BrightAuthor Version 4.4

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Tip

This video tutorial outlines basic steps for setting up a player for Simple File Networking.

A player set up for Simple File Networking will retrieve content and schedule updates from your server at regular intervals. The setup files generated here provide settings for your network and point the player to the web server that it will use for updates. To set up a player for Simple File Networking, navigate to File > Setup BrightSign Unit.

Name Specification

Name: Enter a name for the player
Description:(Optional) Enter a description for the player.
Customization: Select one of the following:
- Append unit ID: Appends the serial number of the player to the end of the player name.
- Use name only: Does not append anything to the player name.

Network Properties

Enable Wireless: Check this box to connect the player to the local network using a wireless connection. In order to use a wireless connection, you must purchase a Wireless Module for your BrightSign player. If the player is connecting to a secured network, enter the following:
- SSID: Enter the SSID of the wireless network.
- Security key: Enter the password for the wireless network
Network Connection Priority: Use the up and down arrows to prioritize either the Wired or Wireless connection. The BrightSign player will always attempt to download and upload using the first option, and will only use the second option if the first is unavailable.
Time zone: Select the time zone where the player is located.
Time server:(Optional) Specify the server (and protocol) that the player should use to synchronize its clock. Players use the BrightSign Network time server by default.

Advanced Network Setup

Click the Advanced Network Setup button to customize advanced settings for your networked player.

Unit Configuration

Use the Unit Configuration tab to specify the following:

Specify hostname: Check this box to specify a custom hostname for the player on the network. By default, the player serial number is used to generate a unique hostname.
Use Proxy: Check this box if you want the player to use a proxy server.
- Address: Enter the address of the proxy. If you need to provide a user name and password for the proxy, use this format: <user name>:<password>@<proxy server address> (e.g. “admin:root@myproxy.com”).
- Port: Enter the port number of the proxy.
- Proxy Bypass: Use the Add Host button to add host names to the proxy bypass list. Host names that are checked will be accessed directly, rather than using the specified proxy server. Entering a host name such as "example.com" will exempt "example.com", "example.com:80", and "www.example.com" from the proxy setting. This feature includes bypass options for the BrightSign Network (content downloads, log uploads) and BrightSign Network Feeds (Dynamic Playlists, Live Media Feeds, Live Text Feeds) by default.
Limit content downloads: Check this box to restrict player content downloads to a certain time of day. This is helpful if you want to limit network traffic during peak hours.
- Start of Range: The beginning of the time frame during which content downloads can occur.
- End of Range: The end of the time frame during which content downloads can occur.

Wired/Wireless

Use the Wired and Wireless tabs to specify the following:

Data Types Enabled: Use these checkboxes to determine the data types that can be transferred using the connection. You can enable/disable downloads (Content, Text Feeds, Media Feeds), as well as uploads (Health, Log Updates).
Connection Settings: Indicate whether the IP address is auto-generated (via DHCP) or static. If you’re using a static IP address, enter the parameters in the fields.
Rate Limit Network Download Traffic: Set rate limitations for downloading content. The options are divided into three categories: Outside content download window, During content download window, and During initial downloads. The "content download window" described by the first two options corresponds to the Limit content downloads interval set in the Unit Configuration tab.
- Unlimited download rate: Sets no limit on downloads.
- Default limit: Sets the default limit (2000 Kibit/s) on downloads.
- Specify limit: Sets a customized limit. Enter a limit in the text field (in Kbit/s).

Diagnostics

Use the Diagnostics tab to specify the following:

Enable network diagnostics: Check this box to have the player display the network diagnostics screen during setup.
- Test Ethernet: The player will indicate whether or not it was able to attain an IP address over Ethernet.
- Test Wireless: The player will indicate whether or not it was able to attain an IP address over wireless.
- Test Internet Connection: The player will indicate whether or not it was able to communicate with a remote server.

Firmware

Click the Specify Firmware Update button to include a firmware update with the setup files. The firmware update will be performed after you insert the storage device containing the setup files into the player and power it up. Locate the section corresponding to your BrightSign model and select one of the following:

Production Release: The current official release of BrightSign firmware
Beta Release: The current beta release of BrightSign firmware
Minimum Compatible Release: The minimum firmware version that supports presentations created by your version of BrightAuthor. The minimum compatible firmware will likely not support all features provided by a contemporary version of BrightAuthor.
Select specific file: Use the Browse button to select a .bsfw firmware update file from your hard drive. The other options will download the update file from BrightSign when the setup files are created.

Splash Screen

Standard Splash Screen: The player will display the BrightSign logo when booting up.
Custom Splash Screen: The player will display a custom logo when booting up. Click Browse to locate and select the image you wish to use. See this FAQ for image size and format restrictions.

Unit Configuration

Select the Networked with Simple File Networking option. Then configure the following:

Enable diagnostic web server:(Optional) Check this box to enable the Diagnostic Web Server. You can include a username and password in the text fields below for added security.
Enable local web server:(Optional) Check this box to enable the Local Web Server. You can include a username and password in the text fields below for added security.
- Enable Update Notifications:(Optional) Check this box to have the player automatically refresh the User Variables webpage whenever variable values change on the player.
URL for the web folder: Specify the location from which the player will download content updates. Do not use trailing slashes in your URL; some web servers do not support trailing slashes.

Important

The URL for the web folder must be identical to the URL you use when publishing presentations. See the Simple File Networking publishing page for details. If you're having trouble getting players to communicate with your web server, see this FAQ for troubleshooting tips.

Content Check Frequency: Set how often you want the player to check your server for updates.
Simple File Networking Authentication:(Optional) Enter a User name and password to enable digest authentication between the BrightSign player and the server.
- Enable basic authentication: Check this box to have the player pass credentials to the web server in unsecured packets. Use this option only if it is absolutely required by the configuration of your web server.

Logging

Use the check boxes to enable/disable logs and specify log upload settings. You can view logs in the currentLog folder on the player storage.

Enable playback logging: Records playback start and end times, zone names, media types, and file names.
Enable event logging: Records timestamps, state names, zone names, event types, and event data.
Enable state logging: Records current and last state names, timestamps, and media types.
Enable diagnostic logging: Records timestamps, firmware and script versions, and the current presentation.
Enable Variable logging: Records the current and default values of all User Variables in the presentation. This log is only generated when logs are uploaded to custom log handler URL.
Upload logs: Check either of the following:
- On startup: Uploads log files each time the player is powered on.
- At specific time each day: Uploads log files daily at the specified time. Use the dropdown lists to pick a time.
Relative URL for log handler: Specify the location on the server where you want logs to be uploaded and parsed.

Tip

See this FAQ to learn how to read player logs.

Remote Snapshot

Check the Enable remote snapshot box to enable the Remote Snapshot feature, which allows you to remotely monitor the contents of the presentation display.

Note

The Remote Snapshot feature is not available for the LS422, HD220, or HD1020.

Remote snapshot every [ ] minutes: Specify how often the player should take a snapshot of the presentation display.
Save up to [ ] images (1 - 100) on local storage: Specify how many JPEG snapshot images can be stored on the local storage of the player.
JPEG quality level [ ] (0 - 100): Specify the quality level (and thus the file size) of each image file.
Display snapshots in portrait mode: Check this box to have the player rotate the snapshots to portrait mode before saving and uploading them.

RF Channel Scan Data (optional)

Use this field to publish RF channel scan settings to an XD1230 player. This option is useful if you need to publish identical channel scan settings to multiple XD1230 players. See Publishing Channel Scan Results for more details.

Screen Color

Click Choose to specify what screen color the player should display after it has successfully completed the setup process. When the player displays this color, it is ready to receive content.

Creating and Installing the Setup Files

Now that you've configured the setup files, you need to publish them to your player:

Click Create Setup Files.
Browse to and select an SD card (recommended) or USB flash drive. Ensure the setup files are written to the root folder of the storage device.
Click OK.
Turn off the BrightSign player by unplugging the power adapter (or Ethernet cable if the player is being powered by PoE).
Insert the SD card or USB flash drive into the player.
Turn on the BrightSign player by reconnecting the power.

note

We recommend formatting your SD card or USB flash drive using FAT32. Formatting your card using NTFS allows you to play media files that are 4GB or larger in size, but the player will not be able to receive network updates or generate logs.

Important

The storage device must remain in the player at all times while playing presentations.

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