Grass Valley MRC v.1.2 - Manual (Page 21)

11
Using MRC
The Miranda Router Configurator (MRC) is a software application used to set up and modify
configuration settings and perform diagnostics for NV8500 series hybrid routers.
MRC also has limited (i.e., incomplete) support for other routers and for other devices that have
control cards. Routers other than NV8500 series hybrid routers should be configured with
UniConfig. In particular, NV8500 series standard routers should be configured with UniConfig.
Topics
Overview of MRC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
MRC Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Selecting a Control Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Saving Configuration Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
The MRC Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Setting Preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
MRC is periodically updated at Miranda with new features and functionality. Miranda automati-
cally notifies you of available updates whenever your copy of MRC is connected to the Internet
for longer than 5 minutes.
To obtain an update, click Upgrade Now or Upgrade On Exit on the dialog window that
appears. If you do not want to upgrade, click Don’t Upgrade. The next time you launch MRC, the
download options will appear again, allowing you to upgrade at that time.
Overview of MRC
MRC runs on a PC and communicates with the router’s control cards over Ethernet.
MRC configures the router by applying settings to the router’s control card, by updating firm-
ware in the I/O cards, crosspoint cards, and monitor cards, and by changing settings in the
EEPROM on the router’s backplane. MRC communicates with the control cards through Ethernet
connections.
Some third-party router control systems use a serial protocol and require that serial connections
be configured within MRC. (See
Serial Port Settings on page 66.)
NVISION Ethernet protocol is always available through the router’s Ethernet connections.
NVISION serial protocol is always available through the CTRL 2 serial ports. Other protocols can
be active on the CTRL 1 ports. The routers have two sets of ports, one for the primary control