New post
0

First impressions

Avatar
Mark Farey
None
Follow

I'm evaluating BrightSign XD230 for corporate use and after day one I have to agree with other subscribers that the development workflow is very convoluted. I'm trying to use Simple File Networking but I can't get updates to work. On top of that, it appears I have to wait 5 minutes for changes to propagate to the screen before I can even expect to see any changes. I see something called Local File Networking, which looks like what I need, but it doesn't seem to be available with the XD230. Documentation is all over the place and tutorials are sketchy and not always relevant to the XD230. The whole thing is turning into an exercise in frustration. Bad way to end the week.

 

Mark.

Date Votes

5 comments

  • 0
    Avatar
    Alex

    Hi Mark,

    There are 3 ways to network the players to get content remotely to the players. One is the hosted, cloud based BrightSign Network. It is a scalable easy way to get content to your players via the cloud. To use the BrightSign Network service you need to buy a subscription for each player.

    The other 2 ways are less scalable but are free. One is Local Networking where the players can show up on you LAN. The other is Simple File Networking where you point the players to call out to a folder on a webserver and they get the content that way. Simple File Networking does not have a cost either.

    See this document:
        http://www.brightsign.biz/files/1013/5248/5421/BS_networking_solutions_v3.2.pdf

    More info below:

        1. You can setup a unit into the BrightSign network
        2. You can setup a unit to connect to a folder on a webserver and get updates published to that folder.
        3. Using BrightAuthor 3.x or later, you can setup a BrightSign so BrightAuthor can publish to it directly over a local network.

        1. BrightSign Network, Hosted Service - You can setup the unit to connect to our hosted service, to a brightsign network manager account. We can setup a 30-day trial account. Please watch the BrightSign network videos in the tutorial section at www.brightsign.biz

        http://support.brightsign.biz/entries/168685-what-is-the-brightsign-network

        More details about how exactly Brightsign Network Setup works:
        http://support.brightsign.biz/entries/170656-brightsign-network-network-setup

        2. Simple Networking (Web servers) - Use any web server or dropbox account to update BrightSigns remotely. For step by step directions on using Simple Networking:
        http://support.brightsign.biz/entries/216433-brightauthor-simple-networking-setup-and-usage

        Simple file networking uses http transfers, not ftp. The URL you have to use must be an http url, a url to a web server, a web folder. So, if you're not actually running a webserver, it won't work. The BrightSign doesn't use ftp.

        Setup steps:
        http://support.brightsign.biz/entries/22469873-Simple-File-Networking-Setup-steps-How-to-

        Troubleshooting guide:
        http://support.brightsign.biz/entries/262282-Simple-File-Network-updates-aren-t-working-

        3. Local Networking
        Publish directly to the BrightSign using BrightAuthor. See video below for details.
        https://www.brightsignnetwork.com/download/Videos/LocalNetworking-Setup_Publish.zip

        Setup steps:
        http://support.brightsign.biz/entries/22532542-Local-File-Networking-LFN-How-to-

        Troubleshooting guide:
        http://support.brightsign.biz/entries/20812958-I-can-t-publish-via-Local-File-Network-my-BrightSign-isn-t-visible-when-using-Local-File-Network-

  • 0
    Avatar
    Dietmar Peter

    nice step-by-step instructions like in the whole documentation and also in the videos. But it doesn't help, because there's no option available like "Local File Networking" (you can see in the screenshot). Is this option not available on some players? (in my case the "XD1030"?) 

    Are there some other configurations necessary before this option is activated?

     

    apt quotation:

    "The whole thing is turning into an exercise in frustration. Bad way to end the week."

  • 0
    Avatar
    Alex

    Go to Edit - Preferences - Networking and enable Local Networking option.

    Local File Networking tips:

    • We recommend configuring the unit with a Manual IP address, and disabling Bonjour in BrightAuthor by clicking Edit - Preferences - Networking, and then unchecking the box beside ‘Enable Bonjour’
    • We recommend enabling the Diagnostic Web server
    • Make sure BrightAuthor isn’t blocked by any Antivirus or firewall software
    • All BrightSign installations require creating setup files and loading them onto an SD card that remains in the unit. SD card must be formatted in FAT32 format. If you regularly publish via a networking method, but replace the setup card with a locally published playlist, the unit will not check for or accept network updates. When a unit is setup for network updates, the display will remain blank until it successfully downloads a scheduled playlist.

  • 0
    Avatar
    Dietmar Peter

    I found it! There it was hidden.

    Thank you very much for the really fast answer!

     

  • 0
    Avatar
    Mark Farey

    Hidden indeed. The option for Local Networking is turned OFF by default in BrightAuthor Preferences. Once I turned that ON things got much better. I can see the XD230 on the Publish page and updating is now immediate. Yeah!

    One additional comment is that training/learning is very patchy. I'd like to take a series of tutorials taking me from basics to advanced that covers every feature, in detailed how-to steps. Call it Brightsign University!

    Regards,
    Mark.

Please sign in to leave a comment.