Pathway Pathport Manager 5 User Guide - Manual (Page 21)

Pathway Connectivity
Pathport Manager 5 v1 Manual 21
Advanced Node Properties
A full list of node properties is found in the appendix, but some require a more detailed
description and explanation.
Alternate ArtNet Mapping
ArtNet universe selection is based on two 16-step rotary switches. One switch sets the
subnet, while the other sets the universe, so that valid universe numbers range from 0-0
to F-F. This arrangement does not readily translate to the linear, decimal-based
numbering used by Pathports.
The common problem is with ArtNet universe 0-0. Traditionally, Pathports have ignored
this universe altogether, as Pathports do not have a universe zero. However, some
console manufacturers present ArtNet 0-0 to the user as Universe 1, while others have
taken the same approach as Pathway, and presented universe 0-1 to the user as
Universe 1. This ‘off-by-one’ problem has caused problems both with ‘disappearing
data’ from a given console and with unexpected merges.
The alternate ArtNet mapping property allows the user to choose between ignoring
ArtNet 0-0 as universe 1 (property is disabled/unchecked – default), or to present it as
Universe 1 (property enabled/checked off).
E1.31 Version Selection
The first implementations of E1.31 streaming ACN to reach the market used the final
draft of the protocol. During final review, some minor changes were made to the packet
header, and this is the version that was accepted as ANSI standard. Unfortunately, the
changes mean the final draft and the official standard versions cannot communicate with
one another.
Without some specialized software and a packet dissector, it’s not easy for an end user
to be certain which version of sACN is being used by a given piece of equipment.
Pathports address this problem in two ways.
First, all output ports using current firmware listen for both flavors of the protocol, without
any user action required. If both flavors happen to be active on the network, the
Pathport will merge them together.
Second, all input ports, which transmit onto the Ethernet backbone, can be switched
between prerelease Draft 20, and the ANSI Final. If one doesn’t work, try the other.
sACN Input Priority
E1.31 streaming ACN includes an input priority scheme that will be familiar to ETC Net2
users. Up to 200 levels of input priority are available (see Port Properties for setting
actual priority levels), but the use of input priority does cause all other protocols to be
ignored.
It’s possible – but not advisable – to apply both input priority schemes and output priority
and merge schemes to the same port. Exactly how these different schemes will interact