Leviton Colornet

[lieperjp]

I was wondering if anyone knows anything about Leviton's Colornet Protocol? My school has a Leviton Inovator, and I was looking into hooking it up through the school's computer network. Does anyone have any tips? I can't find much information about it, including how to set it up, especially downloading the Colornet Protocol. Or is is plug-and-play using remote access through the network?

[icewolf08]

Originally Posted by lieperjp

I was wondering if anyone knows anything about Leviton's Colornet Protocol? My school has a Leviton Inovator, and I was looking into hooking it up through the school's computer network. Does anyone have any tips? I can't find much information about it, including how to set it up, especially downloading the Colornet Protocol. Or is is plug-and-play using remote access through the network?

It is never a good idea to run any show critical equipment on a communal network. Even on a closed network it is not always good practice to run show critical gear on a network that is connected to the internet.

Just as an example, we have our sound computer on a closed network with a WAN so that the sound designer can sit in the house during tech and use VNC to make changes while the sound op sits in the booth. The WAN connection allows the SD to also access the studio computer, which is on a different network to pul files over if needed. During the tech for our current show the sound computer was hacked, and we had to reformat and reinstall everything. You definitely don't want people to hack your lighting console.

If you want to set up a network so that you can log in to your console using a computer, you should set up an entirely separate network from the school's. Most of the lighting consoles may speak their own language (ETCNet, Strand ShowNet, ColorNet, etc) but they are generally all TCP/IP based protocols, so you can use standard network gear. You may have to set up correct IP addresses and subnets, but you should be able to hook everything up and if you have the appropriate software and/or hardware it should work.

[lieperjp]

That probably would work. I am only looking to network it to three or four other computers, maybe even just one moveable laptop. I guess my more specific question would be this: do I need to download anything onto the server/ individual network computers? If so, where do I get it?

[derekleffew]

Start here, at Leviton's site. You may or may not need the NPC. But definitely keep the lighting network exclusive. Delays in getting emails to recipients or documents to printers are acceptable; but not Lighting Cues to dimmers or moving lights!

[icewolf08]

Originally Posted by lieperjp

That probably would work. I am only looking to network it to three or four other computers, maybe even just one moveable laptop. I guess my more specific question would be this: do I need to download anything onto the server/ individual network computers? If so, where do I get it?

I don't know the specifics about ColorNet, and what it can do. Best bet is to go to Leviton's website and see if there are any manuals or downloads. The other option is to call your local Dealer and see if they know.

However, I just skimmed the Innovator manual and Leviton's Site, and ColorNet does not seem to be designed for use with computers. You can get one of the Leviton NPC's which act as remote video nodes and/or DMX nodes. There is also a hand held network remote that works with colornet. Now they may have software you can put on a computer, but I didn't see anything about it.

[icewolf08]

And by the way, lieperjp, you should stop by the new members forum and tell us a little about yourself.

[lieperjp]

Yeah, you may be right. As far as I can tell from other web sites, it looks like only the video feed can be viewed on a computer using the IP address. I might try hooking up a 1-1 network connection between the board and my laptop to see what I can do.

[Footer]

Originally Posted by lieperjp

Yeah, you may be right. As far as I can tell from other web sites, it looks like only the video feed can be viewed on a computer using the IP address. I might try hooking up a 1-1 network connection between the board and my laptop to see what I can do.

Odds are, not much. You can probably access some stuff through your browser for dimmer info and such, but without software that you have to most likely buy odds are you won't get 4 remote focus units or something like that.