[AG-TECH] Automating the start-up and shutdown of the Access Grid

[Colin Campbell]

Hi Jason, I do this for UniSA to a degree using AMX, I have a relay wired
across the soft power switch which turns on the Linux box first ensuring
capture services are running first then after 10 seconds power up the
windows PC. Both of these have auto login, what could be done further is to
put AG in the start up so that it automatically executes into Access Grid
and then the user can simply press the go button at that point. Shutting
down simply toggles the relays again to shut them down nicely - we don't
shut the AC power off to them.

 

Not sure if this helps at all

 

Kindest Regards

 

Colin Campbell

AV Systems Engineer

 

Artisan Technical Services

www.artisantechnicalservices.com

Mobile : 0434 002 759

 

From: ag-tech-bounces at lists.mcs.anl.gov
[mailto:ag-tech-bounces at lists.mcs.anl.gov] On Behalf Of Jason Bell
Sent: Thursday, 5 August 2010 9:23 PM
To: ag-tech at mcs.anl.gov
Subject: [AG-TECH] Automating the start-up and shutdown of the Access Grid

 

G'day All

 

I am hoping that there are a number of people out there that might have
experience, or at least be able to provide advice on a few questions that I
have in regards to automating the  start-up and shutdown of the Access Grid,
particularly the Venue Client itself.

 

Note: I am only considering options where the AG computing systems are run
on Linux (particularly Fedora).

 

A project that I am currently looking at, is being able to automate, or at
the very least, simplify the process of starting and shutting down an Access
Grid.

 

Therefore I am looking towards AMX controlling an AG room.  Now I appreciate
that controlling cameras, projectors and/or LCD screens, lighting and
general AV gear can be done via the AMX system, but what I am also wanting
to know is how much of the AG software could possibly be controlled via some
sort of remote system.

 

Therefore, some random question I have include:

 

.         Can the Venue Client be started remotely, say via ssh (I know that
this can be done, but here are the issues)???

o   The Venue Client needs to be displayed on the AG system (not using X
forwarding), so that local users can start, modify and change anything
within the application;

o   Can you, using command line variables, force the Venue Client to start
within a particular Virtual Venue???  It would be nice to have a few default
Venues presets configured.

o   Are there any API's or the likes that I might be able to "Tap in to" to
assist with starting and stopping of the AGTK.

 

.         Has anyone used AMX equipment (or similar type of equipment) to
not only control AV equipment, but to control the AGTK as well..  If you
have, how and what can you do???

 

I guess the reason why I am asking is that the "Access Grid" is typically
considered "too hard" and requires someone with some AG knowledge to be able
to, at the very least, start-up and shutdown the system.  Whether we like it
or not, the AG is compared to H.323 video conferencing and there are many
way to have a H.323 system automatically start and stop, record and the
likes. 

 

What I am hoping to not only investigate, but to implement, is what can be
done so that a user can walk into a room based AG system, press a button on
a touch panel that says "start"...  Not only will all the AV gear power on,
etc, but at the very least, have the Venue Client start...  But having this
control via a touch panel, I am also hoping to be able to remotely control
the system as well through inbuilt web server access, which will allow
people from a remote location the ability to control cameras and the ability
to remotely start-up and shutdown the system.

 

I realise that you can remotely control a AG software from VNC (which I have
been doing for years), but I want to extremely simplify things.  Having a
big green button which starts things and a Red button to stop things...  I
also realise that some additional effort will be required by the user if any
shared applications is in use, but if we can make it a whole lot easier,
that would be a great start.  

 

Additionally, there are things like devilspie
(http://live.gnome.org/DevilsPie) which might be useful in forcing certain
applications to start on particular screen.  Thereby, if things can be
automated to start, particular applications (such as vic, rat, VNC (as in
VenueVNC)) can be forced to start on particular screens.

 

Anyway, if anyone has any comments and or experience in running such said
systems, I would like to hear from you.  Note, if I manage to get anything
remotely working, I will document and post to the Global AG website.

 

Many thanks for your time,

Jason.

 

--------------------------------------------
Jason Bell, B.I.T. (Honours)

Video Collaboration Team Leader
Australian Research Collaboration Service
http://www.arcs.org.au/

Research Systems Support Officer
Information Technology Division
CQ University Australia

E-mail : j.bell at cqu.edu.au
        jason.bell at arcs.org.au
Work   : +61 7 4930 9229
Mobile : 0409 630897
Postal : Building 19
        Central Queensland University
        Bruce Highway
        Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia, 4702
--------------------------------------------
Patience is a virtue.

But if I wanted Patience,
I would have become a Doctor.
--------------------------------------------

 

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