Extron Electronics MLC 104 Plus Series - Manual (Page 42)

MLC 104 Plus Series • Software-based Configuration and Control 3-2
Software-based Configuration and Control
PRELIMINAR
Y
Configuration and Control: an Overview
An MLC Plus Series controller must be configured before use or it will not be
able to control other devices. The IP models can be configured and controlled via
a host computer attached to the right/rear panel LAN (local area network) port or
the front panel Config port. The MLC 104 Plus can be configured from the front
panel Config port. See chapter 2 for pin assignments and other details on the
configuration and control ports.
N For IP models, Extron recommends configuring and controlling the MLC via the
LAN connector. Ethernet connections are faster and more reliable.
• The primary means for configuring the controller is by using the Extron Global
Configurator (GC) software. This method requires a properly configured PC with
Windows ® 2000, Windows XP, or a higher version of Windows installed. Global
Configurator generates GlobalViewer ® Web pages that are uploaded to the MLC and,
for IP models, can be used to control the MLC and make adjustments to its settings.
N Microsoft ® Internet Explorer ® is currently the only Web browser that fully
supports GlobalViewer pages.
• Alternatively, for IP models, the default Web pages embedded within the MLC
provide a means to perform some setup, adjustment, and control via a Web
browser (Netscape ® Navigator ® version 6.0+, Internet Explorer version 5.5+, or
Mozilla ® Firefox ® version 1.0+) from any type of network-enabled computer.
N Netscape and Firefox cannot be used for viewing the Serial Control pages of the
factory‑embedded Web page. Run Internet Explorer to use those pages.
• The third way to control and configure the controller is by using Simple
Instruction Set (SIS ™ ) commands via Telnet (IP models), a Web browser (IP
models), or RS-232. SIS commands are discussed in detail in chapter 4 .
The Basic Setup Steps:
a Guide to this Chapter and Other Resources
N Setup/configuration may be performed away from the job site.
1 Configure the MLC for network communication. See “Configuring IP-
enabled MLCs for Network Communication“ on page 3-3.
2 Download or install Global Configurator and other Extron software
(IR Learner) and device drivers. See chapter 1 of the MLC 104 Plus Series
Setup Guide , the software disk(s) that were shipped with the unit, and the
Extron Web site for instructions.
N The MLC 104 Plus Series Setup Guide is shipped with the MLC. It is also
available as a PDF file on the Extron Web site ( www.extron.com ). The CD included
with the unit contains software, device drivers, a PDF file of the full reference
manual, and additional documentation available when the unit was shipped.
The setup guide outlines most of the common tasks required to set up an MLC.
3 Create a Global Configurator project and configure basic settings and
functions. See chapter 3 of the MLC 104 Plus Series Setup Guide, or see the
Global Configurator Help file for step-by-step procedures.
4 Configure additional or advanced functions, if desired. See the Global
Configurator Help file. For information on IR learning, read the IR Learner Help
file.
5 Save and upload the configuration to the MLC. See the MLC 104 Plus Series
Setup Guide , chapter 3.
6 For IP models, control the MLC and devices connected to it by using the
MLC’s embedded Web pages or its GlobalViewer (GV) Web pages. See
“Controlling an IP Link-enabled MLC” later in this chapter.