VC-4 Setup

Last modified by Alexander Mott on 2024/12/02 19:02

This page is for VC-4 deployments. For other processors, see our normal processor setup page.

The Crestron Agent or Field Tech are responsible for recording the VC-4 and ShowRunnerCLC™ credentials. Chief Integrations cannot provide assistance unless these credentials are known.

ShowRunnerCLC™ on VC-4 requires version 4.000.0007 or newer of VC-4

Licensing tutorial:

Note: Please use Chrome or Firefox to download the License from https://portal.chiefintegrations.com.  Edge and Internet Explorer do not work properly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8CLZ7bp0eI

Pre-Requisites

  • VC-4 must have an SSL certificate

Program Install

  • Download CI_ShowRunner_vx.xx.cpz and Redirect.zip from the VC-4 folder on the ShowRunnerCLC™ releases site
  • Connect to the VC-4 server https://(Your_VC-4_IPAddress)/VirtualControl/config/settings/
  • Load the Program
    • Go to the Settings tab
    • Go to the Program Library section
    • Add Program button
      • Step 1 of 2
        • Name: showrunner
        • Program File: Select ShowRunnerLoadHelper.cpz
          1663089906147-492.png
        • Hit Next >
      • Step 2 of 2
        • Configuration Pages: Select Redirect.zip
          1663090552845-124.png
  • Navigate to the "Device Info" section under the "Status Tab"
    • Record the serial number and MAC address
  • Create a new room and load the ShowRunner™ License as the User File for the room
    • ShowRunner™ license requires the Room ID and Room Name, as well as the MAC address 
    • Room ID is always one word, all caps and is case-sensitive for the license

Program Updates

To update an existing ShowRunner™ program on VC-4:

  • Download CI_ShowRunner_vx.xx.cpz and Redirect.zip from the VC-4 folder on the ShowRunnerCLC™ releases site
  • Connect to the VC-4 server https://(Your_VC-4_IPAddress)/VirtualControl/config/settings/
  • Load the Program
    • Go to the Settings tab
    • Go to the Program Library section
    • Click the pencil icon for the existing program associated with your ShowRunner™ Room
    • Click the blue "+Choose" icon, under the "Program" section and select the new ShowRunnerLoadHelper.cpz file
      • If the XPanel UI has been updated between the 
    • Once the new file is selected, click the "Update" button
    • Choose "Yes" when prompted to automatically restart rooms associated with the program, or select "No" and manually restart the room(s) later. 

Accessing the ShowRunner™ Console

To access the ShowRunner™ console, connect to the VC-4 with PuTTY or another text console, log in to Linux, and then run the command telnet 127.0.0.1 50001

This command will open a telnet session with the ShowRunner™ program running on the VC-4, enabling the use of typical "sr" commands. To leave the ShowRunner™ console and close the telnet application, press the escape character '^]' ('ctrl+]'), type "quit", and then press enter.

The ShowRunner™ console can be used track normal Crestron console messages to the /var/log/messages log by setting up a VC-4 API token and registering it in ShowRunner™. To do this, navigate to the VC-4 configuration page, navigate to the "Settings" tab and open the "Tokens" section. Click "Add Token" and name it "showrunner". Copy the token to your clipboard and then go into the ShowRunner™ console. Run the command "sradmin set vc4 api token [paste the api token]" and then run the command "sradmin restart"

By running the command "sudo tail -f /var/log/messages", the Linux console will start tracking messages that you would normally see if you connected to an ordinary processor via Text Console.

Accessing the ShowRunner™ UIs

ShowRunnerHUB™ Web UI

The ShowRunner™ configuration should be uploaded to the processor using the ShowRunnerHUB™ Web UI. To access the ShowRunnerHUB™ Web UI, it is necessary to navigate to the following URL: 

  • https://vc-4ip/VirtualControl/Rooms/ROOMID/cws/showrunner/app/
  • Bold portions should be modified with your specific IP and Room ID [the Room ID is case sensitive]
  • DO NOT OMIT THE LAST "/"

Prior to logging in to the ShowRunnerHUB™ Web UI, it is necessary to create a ShowRunner™ user. Open the ShowRunner™ console as described above and run the following command:

  • sradmin add user username "name" Administrators password
  • Replace the bolded username, name, and password portions with the your desired credentials
  • The username and password should be one word each and are the credentials used to log in to the ShowRunnerHUB™ Web UI
  • The name can be multiple words as long as it is in quotes, and is simply a friendly name used to identify each user

ShowRunner™ XPanel UI

VC-4 Currently does not serve the XPanel over the webserver, so it is not possible to launch the XPanel interface from the ShowRunnerHUB™ Web UI. To access the XPanel:

  • Extract the CI_ShowRunner_TSW-770.vtz file from the CI_ShowRunner_v3.x.puf file used to install ShowRunnerCLC™
    • Some applications such as 7-Zip are able to open .puf files directly using the right-click context menu to open the archive
    • If you do not have these programs installed, then it is necessary to change the file type from .puf to .zip so that Windows will recognize it as an archive and allow you to extract files from it
    • Computers with lower resolutions may find it easier to use the TSW-760 UI instead of 
  • Launch the .vtz file using Crestron XPanel
  • Select Options>Host Settings and fill out the fields with the required information:
    • VC-4 IP address
    • XPanel IP-ID (default 12, but editable in the config)
    • Port 41796
    • Check the box for SSL
    • Room ID
  • Once all fields have been filled out, click "Open"
  • If authentication is enabled, you will also be prompted to enter a username and password