Tom
Thanks for the tip.
Within my Fedora 12 install, I see an application called "GoToVenue". By
issuing the command:
GoToVenue --url
https://vv3.ap-accessgrid.org:8000/Venues/default
I can make the Venue Client actually change to the APAG Lobby
(https://vv3.ap-accessgrid.org:8000/Venues/default).
Looks like there are many possibilities.
Cheers,
Jason.
From: Thomas Uram [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Saturday, 7 August 2010 04:19 AM
To: Jason Bell
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [AG-TECH] Automating the start-up and shutdown of the Access Grid
Hi Jason:
A couple things exist already which will help you with this project. One is the
GoToVenue.py script which is basically the browser helper application for
entering a venue by clicking on a .vv3d link in a webpage. You can find this
script here in the SVN repo:
https://trac.ci.uchicago.edu/accessgrid/browser/trunk/tools/GoToVenue.py
Also, you asked about how the venue client can be controlled. There is
documentation of the SOAP interface on the venue client here:
http://accessgrid.org/files/developer/api/3.1/index.html
The SOAP interface is used by the GoToVenue.py script, so you can use that as
an example for calling any of the other methods listed in the documentation.
If you have any questions on this, I'd be happy to help. The SOAP interface
applies to all of the AG components, creating some real opportunities for the
work you're pursuing.
Tom
On Aug 6, 2010, at 1:49 AM, Jason Bell wrote:
G'day All
I thought I would provide an update on the development of ideas and to thanks
those for feedback.
Firstly, I would like thank Colin Campbell for the idea of "soft power-on" of
the AG machines, then with auto login and startup scripts, AG can be started.
This is a novel idea, but I am hoping to be able to have the software started
with the machines already running.
The idea that I am currently considering is using the AMX system to control the
AG software through RS-323. I was hopping to be able to have some sort of
communication over Ethernet, but from initial investigate it doesn't seem like
that is somewhat possible and RS-323 might be simpler anyway.
As was pointed out to me (thanks Doug), Linux can operate as a serial console
and commands can be send to the system via RS-232. See
http://www.vanemery.com/Linux/Serial/serial-console.html for "Linux Serial
Console HOWTO" for more information.
Additionally it occurred to me (but thanks to Gabriel who also mentioned it)
that you can "export" the display, thereby having the GUI applications start
locally on the machines.
Also, Gabriel mentioned the "-url" command that can be used to start the
VenueClient. This will mean that you can start the application in any Venue
you like.
Therefore, I was thinking about having a script that checks to see if the Venue
Client is already running and if not, export the display and start the Venue
Client in a designated Venue.
Of course all of this is in theory but it seems doable. The hack for shutting
down the AG is to execute a "kill" script that kills all AG services and
processes.
So, I have a few additional questions now:
· Can the Venue Client be controlled (via command line - maybe a python
script) to do things.. IE, change Virtual Venues, start a shared app, etc...
· I see the Venue Client has the following option:
VenueClient -h
Options:
-p PORT, --port=PORT Set the port the venueclient control interface
should listen on.
What can this control interface actually do?
If anyone has done this sort of thing before, or has some additional items that
could be contributed to this project, I would like to hear from you.
Many thanks for your time.
Regards,
Jason.
From:
[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jason Bell
Sent: Thursday, 5 August 2010 09:53 PM
To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
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 : [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
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.
--------------------------------------------
