beautypg.com

Chapter 11 : networking, Using the networked version – B&G Deckman User Manual

Page 156

background image

Using the networked version

11.1

Chapter 11 : Networking

You are able to network together multiple computers running Deckman,
and all will receive data from the connection to the instruments. There
are obvious advantages, such as the fact that more of the crew can be
informed about the progress of the boat. This chapter describes the use
of a networked version, and also describes how to setup and control how
it is used.

Only one computer (the server) is connected to the instrument system.
Variables are then broadcast from there to client machines on the
network. The output of data from Deckman to the instrument system can
only be controlled from the server machine; this applies to Output in the
Instrument Control display and also (advanced) use of the DLL to write
data to the instruments.

Note. If using a Livechart version, you may wish to obtain a network
dongle so that you can share charts. Contact your agent or B&G for
more information.

Using the networked version

There is very little actual difference in the operation of a networked
version of Deckman. The main issue is that calibrations can only be
accessed from one machine at a time. Therefore if one person is using
the Instruments control dialog, this will prevent another user from
accessing this feature, and also from sending calibrations, polars and so
on to the instrument system. The locks that these dialogs enable will
timeout after the period set in TCPTimeout (see below).

The main thing to realise when using a networked version is that it is
possible for changes to be made from any computer on the network. For
instance, wind calibrations or polars can be changed via one computer,
and another user may not know anything about it (the values seen on the