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GLPAC Expansion Setup

Version 4.1 by Alexander Mott on 2022/06/09 22:41

GLPACs in SHOWRUNNER™

On SHOWRUNNER™ jobs which have GLPACs, all GLPACs must have their IP settings configured and then the CI.Lighting.ShowRunner_GLPAC-Expansion.spz program must be loaded to each GLPAC.

Since GLPACs are 2-Series processors, the expansion program must be loaded to make them obey commands from the 3-Series or 4-Series processor that is running the main SHOWRUNNER™ program and configuration file.

For jobs with GLPACs, Chief Integrations will provide a load script to streamline the GLPAC configuration process. The IP addresses for each GLPAC are set to Chief Integrations default addresses unless otherwise requested. These IP addresses are provided in the IP Table section of the SRTakeoff.xlsx spreadsheet. If these IP addresses need to be changed to meet the job's network requirements, then SHOWRUNNER™ configuration file will need to be updated:

  • Open the configuration file in VS Code, Notepad++, or another text editor of your choice
  • Press ctrl+h to open the "Find/Replace" menu
    • In the "Find" field, put the old GLPAC IP Address
    • In the "Replace" field, put the new GLPAC IP Address
    • Press the "Replace All" button
  • Repeat these steps for all GLPACs that have altered IP addresses

If either the GLPAC or the processor's IP address needs to be changed to meet the job's network requirements, then the load script will also need to be updated:

  • Open the GLPAC_LoadScript.txt file in a text editor of your choice
  • Press ctrl+h to open the "Find/Replace" menu
    • In the "Find" field, put the old GLPAC IP Address
    • In the "Replace" field, put the new GLPAC IP Address
    • Press the "Replace All" button
  • Repeat the previous step for all GLPACs that have altered IP addresses
  • Press ctrl+h to open the "Find/Replace" menu again
    • In the "Find" field, put the old processor IP Address
    • In the "Replace" field, put the new processor IP Address
    • Press the "Replace All" button

GLPAC IP Configuration

Theoretically, GLPACs should be able to be configured over Ethernet using a computer that is running a DHCP server (or if they are on a network with a processor running the SHOWRUNNER™ DHCP Server). In practice, however, GLPACs will oftentimes fail to take an IP address from a DHCP server and still require manual configuration via USB.

  • Connect to the GLPAC via USB
  • Open Text Console and run the following commands to configure the GLPACs IP settings (example is for a GLPAC at 10.0.0.11 on a 10.0.0.0/24 subnet)
    • Disable DHCP: dhcp off
    • Set IP address: ipa 0 10.0.0.11
    • Set IP subnet mask: ipm 0 255.255.255.0
    • Set default gateway: defr 0 10.0.0.1
    • Set hostname: host GLPAC-1
    • Reboot the GLPAC: reboot
  • All GLPACs on the job will need to be configured in this way, but if the network is not up (i.e., if it is not yet possible to plug in at one location and communicate via Ethernet to all GLPACs on the job) then it is more time efficient to proceed and load the program over USB before moving on to the next GLPAC

Loading the GLPAC Expansion Program

Using Chief Integrations Provided Load Script

  • When GLPACs are deployed Chief Integrations will provide a load script that loads and configures the GLPAC hardware. The script includes Chief Integrations chosen IP addresses unless otherwise requested.
  • Set the IP addresses on all GLPACs per your network requirements.  The script will need to be updated if IP Addresses are changed from Chief Integrations chosen IP Addresses.
  • Using Toolbox -> Script Manager, select the Scripting dropdown or right click and select “Load Script”.  Find the text file provided.
  • Provided the given IPs can be seen on the network, double or right clicking an entry will load the program and link the IP table, enabling control through showrunner™
  • Say yes to the dialog warning the hardware does not match (if prompted), and yes to overwrite the IP table (if prompted)

Manually Loading the GLPAC Expansion

  • Connect to the GLPAC via Text Console