Zone Mix 761 DSP Tech Tips

This tech tip will explain how to properly integrate the External Control Inputs of Symetrix DSP units (Radius NX, Prism, Edge, xControl, Jupiter, Zone Mix 761). Both the physical hardware connections and programming setup will be covered.

 

Each External Control Input, also known as an Analog Control Input or GPIO, can be configured in one of two modes; as a dual switch closure or a potentiometer.

 

Dual Switch Closure mode is most commonly used with PTT/PTM (Push To Talk/Push To Mute) buttons on microphones, for an Emergency System/fire alarm relay connection that will mute or override the audio system, and for Room Combining that use switches on moveable wall partitions. The potentiometer mode is typically used to create an inexpensive, volume control for an input, source, zone, or output.

Zone Mix 761

Note: The Jupiter or the Zone Mix 761 supports a combination of up to 2 potentiometers or 4 switch closures.

Radius NX/Prism/Edge, xControl

Note: Edge, Prism, Radius NX, supports a combination of up to 4 potentiometers or 8 switch closures. xControl supports a combination of up to 8 potentiometers or 16 contact closures.

Using standard shielded twisted pair terminated with a terminal block on one end, External Control Inputs may be freely assigned to parameters in the Symetrix DSP hardware. The operational mode (switch closure vs. potentiometer) must first be configured while on-line or off-line using the Configure External Control Inputs dialog. While on-line with the DSP using the Symetrix software, a potentiometer can be calibrated for maximum travel or scaled as described later in this document.

Typical Control Switch Wiring

Note: +V(OUT)=A, INPUT=B

Typical Control Potentiometer Wiring

Configuring External Control Inputs in a Jupiter or Zone Mix 761:

Example 1: Switch Closure
This example will step through the setup of an Emergency System fire alarm mute in the Zone Mix 761 where the fire alarm relay connects to External Control Input 1A. The process is virtually identical for the Jupiter software/hardware.

First, make the physical connections using the above picture as a guide. Then, once the Zone Mix 761 software is online with the hardware, launch the External Controller Wizard. It should be noted that configuring the External Control Inputs on a Jupiter or Zone Mix 761 is straight forward since the External Controller Wizard simplifies the process.

Choose Add New External Controller, select Switch or Control Voltage and then click Next.

Now give the switch a descriptive name based on where in the venue it is located or based on what function it will provide. For example, the name could be as simple as “Switch” or as descriptive as “Fire Alarm relay”. Select the “Emergency” option for the Switch Function and click Next.

On the next page choose the desired function that will trigger based on the state of the input connection provided by the emergency fire alarm system. The two options are: Mute All Outputs or Route Input 3 to Specified Outputs at a Pre-Determined Volume Level. Select the appropriate function and click Next.

For an Emergency Fire Alarm Mute select the “Mute All Outputs” option and click Next.

On the next page, remember to select the correct physical External Control Input that the emergency system relay will connect to. This example uses Switch Closure 1A.

Once the correct input is selected, click Next.
Now, select the emergency route logic based upon how the Emergency relay functions. For reference, the software presents a few practical examples: Normally Open/Active Low and Normally Closed/Active High. Click Finish to close the External Controller Wizard or Next to return to the first page and setup another ARC remote.

Example 2: Potentiometer
This example will step through the setup of a potentiometer in the Zone Mix 761 where the RC-3 connects to the External Control Input 1. The process is virtually identical for the Jupiter software/hardware. Once connected, you can launch the External Controller Wizard and add it to your configuration.

Choose Add New External Controller, select Potentiometer (RC-3) and then click Next.

The RC-3 can control any of the twelve input volumes, the two program volumes per zone, the six zone volumes, the six output volumes, or sets of linked volumes. The particular gain stage the RC-3 will control is selected with the Parameter drop-down menu.
It may be a good idea to give the RC-3 a descriptive name based on where in the venue it is located or based on what function it will provide, especially if both External Control Inputs have a potentiometer or RC-3 connected. Click Next when done.

Select the appropriate External Control Input and click Next.

On the calibrate page, the range of the controller fader can be restricted or scaled by typing the value in Upper and Lower Limits. When finished, click Next.

 

In this step, calibrate the potentiometer to the 761’s External Control Input to ensure the full travel of the pot is utilized. The Zone Mix 761 software must be on-line for the calibration function to work. Rotate the pot fully counterclockwise (CCW) and click the Set Minimum Position button. Now, rotate the pot fully clockwise (CW) and click the Set Maximum Position button. Once completed, click Next and the software will return to the External Controller Wizard’s opening screen. Continue to add controllers or edit existing
ones if needed. If finished, click the Finish button to exit the External Controller Wizard.

Configuring External Control Inputs in Radius/Prism/Edge, or xControl:

Example 1: Switch Closure
This example will step through the setup of an Emergency System fire alarm
mute for a system using Composer software, where the fire alarm relay output connects to External Control Input 1A on an xControl. The process is identical for setup and assigning External Control Inputs on an Edge, Radius or Radius AEC.

After making the physical connections, while in Schematic Edit Mode, configure the External Control Inputs by right-clicking on the unit in Design View and select “Configure External Control Inputs…”:

Remember to select “Dual Switch Closure for the input the Fire Alarm relay connects to.

Now that the External Control Inputs are configured, here is one example of control logic programming for an emergency mute/unmute function in Composer 2.0 software.
Note: Alternative logic programming examples are located at the end of this section.

Double click the “1 Button Latched” module to open its user interface. Then assign the selected Analog Control Input to the “On’ button by right-clicking directly on the “On” button and selecting “Set Up Remote Control.”

Click the drop down arrow under Remote control device and select “Remote Analog Input – ‘xControl’” to assign an External Control Input from the xControl. For assigning an External Control Input from an Edge or Radius choose the “Local Analog Input –“Radius12x8-9” or whatever “Remote Analog Input” is appropriate.

Click the drop down arrow under Select Analog Control and choose the switch input that matches the physical wiring on the External Control Input. This example uses Switch 1A. Select OK when finished.

Once the External Control Input is assigned to a fader or button an A1 “Highlighted Assigned Control Indicator” appears super imposed on the “On” button.

 

Note 1: Alt+M or Tools->Super Impose Assigned Controllers must be checked.
Note 2: If the system mute performance is inverted set the Off Level to 100% and On Level to 0.0%.

Double click the “2 Input Logic” module and select “OR”. When the button is triggered, it will set the output signal to True or False when the button is On or Off, respectively.

Double click the “Preset Trigger 1” module and assign Preset #999. Composer 2.0 automatically creates Preset#999 to mute the hardware without affecting the individual output mute states. This will mute all hardware when the latched button is triggered by the fire alarm relay.

Double click the “Preset Trigger 2” module and assign Preset #1000. Composer 2.0 automatically creates Preset#1000 to unmute the hardware without affecting the individual output mutes states. This will unmute all hardware when the fire alarm relay is reset.

Note: In the Preset Manager for Composer 2.0 Preset #999 and #1000 are pre-configured for the emergency mute/unmute function, equivalent to the F2 button in Composer. 999 = Mute All Hardware. #1000 = Unmute All Hardware.

Alternative Methods:

In this example an “Inverter” module is used in place of the “2 Input Logic” module and will perform the same function as the “False” output of the 2 Input Logic (11) module from the previous example.

Here, a Super Module from Tools->Super-Module Library Manager is used for the Emergency System Mute.

Once completed, Push the file to the system.

Example 2: Potentiometer
This example will step through the setup of a potentiometer in the system using Composer 2.0 software, where the RC-3 connects to the External Control Input 1on an xControl. The process is identical for setup and assigning External Control Inputs on an Edge, Prism, or Radius.

Note: In potentiometer mode, A is the +V output and B is the voltage input.

After making the physical connection, configure the External Control Inputs by right-clicking on the unit in Design View and select “Configure External Control Inputs…”:

To configure the input for use with a potentiometer, select the appropriate input tab, and then select the “Pot – Connect a variable voltage input (0-5V)” radio button. Select “OK” when finished.

Pot Calibration:

Note: SymNet Composer must be connected to the DSP hardware with the input configured as a “Pot” in order to calibrate the input. The potentiometer must be physically wired to the External Control Input as well.

Calibrating the External Control Input determines the way the 0-5V potentiometer affects Composer parameters. There are two separate areas that can be altered:

1. Compensation for pots that don’t get all the way down to 0V or all the way up to 5V. This could happen because of characteristics of the pot itself, or resistance in the connection between the pot and the unit, especially with long wire runs. This is referred to as Calibrating Pot
   Range below.
2. Limiting the range of parameters controlled by an analog input. This is referred to as Calibrating Control Range or scaling the range.

This setting should match the control input of the pot being calibrated. If a pot is connected and the settings are correct, turning the pot should move the small indicator along the Current input position line. The value of the pot (0-255) is also updated to show the current level generated by the pot. Zero represents GND or 0V, 255 represents 5V, and the range is linear.

Calibrating Pot Range:
To compensate for a pot that does not cause its assigned fader in software to travel the entire range when the physical pot is turned to is lowest and highest position, make sure the pot is connected to the one of the 8 External Control Inputs and the correct input tab is selected in the Config External Control Inputs Window of Composer 2.0. Turn the pot to its minimum value (usually all the way counterclockwise). Click the “Set Minimum Position” button. Next, turn the pot to its maximum value (usually all the way clockwise). Click the “Set Maximum Position” button.

 

Note: These settings can be used to compensate for a reverse-wired pot. To reset the calibration, click the Reset Min/Max Positions and they will be returned to their defaults.

Calibrating Control Range:
It may be desirable to limit the end user range of a potentiometer connected to an External Control Input and its effect on a gain stage. For example, if a pot is controlling a volume fader, it may be preferred to limit the fader range the end user can access from -30dB to 0dB rather than the full -72dB to +12dB range allowed in the software.

 

To limit the upper range of a control, enter a value less than 100% for the maximum level. To limit the lower range of a control, enter a value greater than 0% for the minimum level. When set to 100% and 0%, the control is allowed to travel the entire range shown in the Composer GUI. Other values reduce this range accordingly. Some experimentation may be required to find the percentage values that limit a range appropriate the current application. As an example, for a fader with ranges -72db to +12db, 84% is equal to 0dB.

Important Notes:
By setting the minimum value to a number larger than the maximum value, it is possible to reverse the operation of the pot or compensate for a reverse-wired pot. To reset the calibration, enter 100% for the maximum level and 0% for the minimum level.

 

If it is desired to reset all analog calibration data for a unit, use the Erase Memory command found under Hardware->Upgrade Firmware. Select only Analog Calibration Settings and hit ERASE.

 

All settings made using this dialog box are stored in the hardware, not in the site file. Changes made take effect immediately without the need to download the entire site.

 

Assigning a Parameter:
Right-click directly on the parameter and select “Set Up Remote Control.”

Click the drop down arrow under Remote control device and select “Remote Analog Input – ‘xControl’” to assign an External Control Input from the xControl. For assigning an External Control Input from an Edge or Radius choose the “Local Analog Input –“Radius12x8-9” or whatever “Remote Analog Input” is
appropriate.

Click the drop down arrow under Select Analog Control and choose the pot that matches the physical wiring on the External Control Input. Select OK when finished.

Once the External Control Input is assigned to a fader a P1 “Highlighted Assigned Control Indicator” appears super imposed on the GUI. Note: Alt+M or Tools->Super Impose Assigned Controllers must be checked.

Once completed, Push the file to the system.

There are two types of presets available in both Symetrix integrator series DSP’s, Jupiter and Zone Mix 761. These preset types include global and custom presets. When setting up presets for recall it is important to understand the differences between the two options to best serve the intended purpose.

Global presets mean just that; global. Every parameter in the program file will be saved. This means no matter what changes might have been made after the program was last updated to tune the speakers, set input gain, etc. a global preset may return multiple parameters back to a prior state. Global presets are most useful in situations where a “system default” state is necessary. For example, this can be used by an end-user for easy troubleshooting, returning the system back to what should be a known good state.

Custom presets on the other hand allow us to select only the specific parameters we want to include in the preset. Custom presets are useful in situations like a restaurant or multi-purpose venue where certain times of day require different routing or base audio levels, or even to mute certain outputs.

This example will show the process of setting up two different custom presets for a location that is a coffee shop in the morning and a small performance venue at night. And quickly, will cover adding these presets to the Event Scheduler so that they will automatically trigger at a given time of day. The intended purpose is that the volume levels will be lower and certain output channels will not be active in the morning. Meanwhile, in the evening, some volumes will be higher and those speakers not used in the morning will be active.

We will also first set up a global preset that will be the known working state that can be recalled at any time. This example will not cover setting up remote control for preset recall. Refer to the Help File under Help, Contents, and searching for presets for more information.

First, let’s review the current state of a few parameters, remembering that global means everything. Input levels are set as they are, given the source devices and material. Output levels are set as they are as well, given the sources and material.

The matrix and sub-mix matrix are both set accordingly that music and TV are not routed to the front of house speakers via sub-mix two, but all mic and line inputs are routed to all outputs via sub-mix one.

Let’s begin setting up the default state preset by going to tools, store preset. Global preset is selected by default and we can change the name to default and ensure the location is set to location one. Click OK to save the preset. Now to set the two custom presets for morning and evening, we need to place the parameters we want to affect into the state that we want them. We’ll then store a new custom preset, only selecting those parameters to include.

Opening the sub-mix matrix we can see columns for the sub-mixes that then rout to the analog outputs. For organization and clarity, we can rename these two sub-mixes to mic line and BGM. The morning preset should make it so that the overall volume is lower. We can either use the sub-mix faders or the output master faders, but in this scenario we’ll use the master faders. Lower the fader from 0 dB down to -20 dB. Then lower the output two master to -20 dB, and then three and four. Even though the BGM inputs won’t be routed to outputs five and six, we can still lower the master faders to -20 dB as well, for good measure.

Now we need to activate some mute buttons for the front of house channels, outputs five and six, because these speakers don’t need to be active in the morning. We could simply mute these output channels at the analog output, however these mutes are post-limiter. This can potentially put the downstream sound system at risk of being overloaded with too much signal if the mute is suddenly disengaged. Engage the master mute button on channels five and six in the sub-mix matrix. Now that we have all desired parameters in the state the we want them, let’s review and begin building presets.

Go to tools, store preset. Edit the name to morning and select custom preset. Then select choose parameters. We need to include the sub-mix master gain faders for channels one through six as well as the mute buttons for channels five and six of the sub-mix matrix.

We can narrow down our available results by the filters at the top. The sub-mix matrix is middle processing. We are only considering channels one through six, but all channels won’t get in our way. Select sub-mix matrix from the module type.

Now we’ve filtered out hundreds of parameters, but still have quite a number of them left. Initially, let’s grab the master faders. Select fader from the control type. The control name we’re looking for is sub-mix one master gain fader. Check the box for this control and then for sub-mix two gain fader, and three. And then four, five, and six.

Now that we have the faders included in the preset we can add the two master mute buttons. From the filter area, click button. Similar to the fader, the control name we want is sub-mix master mute button. For this preset we only need to mute channels five and six. Check the boxes to include them in the preset.

To double-check our work, we can click All in the control type filter and then select “included in preset”. There should be eight parameters; six master faders and two master mute buttons. When all required faders and mute buttons are included, click OK to save this parameter selection. Then click ok again to save this preset.

Now, to save the evening preset we need to move the master faders and mute buttons into the desired position.

Move the faders of channels one through six to -10 dB and disengage the master mute buttons for channels five and six. Now go again to tools, store preset. Name this preset evening, select custom preset, and click choose parameters. Filter the results as we did before. Middle processing, sub-mix matrix, button and fader accordingly.

When all required controls are included, click ok, and then ok again to save the preset. Now that we have all three presets saved we can test them to make sure we’ve included the correct parameters and that they move to correct position.

Looking at the sub-mix matrix, go to tools, recall preset. Then select preset one for the default state and click ok. All sub-mix master faders should be now set to 0 dB and mute buttons disengaged. Once all presets have been confirmed we can set up the event scheduler for the morning and evening presets.

Go to tools, event scheduler. Here we can select a particular day and click add event. Name the event morning, select preset two for morning, then set the time this preset should be triggered. This example will leave the time at 8 am.

Now select recurring event. Choose daily and select all days of the week except Sunday. Then click ok. Now the morning preset will trigger every morning Monday through Saturday at 8 am. Click add event again. Name the event evening and select the evening preset. Change the time to 5 pm. Then choose recurring event and daily. This time only choose Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Click ok to save this event trigger.

Now click ok in the event scheduler to save these triggers.

That’s it! You can now create your own custom preset as well as set them up to automatically trigger.

Applies to Radius NX, Edge, Prism xControl, Jupiter, and Zone Mix 761

This tech tip will explain how to properly integrate the Logic Outputs of the above DSP units into your installation. Typically these outputs would be utilized in a couple of ways – driving LEDs in order to give visual feedback to an end user, or controlling an external relay for switching other equipment, such as a projector screen or rack of other equipment. In order to do this is as seamlessly as possible, it is first necessary to know some basic facts.

First, each of these logic outputs is the open collector of a switching transistor that has its emitter tied to ground. What does this mean to you? These are not dry contacts that are simply open or closed. When the transistor is inactive, 5V is present at the logic output. When the transistor is activated, the 5V is shunted to ground through the transistor’s emitter, which results in 0V at the logic output.

Here are the specs for the logic outputs that we’ll be referring to in this tech tip:

• The logic output is pulled high (5V) when inactive.
• The logic output goes low (0V) when active.
• The maximum logic output source current is 10mA.
• The maximum external power supply voltage is 24 VDC.
• The maximum external power supply current sinking is 50mA.

How to Drive an LED

With a max output current of 10mA, it is possible to drive an LED directly from the logic output without needing a current-limiting resistor (there is an internal 500 ohm resistor). This of course depends on the forward voltage and forward current of the LED you choose (check the datasheet for your LED). In this case, simply connect as below:

If you have an LED that requires a higher voltage/current demand, an external power supply will be needed. As stated above, the max external power supply voltage is 24 VDC with 50 mA sinking current. Hook it up as below:

You can calculate the resistor’s value by using Ohm’s law:

Vs = Supply Voltage
Vf = LED forward voltage drop
I = LED forward current (in Amps)

Round up your value to the nearest standard resistor value.

Note: Various styles of LEDs (from standard through-hole to panel-mounted) in a seemingly endless variety of values are readily available. The best approach would be to identify your needs in terms of LED type, then use the extensive search functions of sites like Digikey.com or Mouser.com to see what is available.

Driving Relays

There are two types of relays we’ll work with to control external devices, the most common being a non latching mechanical relay. Taking into consideration the 10 mA output current of the logic outputs, this type of relay will typically need to have its coil driven by an external power supply. As noted earlier, the external supply should not exceed 24 VDC, while the relay coil current should not exceed 50 mA. A relay such as the Omron G5LE-1A4 DC12 should do nicely.

Take note of the flyback diode placed in parallel across the relay coil. This provides a path for discharge current to flow when the coil is switched off. Without this diode, there is the risk of damaging or destroying the internal transistor of the Symetrix device. Think of a flyback diode as the cheapest equipment insurance policy you’ll find anywhere. Use a 1N4004 or equivalent.

Another relay option would be to use a Solid State Relay (SSR), which typically has a lower current requirement for activation. Most installers use mechanical relays, but some of the advantages of SSRs are worth noting:

• Low turn-on requirements. There is no inductive coil to drive in an SSR. Instead there is an internal LED that toggles the relay, which typically requires very little current to turn on. If you choose one that requires less than 10 mA to activate, there is no need for the external power supply that you might need to power a mechanical relay coil.
• No mechanical wear-and-tear, arcing, or contact bouncing.

For a general use SSR, try a Panasonic AQV252G (max load voltage 60 VDC/VAC, max current of 2.5 A).

Triggering the Logic Outputs in SymNet Composer (Radius, Edge and xControl)

As a basic example, we’ll set up a logic output to be toggled on and off by an external device such as a Crestron or AMX controller.

1 In Composer’s Design View, drag in a single Latched Button from the Toolkit.

2. Drag in a “Local Logic Output #1” Module from the Toolkit. To use an xControl’s logic outputs, select the “Remote Logic Output” module instead.

3. Wire the output of the latched button module to the input of the logic output module.

4. Right-click the “On” Button in the latched button module and click “Set Up to Remote Control.”

5. Select “Generic Controller Number Assignment” from the drop-down menu. Either keep the “Auto-assign controller number” checkbox selected, or un-check to type in your own controller number. Click OK, then push the site file to hardware.

6. You will now be able to control the button with your external controller.

• To enable the button, send this command to the DSP: CS <CONTROLLER NUMBER> 65535 <CR>
• To disable the button: CS <CONTROLLER NUMBER> 0 <CR>

Be sure to download the Composer Control Protocol from our website for full command details.

Triggering Logic Outputs for Jupiter and Zone Mix 761

Use the “External Controller Wizard” in the software to walk through programming your logic outputs.

• Setting up analog volume knobs and switches.
• LED clipping indicators for visual feedback.
• Triggering a power sequencer at 6AM every day.

These are just a few of the many things that can be accomplished with Symetrix hardware. All of our DSP units provide some degree of General-Purpose Input/Output (GPIO) via the External Control Inputs and Logic Outputs.

This document provides a side-by-side comparison of the GPIO counts for each piece of current Symetrix hardware, so you can spec the right gear for the job. Keep in mind that each individual External Control Input can either be configured to use a 10K potentiometer as its input, or two switches.

For full details and walkthroughs on integrating GPIO, see the below Tech Tips:

• How to Integrate External Control Inputs on Symetrix DSP Hardware
• Integrating Logic Output Circuits into your Installation

ARC remotes are a powerful and intuitive form of system control for systems using Symetrix DSPs. This Tech Tip will walk through setting up zone Source Select and Volume control for the Zone Mix 761 on an ARC-2e. The process is nearly identical for ARC-WEB. 

Starting at the Zone Mix 761 software homepage, there are two main areas to focus on.

• Zones; these are where control parameters are located for source select and volume.
• Output RTE; this is where we connect signal flow from Zones to the analog outputs, effectively making each Zone a direct control for an analog output.

In the Zones area, under the Sources tab there are two source selections, Program 1 and Program 2. Program 2 ducks Program 1, and Page Station ducks both Program 1 and 2 as shown in the signal flow diagram.

Either Program 1 or Program 2 can be used for the zone source select depending on what the system needs. This example assumes there is no ducking/priority paging involved and will use Program 1 for the zone source. Program 2 can be set to None.

Effectively, the zone volume can be controlled by either the Program 1 slider or the Zone Volume slider. There may be a reason later to add a paging microphone or something similar, so it programmatically makes sense to use the Zone Volume slider.

Looking in the Output RTE area, notice the stair step pattern to the cross-points. This is how we connect Zone 1 to Output 1, Zone 2 to Output 2, and so on. This way each Zone represents actual Output areas in the venue. In this configuration, we can consider Zone 1 that Lounge, Zone 2 the Patio, and so on.

The volume slider on each zone channel is the same control as the Zone Volume slider in the Zones Sources tab.

Open the External Controller Wizard.

There are two lists here. This Tech Tip will be programming a new ARC-2e. With Add External Controller selected, highlight the ARC-2e and click Next.

The name of the ARC-2e can be edited here, which we will call System Control in this example. Ensure that the ARC-2e is addressed correctly according to the dials on the back of the unit. When ready, click Add New Menu.

First, we’ll set up source select for Zone 1 (Lounge). Choose the “Select” option and click Next.

The Parameter selection is where we define the parameter for source selection in Zone 1. Choose Zone 1 Program 1 Selector. The Name can also be edited, which will be Lounge Source here.

The checkbox list below Name is where we decide which analog input sources should be included as options for the Lounge Source. Uncheck any sources that should not be included and click Next. We are returned to the ARC-2e home menu where we can see the Lounge Source menu listed.

Next, we’ll set up a Zone Volume control. Click Add New Menu.

Select the Volume option and click Next.

In most cases Continuous will be the better option for more precise control. However, Enumerated may be a more intuitive option for user control. In this example, we’ll select Continuous and click Next.

Select Zone 1 Volume to connect this control to the Zone Volume slider in Zone 1. The control Name and upper/lower limits can also be edited, which will be Lounge Volume and leave as default respectively in this example. Click Next.

We are returned back to the ARC-2e home menu where we can see both Lounge Source and Lounge Volume listed. 

Click Next for more options related to the ARC-2e unit itself, and Next again for a section that offers the ability to Simulate the ARC-2e, to test your work.

Note: Some parameters may act oddly in simulation mode. This is a known issue.

When finished programming all other relevant zone controls, click Finish to save.

This is a general-purpose step-by-step guide for connecting to Symetrix digital signal processors and related hardware with a PC. Please note that Symetrix only recommends using Windows 10 and above. Other operating systems are not officially supported at this time.

Step 1 – Install the right software for the device

Symetrix site design software is used to connect to Symetrix devices and is available to download, install, and run for free. The required software will depend on the devices that needs to be accessed:

Composer:

Current Symetrix open-architecture DSPs all use Composer, which can be downloaded here. These include:

• D100
• Radius
• Prism
• Edge
• Solus NX

Other Symetrix hardware that can be accessed through Composer will include:

• Endpoints and expanders (xIn, xOut, and xIO devices)
• T Series touch panels
• W Series wall remotes
• Control expanders (xControl, Control Server)

Important: To avoid errors when going online with the hardware, please download the version of Composer that matches the DSP’s firmware revision number as closely as possible. This number can be found by cycling through the system pages on the front LCD panel of the DSP.

Integrator Series:

Software for Symetrix’s current Integrator Series (closed-architecture) DSPs can be downloaded here. These include:

• Jupiter
• Zone Mix 761

Legacy Hardware:

Legacy open-architecture DSPs such as 8×8 DSP, Express CobraLink, and original Solus (non-NX) require SymNet Designer. This software has been discontinued and is no longer supported by Symetrix, but the final version (10.7) can be downloaded here. Software for all other legacy products, such as Zone Mix 760, AirTools-series, and Lucid-series, is no longer available for download.

Step 2 – Make sure the PC is on the right network

Once the correct software has been downloaded, the next step is to connect the PC to the device’s control network. If a DSP is Dante-enabled, make sure not to confuse the Dante ethernet port for the control ethernet port. Configuration of these devices through the Symetrix software is always done through the control port.

By default, Symetrix devices will obtain an IP address automatically, either from a DHCP server or, if a DHCP server is not available, by obtaining a link-local (169.254.x.x) IP address. Most Composer-enabled devices will display their IP address on the front LCD panel. Cycling through the system pages on the front LCD will additionally display the subnet mask. If a device has previously been configured with a static IP address, it can be reset to DHCP by briefly pressing the device’s reset button, which is usually recessed in the housing on the back of the device.

ncpa

It is important that the PC’s network settings match those of the devices being used in the system. To check this, enter ‘ncpa.cpl’ in the Windows search bar to open the list of network adapters on the PC:

Right click the network adapter that will be used to connect to the device, select ‘Properties.

version

Then double click ‘Internet Protocol Version 4’:

address

The network settings of the PC’s network adapter will display. If the Symetrix device is set to DHCP, select ‘Obtain an IP address automatically.’ Alternatively, a static IP address and custom subnet mask can be set here:

Important: Ensure that both the IP subnet and subnet mask of the network adapter match that of the device. If setting the PC to a static IP address, it must be a different/unused IP address on the network. If connected directly to the DSP with a static IP address, setting the PC to an address “right next to” the DSP usually safe. Example; if the DSP IP address is 192.168.100.50, set the PC to 192.168.100.51.

Step 3 – Locate the Symetrix hardware on the network

Once the PC is on the correct network, open the appropriate Symetrix software. The next steps will depend on the software being used.

Composer:

site

If a copy of the site file is available on the PC: Select the ‘File’ menu > Open and select it from File Explorer. In Site View, all located devices will have a checkmark in the lower left corner. If there is no checkmark present, click the empty box in the lower left corner of the device to open the Locate Hardware menu:

In the Locate Hardware menu, a list of available devices will appear. If necessary, click ‘Select Network to Search…’ to ensure that the correct network adapter is being used to scan for devices. Either double click the device in the list or highlight it and select ‘Locate to Selected Hardware’ to finish locating the device:

Repeat the above process for all devices in the Site View.

If the site file needs to be pulled from the unit:Go to the ‘Hardware’ menu > ‘System Manager’ > ‘Hardware’ tab. A list of all available units on the network will display. If needed, click “Select Network to Search…” to change the network being scanned for devices. Highlight the desired unit, then select ‘Go Online (Pull from Unit…)’:

The Pull Site File From Hardware Wizard will appear. Select a location on the PC where the site file will be saved, then click ‘Next’:

Next, select either ‘Yes – Synchronize to All Changes’ to keep any changes made to the configuration while last online with this site file, or ‘No – Abandon Changes’ to revert to the archived version of the site file. ‘Show Advanced Options’ allows for more granular control over which changes are kept when synchronizing:

Select ‘Next’, then either select ‘Finish’ to go online with the site file as-is or select ‘Cancel’ to make changes to the site file before going online:

A note about Dante devices– Any Dante devices in the design must be located through a Symetrix DSP that has already been located:

As of Composer 8.5, an xIO Updater/Configurator module may be added to the site view to configure Symetrix xIO Dante devices if a Symetrix DSP is not available. Symetrix recommends using separate networks for Dante and control.

Integrator Series:

Locating an Integrator Series DSP is done in the Connection Wizard of the Jupiter or Zone Mix 761 software. This can be done either by selecting ‘Existing File on Device’ > ‘Open Connection Wizard’ from the startup menu, or by selecting the Connection Wizard icon in the top ribbon:

Once the Connection Wizard opens, select the option that best fits the connection type, then select ‘Next’. A list of the PC’s network adapters will appear. Select the one that is connected to the ethernet port of the device, then select ‘Next’. Select ‘Open Network Connections’ to show these network adapters in Windows Control Panel if any settings need to be changed:

A list of devices will appear. Any devices not compatible with the current site file will be grayed out. Select the device, then select ‘Next’. Selecting the ‘Properties…’ button will allow a static IP address to be set for the device if desired:

On the final screen, select ‘Finish’ to close the Connection wizard. To go online immediately, ensure the ‘Go online now’ box is checked:

Step 4 – Go online with the system

Composer:

online

Once all devices in the site file have been located, select ‘Go online (push site file to hardware)’:

Note: The icon with the yellow arrow is for pulling the site file from the located hardware. Please see the passage entitled “If the site file needs to be pulled from the unit” in the previous section for more information on pulling the site file from the hardware.

Next, the Site Preferences window will appear. These are generally advanced options that can be left alone, however if Dante routing is being managed in Dante Controller rather than in Composer, uncheck the box next to ‘Configure Network Audio.’ Click ‘OK’ to proceed:

dialogue

At this point, if the site file has not yet been saved to the PC, the File Explorer will appear and prompt for a filename and location to save the file to. If any ARC remotes are present in the design, a dialogue will appear and ask if all remotes should be programmed now. Regardless of whether ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ is selected here, the system will continue to push and go online:

success

Once the site file has been successfully pushed, a success dialogue will appear. After clicking ‘OK’, the system volume will gradually ramp up unless the system mute is engaged:

Now that the system is online, parameters can be changed in real time, and signal meters will display their data. However, if any modules are moved, added, or deleted, or if any wires are changed, the system will automatically go offline. The site file must be re-pushed in order to go back online.

Important: The firmware versions of all devices in a Composer site file must match the version of Composer being used before going online with the system. If this is not the case, a message will appear prompting a firmware upgrade before the system can go online. Please refer to the Updating Firmware with Composer Tech Tip for further assistance.

Integrator Series:

After finishing the Connection Wizard, select the orange ‘Off-line’ button in the top ribbon. The drop-down arrow can be selected to choose which previously located device to go online with:

A prompt will then appear allowing the user to select whether to push the currently open configuration file to the device, or to pull the configuration file off of the device and save it to the PC.

Once the system is online, parameters can be changed in real time, and signal meters will display their data.

Integrator Series devices will operate normally with the factory firmware and should not require firmware updates to go online.

FAQs and Troubleshooting

“My device does not appear in the Locate Hardware menu.”

• Double check that the PC’s NIC and the Symetrix device are on the same network.
• Double check that the selected network in the Locate Hardware menu corresponds to the intended NIC.
• Change all octets of the IP address and subnet mask being searched for to ‘255’, uncheck the box next to ‘Don’t show located and enabled units’, and check the box next to ‘Show incompatible hardware’ in order to broaden the search as widely as possible.
• If a USB to ethernet adapter is being used with the PC, connect using a standard ethernet port instead if possible.
• Power cycle both the PC and the device.
• Re-seat the ethernet cable in both the PC and the device.
• Try a different ethernet cable.
• If the device is connected to the PC through a network switch, try a different switch port, or connect directly to the PC instead.
• If all else fails, disconnect the device from the network, reset its network settings by tapping the reset button once, then directly connect it to the PC (ensuring the PC is set to automatically obtain an IP address).

“I’m getting a ‘Failed to go online’ error message.”

• Disable Windows Defender Firewall and any third-party antivirus/firewall programs that may be blocking network traffic.
• Double check that the device firmware versions for all devices in the site file match the version of Composer being used (the first two numbers are most important).
• Power cycle both the PC and the device.
• If the device is connected to the PC through a network switch, try connecting directly instead.
• If a device cannot be located and is not needed in the site file, right click it and select ‘Disable Unit’.

“I can’t locate my Dante device.”

• Double check that the DSP is Dante-enabled by going to the ‘Tools’ menu > ‘Launch Remote Terminal’ > ‘Options’ menu > enable ‘Debug Mode’, then send the command info cards to the IP address of the DSP. If ‘Non-Dante Clock Card’ is displayed in the output under ‘Audio Network Card’, then the device does not have a Dante card installed. Please contact sales@symetrix.co to purchase one. If ‘No Card Present’ is displayed instead, there may be a problem with the Dante card.
• Double check that the Dante device is connected to the Dante port of the DSP.
• Connect the Device directly to the DSP’s Dante port, bypassing any network switches. If it can be located using this method, there may be a problem with the network.
• If all else fails, connect the PC to the Dante network, or directly to the Dante device, and verify that it appears in Dante Controller. If not, then there may be a problem with the Dante device, or it may be set to a static IP address outside of the Dante network.

“What does the yellow checkmark next to a device in Composer mean?”

A yellow checkmark means that the device is muted, while a green checkmark means that the device is unmuted.

Connecting ARCs to Jupiter hardware is simple using the (RJ-45) ARC port on either the front or back of the device. These ports not only provide communication (RS-485) data, but also +24 VDC power. If the required number of ARCs exceeds the current limits of the Jupiter ARC port(s), an ARC-PS can be used to power additional ARCs. Connecting a Jupiter ARC port to the RS-485 port on the ARC-PS is easily accomplished by following one of two methods.

Method 1: Modify an Off-the-Shelf CAT-5 cable

1. Cut off one end of the CAT-5 cable.
2. Wire three of the wires to a terminal block connector such that:
   A = Blue.
   B = Blue/White.
   Ground = Green.
   Note: Blue/White is twisted with Blue, and Green/White is twisted with Green.
3. Connect the RJ-45 to the ARC port on Jupiter.
4. Connect the terminal block connector to the RS-485 port on the ARC-PS.
5. Connect your ARCs to the RJ-45 ports on the ARC-PS.
6. Program your ARCs with the External Controller Wizard in the Jupiter software.

Method 2: Make Your Own Cable

1. Crimp an RJ-45 connector to one end of a CAT-5 cable.
   Note: Only pairs 4+5 and 3+6 are necessary, so STP cable could be
   substituted by sharing the ground.
2. Wire three of the wires to a terminal block connector such that:
   A = pin 4.
   B = pin 5.
   Ground = pins 3 and 6.
3. Connect the RJ-45 to the ARC port on Jupiter.
4. Connect the terminal block connector to the RS-485 port on the ARC-PS.
5. Connect your ARCs to the RJ-45 ports on the ARC-PS.
6. Program your ARCs with the External Controller Wizard in the Jupiter software.

NOTE: Refer to the ARC Network Design topic in the Jupiter help file for more information.

This document describes how to control Symetrix Jupiter and Zone Mix 761 products over the Internet or other wide area network (WAN) using port forwarding. It discusses the necessary ports that need to be
opened to enable access to Jupiter and Integrator Series devices It also discusses alternative ways of control and gives some general network background information.

Quick Summary of Required Port Forwarding

If you already have a good understanding of firewalls, port forwarding, and NAT and don’t want to read this entire document, refer to the table below for a quick list the ports required to be enabled for remote control of Jupiter or Integrator Series products.

*Most routers and firewalls have a built-in rule for FTP. Whenever possible, this should be used instead of a manual rule for TCP port 21

Step-by-Step Instructions

Below are step-by-step directions for enabling and using port forwarding for a Jupiter or Integrator Series device.

1. Obtain the public/external IP address of the Symetrix device using a web site such as http://www.whatismyip.com or by contacting the ISP of the site.
2. Obtain the private/internal IP address of the Symetrix device by running the Connection Wizard with an on-site computer. The PC running the wizard must be on the same LAN as the Symetrix device.
3. If the Symetrix device is using DHCP to obtain its IP address, we recommend changing to a static IP address. This will ensure that its address remains the same, which is necessary for the port forwarding rules to work properly. Alternatively, most DHCP servers can be configured to permanently assign the same IP address to a given device using “reservations”.
4. On the site’s router or firewall, set up port forwarding rules from the public IP address to the private IP address. Create the rules for all ports listed above.
5. From off-site:
   SymNet Designer- Run the Connection Wizard (SymNet Designer) to find the device. On the Device Configuration page, click the Advanced button. Enter the Symetrix device’s public IP address in the Search IP Address Base. Enter 255.255.255.255 for the Search subnet mask.
   Press OK.
   SymNet Composer- Open the Locate Hardware. Enter the Symetrix device’s public IP address in the Search IP Address Base. Enter 255.255.255.255 for the Search subnet mask. Click Refresh List. Select unit and press Select Hardware Unit.
6. At this point, the Connection Wizard should be able to see the remote device. If so, select it and Finish the wizard.
7. You can now go on-line with the device just as if you were connected locally.

Ports and Protocols

Jupiter and Integrator Series products use a variety of Ethernet ports and protocols for communication and control. All communications are Ethernet-based using the IP protocol. Both TCP/IP and UDP/IP connections are used. For a successful remote connection, all of the required ports must be available. The following sections describe each of the communication types used.

ControlNet

ControlNet is a suite of protocols designed by Symetrix for efficient low overhead communication. It allows controlling and monitoring audio parameters and metering signals in real time. ControlNet also allows keeping string data such as channel names in sync between software applications and devices. There are 3 separate UDP-based protocols that make up the ControlNet suite: Discovery, Control Data, and String Data.

ControlNet Discovery
ControlNet Discovery is used to find or “discover” devices without knowing their IP addresses. It uses broadcast UDP packets. All connected devices respond to Discovery request and inform the requester of their name and IP address. Discovery is used in the Connection Wizard. In this case, the Connection Wizard running on the PC sends out the Discovery request, and the hardware devices respond. Discovery uses UDP port 49216 on the devices.

 

ControlNet Control Data
Control Data packets are the workhorses of ControlNet. They are used to send and receive parameter changes and meter updates. When you move a fader or push a button in a Jupiter or Integrator Series GUI, the Control Data protocol makes the changes. Control Data uses UDP port 49152 on the
devices.

 

ControlNet String Data
String Data packets are used to send text strings between devices and the GUI. They are used on the Automix Matrix 780 and other products to keep channel names, etc. in sync between the hardware and software. String Data uses UDP port 49344 on the devices.

FTP

FTP or File Transfer Protocol is a standard method used to transfer files between two devices. In the Jupiter and Integrator Series software, FTP is used primarily when transitioning between on- and off-line and upgrading firmware. For example, FTP is used to send your device file to the actual device for storage. Later, it can be retrieved from the device again using FTP. FTP uses TCP port 21 on the device for control. It also opens a second TCP port for data streaming. However, the second port is usually handled transparently by firewalls and routers.

Remote Terminal

This protocol is typically used by AMX, Crestron, or other third-party control systems. These controllers are almost always local to the device, so making them available over the Internet isn’t required. However, this protocol can also be used for troubleshooting, typically under the direction of tech support.
Making this protocol available can allow this should the need arise. However, this is the least secure protocol, so caution is advised.

Port Forwarding

Port forwarding is the process of forwarding network traffic on specific ports destined for a public IP address to a private IP address. This allows certain types of traffic to be directed to the Jupiter or Integrator Series device, while other types can be sent to other equipment (for example, HTTP traffic to a web server). All the determination of which device receives each inbound network packet is based on the TCP/IP or UDP/IP destination port of the packet, hence the term “port forwarding”. To control a Symetrix device, all the ports used by the Jupiter or Integrator Series software must be forwarded to the device.

The tables below show which ports need to be forwarded. There are three different versions with trade-offs between simplicity, security, and future compatibility.

Table 1: Minimal Port Forwarding, maximum security
This port list opens the fewest number of ports. This is the recommended setting for most users.

Table 2: Future-proof Port Forwarding
This port list opens additional ports that may be used in future versions of Symetrix devices.

Table 3: Future-proof Port Forwarding
This port list opens additional ports that may be used in future versions of SymNet Composer devices.

Table 4: Future-proof Port Forwarding
This port list opens additional ports that aren’t needed, but requires the fewest rules, so is easiest to set-up.

*Most routers and firewalls have a built-in rule for FTP. Whenever possible, this should be used instead of a manual rule for TCP port 21

Active vs. Passive FTP

To make an FTP connection, the server needs to know on which port to talk to. In active FTP, which was designed before firewalls were common, client tells the server “this is the port you should talk to me on,” and the server attempts to connect to that port. This is like client giving the server a phone number to
call your computer at. The firewall blocks incoming calls, so you get an error when trying to open a connection because client never hears from the server.

 

The client connects from a random unprivileged port (N > 1023) to the FTP server’s command port, port 21. Then, the client starts listening to port N+1 and sends the FTP command PORT N+1 to the FTP server. The server will then connect back to the client’s specified data port from its local data port, which is port 20. From the server-side firewall’s standpoint, to support active mode FTP the following communication channels need to be opened:

• FTP server’s port 21 from anywhere (Client initiates connection)
• FTP server’s port 21 to ports > 1023 (Server responds to client’s control port)
• FTP server’s port 20 to ports > 1023 (Server initiates data connection to client’s data port)
• FTP server’s port 20 from ports > 1023 (Client sends ACKs to server’s data port)
  In passive FTP, client asks the server to pick a port, and then connects to the server on that port. This is like client asking at what phone number it can call the server. Since client makes the call, the firewall allows it, and you are all set to transfer files.
  
  The client initiates both connections to the server, solving the problem of firewalls filtering the incoming data port connection to the client from the server. When opening an FTP connection, the client opens two random unprivileged ports locally (N > 1023 and N+1). The first port contacts the server on port 21, but instead of then issuing a PORT command and allowing the server to connect back to its data port, the client will issue the PASV command. The result of this is that the server then opens a random unprivileged port (P > 1023) and sends P back to the client in response to the PASV command. The client then initiates the connection from port N+1 to port P on the server to transfer data.

From the server-side firewall’s standpoint, to support passive mode FTP, the following communication channels need to be opened:

• FTP server’s port 21 from anywhere (Client initiates connection)
• FTP server’s port 21 to ports > 1023 (Server responds to client’s control port)
• FTP server’s ports > 1023 from anywhere (Client initiates data connection to random port specified by server)
• FTP server’s ports > 1023 to remote ports > 1023 (Server sends ACKs (and data) to client’s data port)
  
  SymNet software operates in Passive Mode.

Security Considerations

By setting up port forwarding for a Symetrix device, you are making it visible on the global Internet, opening up potential security issues. However, you do have one measure of security, the so-called “security by obscurity”. Unless someone else knows the IP address and listening ports of your device, it can’t connect to it. This isn’t foolproof but does reduce the risk of hacking.

 

Another aspect of security by obscurity is that the Symetrix-specific protocols described here aren’t well known. Hackers tend to concentrate on familiar protocols such as HTTP, FTP, and Telnet. Of course if you were paying attention above, you noticed that Jupiter and Integrator Series devices use FTP. This is probably the biggest security risk. The FTP connection does require a valid user-name/password combination, so this provides some protection.

 

To further minimize security risks, you can set up your port forwarding rules to allow only connection from a specific IP address. For example, if you always access the device from a corporate PC which has a static IP address, you can limit connection to just that (public) IP address. Keep in mind that this would prevent you from accessing the device from home, or a WiFi hotspot on the road.

 

Symetrix offers hardware-based security, which covers the ability to connect and control a device with the Symetrix software. This should definitely be turned on for a device visible on the Internet. However, even though this prevents connection from the Symetrix software by securing the SymNet Designer protocol, it doesn’t protect other protocols such as ControlNet and Remote Terminal. In particular Remote Terminal is unsecured and has the power to do serious damage to a device. Probably the best way to ensure security is to use a VPN connection, as described below.

Testing and Trouble-shooting

After setting up port forwarding for remote access, use these guidelines to test and trouble-shoot the connection. The primary tool for testing is the Connection Wizard. Ideally there should be someone on site to make any required changes.

1. Run the Connection Wizard and try to locate your device. If it appears, ControlNet Discovery is working properly. If not, verify you are using the correct external IP address (in the Advanced dialog box) and that the port forwarding rule for Discovery is properly configured and enabled.
2. If you can discover your device, push the Flash Device button. If someone locally can verify the front panel LEDs are flashing, communications are working properly. If not, verify a port forwarding rule
   for UDP port 8000 to the private IP address of the Symetrix device is properly configured and enabled. If no one is available locally to visually verify the flashing LEDs, it is possible to determine if this works from the application. After pressing the Flash Device button, note how long it takes before you can click on other buttons. If control returns within 1-2 seconds, it is working. If it takes 10 seconds or more, it isn’t working. Some versions of the Wizard will indicate success of the command directly with a pop-up “balloon” message.
3. Press the Properties button. This will use FTP to read the device properties. If the Device Properties dialog comes up within a few seconds, FTP is working properly.
4. Try going on-line with the device. If the above three steps work, you should be able to go on-line. If you aren’t able to, see the discussion of latency below.

Latency Issues

When controlling a Jupiter or Integrator Series device over a local area network, packets typically travel between the PC and the device in a few milliseconds. However, over the Internet the latency is much larger, often hundreds of milliseconds. Most of the protocols used in Symetrix devices are relatively insensitive to increased latency, with the only affect being slower response to changes. However, the SymNet protocol requires a response to every command and assumes a low latency connection. If there is a problem with latency, you may find you can connect to a device initially, but it drops off-line shortly thereafter.

 

To fix this, there is a registry setting available to tell the software to “wait longer” before giving up on SymNet commands. The setting is called “ConnTimeout” and is located in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ Symetrix\\Connection (note that are specific the software you are using, e.g. “ZoneMix 760 2.5”. The default value is 50 (milliseconds). If you are having trouble staying on-line or know your latency is significantly longer than 50 ms, increase this value. Be sure to make all changes while the Jupiter or Integrator Series software is not running.

 

To measure the latency between your PC and the Symetrix device, you can use the “ping” command from a command prompt. The command “ping ” will tell you the round-trip delay. We recommend using a value slightly larger than the reported maximum round-trip time.

 

Note that the actual bandwidth of the connection (megabits per second) is less important than the latency for the responsiveness of a remote connection. As long as the latency is low (i.e. < 30 ms), the responsiveness can be very good even with a relatively slow 1 Mbit/second connection.

Special Cases

Controlling Multiple Jupiter or Integrator Series Devices at the Same Site
Jupiter and Integrator Series devices don’t support controlling multiple units with the same public IP address via port forwarding. It is possible to discover multiple units behind the same public address, but connecting requires a dedicated public IP address for each device. If multiple public IP addresses are used, you should set up duplicate port-forwarding rules for each device/public IP address pair. Each set of rules would map a single public IP address to a single private IP address for a Symetrix device. Another option is to use a VPN connection, as described in Other Control Methods.

 

Site Contains an Externally Accessible FTP Server
If a site contains an FTP server accessible from the outside world, the firewall may already have a rule set-up to forward FTP traffic to the FTP server. This presents a problem in that FTP traffic from Jupiter or Integrator Series software will be sent to the FTP server instead of the device. To resolve this, you can either a) use multiple public IP addresses or b) use multiple port numbers for FTP.

In the first option, the FTP server and the Symetrix devices would each have their own public IP address. Then the firewall would have two separate rules for FTP and forward FTP traffic appropriately based on the public IP address. This is the most straight-forward solution, but may require contacting the site’s ISP
to arrange for the additional public IP address(es).

The second option is to change the port number used for FTP for one of the devices. FTP typically uses TCP port 21, but most FTP servers can be configured to listen on other port numbers. Jupiter and Integrator Series devices currently don’t support ports other than 21 for FTP, so the change must be made to the FTP server. After this is done, FTP users will need to specify this new port number for their connection, typically done by adding “:” after the URL. For example, if the previous URL for FTP was ftp.mysite.com and the new port number was 10021, the new URL would be ftp.mysite.com:10021.

Other Control Methods

In addition to the port forwarding method described above, there are a few other options for remote control of Jupiter or Integrator Series products.

 

Virtual Private Network (VPN)
If you can establish a VPN connection to the remote site, you should be able to connect to and control a Jupiter or Integrator Series device without any other set-up. As long as the VPN allows the network traffic listed above (which is generally the case by default), it should work just as if you were local. After establishing the VPN connection, run the Connection Wizard. On the “Select Network Adapter” screen, you should see an option for your VPN under Network Adapters. Select this and continue. The main advantages of this method are simpler set-up and configuration, improved security, and ability to access multiple Symetrix devices at the same site. The main disadvantage is the overhead of creating the VPN account, and potential security risks of a site giving an outside contractor VPN access to their internal network.

 

Static NAT
Also called “one-to-one NAT”, this method sets up a simple one-to-one mapping of a public and private IP address. Basically, any traffic destined for a particular public IP address is sent to a particular private IP address regardless of port. Using this method has the advantage of being easier to set-up since individual ports need not be configured. The disadvantage is increased security risks since all traffic will now be sent to the device. It also likely requires a dedicated static public IP address for the device, as opposed to port forwarding which allows sharing a public IP address with other equipment on site.

 

Remote Control of a Local PC
An entirely different approach is to maintain a PC on site with the Jupiter or Integrator Series device and then simply access and control that PC remotely (aka remote desktop). This reduces the problem to establishing a remote control connection, which is a very common task. This method is outside the scope of this discussion. But in brief, there are a variety of methods for establishing remote connections including web-based tools such as LogMeIn.com, GoToMyPC.com, the built-in Windows Remote Desktop, free tools such as VNC, and commercial products such as PC Anywhere. Some web conferencing solutions also include remote control features. An obvious disadvantage of this method is that a PC must be accessible on site. If it is not feasible to dedicate a PC for this purpose, it may be possible to pre-arrange this for specific incidents.

Appendix A: Private (Internal) vs. Public (External) IP addresses

Each computer running on a local area network will have a unique IP address. This consists of 4 numbers between 0-255 separated by dots, e.g. 192.168.100.1. In addition, other Ethernet devices such as routers, printers, servers, and Symetrix hardware also have IP addresses. This is the private IP address, also sometimes referred to as the internal IP address. It is the address on the local area network. However, often many or all computers on a LAN share the same connection to the internet. Therefore, to the outside world, all the computers on the LAN may appear to have the same IP address. This is their public IP address, also sometimes referred to as the external IP address. To determine your private IP address, open a command prompt (Start->Run, then type cmd and hit OK.). Then type IPCONFIG. Alternatively, in Windows XP, go to Start->Settings->Network Connections. Double-click on Local Area Connection and click the Support tab. The private IP address usually begins with 192.168, 172.16-31, or 10.
An easy way to determine your public IP address is to use a web site such as http://www.whatismyip.com. You will most likely find that the private and public IP addresses differ. A public IP address will never begin with 192.168, 172.16-31, 169.254, or 10. When connecting to a device over the internet, you will need to use its public IP address for all communications. A properly configured router or firewall will then forward the data to the appropriate private IP address. This port mapping is typically done via a web browser interface to the router. The specific settings differ by router, so consult the router documentation.

Appendix B: More on Ports – Source vs. Destination and UDP vs. TCP

This section provides a little more background information on the topic of ports in IP communications.
Source Port vs. Destination Port

 

In the above discussion, we’ve only discussed a single port value. In reality, every packet contains two different port numbers, a source port and a destination port. Just as a packet is sent from a source IP address to a destination IP address, it is also sent from a source port number to a destination port number. All the ports listed in the tables above are the destination ports for communications flowing from the software to the Symetrix device. Keep in mind that when the device responds, the source and destination ports are reversed, just as the source and destination IP addresses are reversed.
We have discussed only destination ports since typically that is all that is required when setting up firewall/router rules. Generally the firewall/router doesn’t care what is source port is for inbound traffic, it is just looking for a specific destination port in order to decide what to do with the packet.

 

UDP vs. TCP
UDP stands for User Datagram Protocol and TCP stands for Transport Control Protocol. They are both protocols that sit above IP (Internet Protocol), so either can be routed over the Internet. Because of this, you may sometimes see them referred to as UDP/IP and TCP/IP, making it more explicit that they are based on IP. UDP is a simpler, lower overhead protocol that can send “one off” messages. In contrast, TCP is a more complicated protocol that first establishes a connection, and then sends data, maintaining the connection until it is no longer needed. One is not better or worse than the other, they are just different tools for different jobs. Integrator Series devices use a combination of UDP and TCP communications, as do many other applications.

 

Both UDP and TCP use a port numbers in the range of 0-65535. But these port numbers are completely separate between UDP and TCP, which can be a point of confusion. The key point for Integrator Series application is to make sure you select UDP or TCP as indicated when setting up firewall/router rules. If you get this wrong, it won’t work! Everything is IDP except for FTP, which uses TCP. As mentioned above, firewall/routers often have pre-defined rules specifically for FTP since this is such a common protocol. In this case, a predefined rule should always be used instead of a manual rule for TCP port 21.