLPACs, DIN-CENCN-2s, etc.
178 +1*. Note that only Crestron devices will appear in Device Discovery; non-Crestron devices (such as Pharos or Enttec DMX controllers) will not appear in Device Discovery Tool
179 +1*. If no devices are discovered, verify that your computer is connected to the network and your IP address is compatible with the network
180 +1*. If some devices are missing and you are not filtering the results, then there may be an issue with your DHCP server settings or the network wiring
181 +1. Click the "Export..." button below the list of discovered devices
182 +1*. If this button says "Address Book", then Toolbox needs to be updated
183 +1*. Ensure that you are not filtering out any devices or that you have only filtered out the devices you want to be filtered out
184 +1. Select how you would like devices to be saved:
185 +1*. Hostname - Recommended for jobs with DHCP servers, though it should be noted that the Address Book must be updated if device hostnames are changed; entries are named with the device hostname by default
186 +1*. IP Address - Recommended for jobs with static IP addresses only; entries are named the form "[hostname]_ip" by default
187 +[[image:export.png]]
188 +1. Click the "New Address Book" button to create a new Address Book with these device
189 +1*. Click the "Current Address Book" button to add devices to the currently active Address Book; note that if an Address Book has just been created but not has not yet been made the active address book, then devices will not be added to that Address Book (more likely they will be added to the "Default" address book instead)
190 +1*. Devices with the same name and connection method will be overwritten, while devices with new names will be added
191 +
192 +Once a new Address Book has been created, it must be manually selected and made the current Address Book before the new devices will appear in the connection dropdown menu
193 +
194 +1. Open any tool and click the Address Book Menu button on the lower left, or open the Address Book dialog directly from the Tools > Manage Address Book...
195 +[[image:addr.png||height="444" width="627"]]
196 +1. The currently selected address book is displayed in the "Current Address Book" field, and recently opened Address Books are available in the dropdown menu
197 +1. To open an Address Book that has never been open or has not recently been opened, click "Open / New..." and locate the Address Book
198 +1*. By default, newly created Address Books are saved to your "Documents\Crestron\Toolbox\AddressBook\" folder
199 +1. Click the "Open" button to make the selected Address Book active
200 +1. If desired, the "Name" or "Address" column headers can be clicked to change the order devices are displayed in the dropdown menu
201 +1*. The up and down arrows at the bottom of the menu can be used to manually re-order devices
202 +1. Connection settings for individual entries in the Address Book can be modified by selecting them and then editing their attributes in the menu on the left, including:
203 +1*. Connection type (TCP, USB, etc.) and method (SSH, SSL/TLS, etc.)
204 +1*. Connection port
205 +1*. Credentials
206 +1. Right-click on an entry to rename or delete it, or select the entry and use the buttons at the bottom of the menu
207 +1. Click "OK" without selecting a device from the list to close the Address Book dialog without connecting to a device, or select a device from the list and click "OK" to connect immediately
208 +
138 138  === Export to Device Summary ===
139 139  
140 140  The Device Summary is an important documentation tool provided by Crestron. It is a .txt file containing a comma-separated-values of all networked devices, and is useful to capture which devices are online, what their current IP and hostname settings are, what version of firmware they are on, and their MAC address and serial number.
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146 146  1. Verify that the expected number of Ethernet devices have been discovered, including any TSWs, GLPACs, DIN-CENCN-2s, etc.
147 147  1*. Note that only Crestron devices will appear in Device Discovery; non-Crestron devices (such as Pharos or Enttec DMX controllers) will not appear in Device Discovery Tool
148 148  1*. If no devices are discovered, verify that your computer is connected to the network and your IP address is compatible with the network
149 -1*. If some devices are missing, there may be an issue with your DHCP server settings or the network wiring
220 +1*. If some devices are missing and you are not filtering the results, then there may be an issue with your DHCP server settings or the network wiring
150 150  1. Click the "Export..." button below the list of discovered devices
151 151  1*. If this button says "Address Book", then Toolbox needs to be updated
223 +1*. Ensure that you are not filtering out any devices or that you have only filtered out the devices you want to be filtered out
152 152  1. Click the Write Device Summary button and save the Device Summary to your computer
153 153  1*. Though saved as a text file, the Device Summary is actually a table of comma separated values
154 154  1*. Renaming DeviceSummary.txt to DeviceSummary.csv will allow it to be opened and manipulated in common spreadsheet software such as Microsoft Excel or LibreOffice Calc
155 -1**. Note that this .csv will have whitespace, so it may be beneficial to "clean" it using Excel's "=TRIM()" function
227 +1**. Note that this .csv will have whitespace, so you may want to "clean" it using Excel's "=TRIM()" function if you intend to copy/paste it into the takeoff
156 156  
157 157  Below is an example of a Device Summary for a fully-configured Zūm Wired job:
158 158  
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161 161  * DeviceSummary.csv:
162 162  [[image:https://wiki.chiefintegrations.com/download/SHOWRUNNER%E2%84%A2%20Setup%20Guide/SHOWRUNNER%E2%84%A2%20Installation%20Guide/SHOWRUNNER%E2%84%A2%20Installation%20and%20Network%20Setup/ZUMNET-JBOX%20Setup/WebHome/1655487132138-904.png?rev=1.1||alt="1655487132138-904.png"]]
163 163  
164 -=== Export to Address Book ===
165 -
166 166  (% class="box warningmessage" %)
167 167  (((
168 -This section is under construction: please check back at a later date for more information on using the Address Book
238 +This section is under construction: please check back at a later date for more information
169 169  )))
170 170  
171 -Address Books are useful ways of managing multiple jobs that each have many devices.
241 +=== Text Console ===
172 172  
173 -Note that when exporting devices to the Address Book, it is possible to add devices by either Hostname or by IP Address. On systems with a DHCP server, it is recommended to add devices by Hostname, but only after the final hostnames have been set for all devices.
243 +== File Manager ==
174 174  
175 -== Troubleshooting a Failed Connection ==
245 +== Network Device Tree View ==
176 176  
177 -"Device refused to identify"
247 +See our [[device addressing>>doc:SHOWRUNNER™ Setup Guide.SHOWRUNNER™ Installation Guide.Device Addressing.Addressing Devices from Toolbox.WebHome||anchor="HNetworkDeviceTreeView"]] page for more specific information on how to use the Network Device Tree View for device addressing purposes.
178 178  
179 -* This message typically means that the device is not online or could not be connected to
180 -* This message may also occur when a device has blocked your username or IP address due to making too many incorrect login attempts
181 -** IP addresses are blocked for 24 hours by default, but you can attempt to circumvent this block by changing your IP address and trying again
182 -** Users are blocked for 30 minutes by default, and it is only possible to circumvent this if another user has already been created, otherwise you must wait for the block to expire before connecting again
183 -** The below commands are useful if you are able to connect to the processor through some other means (specific commands may vary depending on the device):
184 -*** ##listblockedip## and ##remblockedip## commands can be used to view/unblock an IP address
185 -*** ##listlockeduser## and ##remlockeduser## commands can be used to view/unblock specific users
186 -*** ##setloginattempts## and ##setlockouttime## commands can be used to modify how many login attempts are allowed before blocking an IP address and how long an address will be blocked
187 -*** ##setuserloginattempts## and ##setuserlockouttime## commands are used to modify how many login attempts are allowed before blocking a user and how long that user will be blocked
188 -*** ##setlogoffidletime## command can be used to modify how long you can be inactive before the processor automatically logs you out
189 -
190 -"Device not found in database"
191 -
192 -* This message typically means that the version of your device database is out of date and the device being connected to is not in it. Use Crestron's MasterInstaller tool to ensure that Toolbox and all installed Crestron components are up-to-date
193 -
194 -= Basic Tool Usage =
195 -
196 -(% class="box warningmessage" %)
197 -(((
198 -This section is under construction: please check back at alater date for more information on using tools in Toolbox
199 -)))
200 -
201 -== Text Console ==
202 -
203 -== File Manager ==
204 -
205 205  == Script Manager ==
206 206  
207 -== Network Device Tree View ==
208 -
209 209  = Miscellaneous =
210 210  
211 211  == VPT COM Server ==
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212 212  
213 213  Whenever Toolbox is open, Toolbox also starts a separate process called the Crestron Toolbox VPT COM server. This process appears in the system tray with the following icon when active: [[image:1663630447432-699.png]]
214 214  
215 -Occasionally, something goes wrong with the VPT COM Server process which will prevent Toolbox from functioning correctly. To solve this problem, take the following steps:
257 +Occasionally, something might go wrong with the VPT COM Server process which will prevent Toolbox from functioning correctly. To solve this problem, take the following steps:
216 216  
217 217  1. Close Crestron Toolbox
218 218  1. Press CTRL+SHIFT+ESC to open Windows Task Manager
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