Network Options

Owned by BrightSign TechDocs
Last updated: Sept 03, 2024Version comment
6 min read

Network Options allows you to configure advanced network settings on your player, enable Wired, Wireless, or USB networks, and diagnose your network connection.

Player

This section allows you to configure the settings on your host player. If there are any errors, a red dot will display next to the Player heading.

Host Configuration

image-20240410-200044.png

  • Network connection priority: This section will display all of the network connections that you have enabled (in Image 1, Wireless WiFi, Wired Ethernet, USB Cellular). Drag them to the top or bottom of the list to change the order of priority. 

    If the prioritized (primary) network connection loses connectivity to BSN.cloud services, it will fall back to the next connection in priority. When the primary connection is restored, the player will switch back to it.

  • Specify hostname: Designate a custom hostname for the player on the local network. By default, the player serial number is used to generate a unique hostname (i.e. "brightsign-<serial_number>").

  • Use Proxy: Configure the player to use a proxy server:

    • Address: Set the name or address of the proxy server used for HTTP and FTP requests. The proxy string should be formatted as "http://user:password@hostname:port". The hostname can contain up to four "*" characters; each "*" character can be used to replace one octet from the current IP address. For example, if the IP address is currently 192.168.1.2, and the proxy is set to "proxy-*-*", then the player will attempt to use a proxy named "proxy-192.168".”

  • Limit Content Downloads: Check this box to restrict player content downloads to a certain time of day. This is useful if you want to limit network traffic during peak hours. This option is not available on Standalone and Local File Networking setups, because it is not applicable for those configurations.

    • 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.

  • Time Server: Specify the server that the player should use to synchronize its clock. Players use the time server at http://time.brightsignnetwork.com by default. Supported protocols are as follows:

    • ntp://host - Uses NTP.  

    • http://host[:port] - Uses HTTP [with an optional port].

    • https://host[:port] - Uses HTTPS [with an optional port].

    • httpns://host[:port] - Uses HTTPS [with an optional port], but ignores cert failures.

Certificates

You can potentially run out of space on your player if you do not remove any existing CA packages before adding new ones. See roKeyStore | RemoveCAPackage(package_name As String) As Boolean for information on how to remove a CA package.

Some networks require certification. CA certificates are added to players as part of an initial player setup or through roKeyStore. To add CA certificates to a player setup in BrightAuthor:connected:

  1. In the Network tab under Setup, open the Network Configuration section.

  2. Select the Certificates section of Network Options (see image 2):

    1. Name: Designate a unique name. 

    2. Certificate: Browse to select the file that you want to add.

    3. Select Apply to apply the certificate.

For more information about CA certificates, see Add CA Certificates.

Image 2

Wired

Wired is enabled by default.

  • Network Configuration: 

    • Static Address: If this is selected, the fields below will be enabled. 

      • IP Address: This value must be provided.

      • Subnet Mask: This field will error if it fails subnet mask validation.

      • Default Gateway: The default gateway is any IPv4 address, The gateway address will be validated against the subnet mask and will error if it is not valid.

      • DNS1: This value must be provided to resolve domain names to the IP address.

      • DNS2: This value is optional.

      • DNS3: This value is optional.

      • VLAN ID: A VLAN ID is optional for physical LAN and required when using one or more virtual LANs.

      • Add VLAN: Allows the user to add virtual LANs. Use the trashcan on the top right to delete these additional addresses if they are not needed.

  • Rate Limit Network Download Traffic: Set rate limitations for downloading content. You can also set rate limitations for During content download window and During initial downloads.

    • Unlimited Download Rate: Sets no limit on downloads.

    • Default limit: Sets the default limit (2000 Kbps) on downloads.

    • Specify limit: Sets a customized limit. Enter a limit in the text field (in Kbps).

  • Data Types Enabled: Use the 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).

Wireless

Any networked model that doesn't have a wireless module can use a wireless bridge (game adapter) connected to the Ethernet port. 

  • Enable Wireless Networking: Selected this to use Network Settings to enable your network.

  • Network Settings: Specify how the player should connect to the wifi access point.

    • SSID: Enter the wireless network's name

    • Security Key: Enter the wireless network's passphrase

    • Static Address: This is optional. If there is no DHCP network on the static server, enter the static IP address for the player.

  • Rate Limit Network Download Traffic: Set rate limitations for downloading content. You can also set rate limitations for During content download window and During initial downloads.

    • 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).

  • Network Security: Set up authentication for your WiFi connection

  • Data Types Enabled: Use the check boxes 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).

USB

The USB section allows you to control USB Ethernet, WiFi, and modem settings.

  • Enable USB Networking: If this is selected, you can use Network Settings to select your network.

    • Network Settings: Lets you select any of the following options:

      • Ethernet: 

      • WiFi: Enter the SSID and Security Key for DHCP, or a Static Address 

      • BrightSign Mobile: The BrightSign cell modem will be automatically selected

    • Rate Limit Network Download Traffic (this option is only available if Network Configuration is WiFi): Set rate limitations for downloading content. You can also set rate limitations for During content download window and During initial downloads.

      • 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

  • Enable network diagnostics: Have the player display the Network Diagnostics screen during setup. The player will keep rebooting until it passes the specified tests, so in general, only use network diagnostics for testing purposes and turn it off in production environments.

    • Test Ethernet: The Network Diagnostics screen will indicate whether or not it was able to attain an IP address over Ethernet.

    • Test Wireless: The Network Diagnostics screen will indicate whether or not it was able to attain an IP address over wireless.

    • Test Internet Connection: The Network Diagnostics screen will indicate whether or not it was able to communicate with a remote server.