Extron Electronics IPL 250 Reference Manual - Manual (Page 28)

IPL 250 • Software-based Configuration and Control 3-2
Software-based Configuration and Control
Configuration and Control: an Overview
An IPL 250 must be configured before use in order to recognize and accept
commands and pass them on to the controlled devices. It can be configured and
controlled via a host computer attached to the LAN (local area network) port. See
chapter 2 for details about the port and cabling.
• The primary means for configuring the controller is by using the Extron Global
Configurator (GC) software. This method requires a properly configured PC with
Windows ® 2000, Windows XP, or a higher version of Windows installed. Global
Configurator generates GlobalViewer ® Web pages that are uploaded to the IPL and
can be used to control the unit and make adjustments to its settings.
N Microsoft ® Internet Explorer ® is currently the only Web browser that fully
supports GlobalViewer pages.
• Alternatively the default Web pages embedded within the IPL 250 provide
a means to perform some setup, adjustment, and control via a Web browser
(Internet Explorer version 5.5+, or Mozilla ® Firefox ® version 1.0+) from any type
of network-enabled computer.
• The third way to control and configure the controller is by using Simple
Instruction Set (SIS ™ ) commands via Telnet, a Web browser, or RS-232. SIS
commands are discussed in detail in chapter 4 .
The Basic Setup Steps:
a Guide to this Chapter and Other Resources
N Setup/configuration may be performed away from the job site.
1 Configure the IPL for network communication. See “Configuring the Unit
for Network Communication” on page 3-3.
2 Download or install Global Configurator and other Extron software
(IR Learner, Firmware Loader, GUI Configurator) and device drivers. See
chapter 1 of the IPL 250 Setup Guide, the software disk that was shipped with
the unit, and the Extron Web site for instructions.
N The IPL 250 Series Setup Guide is shipped with the unit. It is also available
as a PDF file on the Extron Web site ( www.extron.com ). The disk included with the
unit contains software, device drivers, a PDF file of the full reference manual, and
additional documentation available when the unit was shipped. The setup guide
outlines most of the common tasks required to set up an IPL.
3 Create a Global Configurator project and configure basic settings and
functions. See chapter 3 of the setup guide or see the Global Configurator Help
file for step-by-step procedures.
4 Configure additional or advanced functions, if desired. See the Global
Configurator Help file. For information on IR learning, read the IR Learner Help
file. If Extron TouchLink (TLP Series) touchpanels will be part of the system,
you will also need to use GUI Configurator to design and set up the interface
for the touchpanels, preferably before completing the IPL’s configuration.
5 Save and upload the configuration to the IPL. See the IPL 250 Setup Guide,
chapter 3.
6 Control the IPL and devices connected to it by using the IPL’s embedded
Web pages, its GlobalViewer (GV) Web pages, or a fully configured TLP
touchpanel. See “Controlling an IPL 250” later in this chapter.