Can't send Artnet to my eDMX4 via OLA

[discop...@me.com]

Hi all,

I have an eDMX4 that I am trying to control via MaxMSP.

My eDMX is in 2.x.y.z mode, specifically 2.10.129.44. The four DMX ports are set to Art-Net port addresses 00-0-1 through 00-0-4.

I'm using a router that is separate to my usual internet router. It's plugged into the ethernet port of my Mac. The router is at 2.10.129.254, subnet mask 255.255.255.0, and is set up as a DHCP server.

In Network settings on my Mac, my ethernet card has an IP address of 2.10.129.1, subnet mask 255.255.255.0, router 2.10.129.254.

I have successfully sent DMX messages to the eDMX4 (and watched the lights change) via a Max object called imp.dmx.artnetout: http://www.theimpersonalstereo.com/software/imp-dmx/ (although I have to disable my wifi card, otherwise it takes precedence over the ethernet port).

I have installed OLA 0.8.31 via macports using the +universal variant (i.e.: sudo port install ola +universal) - although if I check 'port variants ola' then I don't see a plus next to universal - however, I did see plenty of references to '+universal' during the install.

I've set up 4 artnet output universes in OLA. I have pasted all the specific details below.

If I use the olaoutput object in MaxMSP, I can watch the numbers change in the DMX monitor at http://localhost:9090. However, the messages do not get through to the eDMX4, and do not change the lights.

The Max window says: "OLA StreamingClient setup successful. Connected to olad."

I've tried disabling wifi and restarting OLA (so that http://localhost:9090 says the Primary IP is 2.10.129.1, and Primary Broadcast Address is 2.10.129.255). Still doesn't work.
Here is the (truncated) output of ola_dev_info:

patrick$ ola_dev_info
Device 1: ArtNet [2.10.129.1]
  port 0, IN, priority 100, RDM supported
  port 1, IN, priority 100, RDM supported
  port 2, IN, priority 100, RDM supported
  port 3, IN, priority 100, RDM supported
  port 0, OUT ArtNet Universe 0:0:4, patched to universe 4, RDM supported
  port 1, OUT ArtNet Universe 0:0:1, patched to universe 1, RDM supported
  port 2, OUT ArtNet Universe 0:0:2, patched to universe 2, RDM supported
  port 3, OUT ArtNet Universe 0:0:3, patched to universe 3, RDM supported

And the output of ola_uni_info:

patrick$ ola_uni_info
   Id                              Name        Merge Mode
----------------------------------------------------------
    1                           Artnet1        HTP
    2                           Artnet2        HTP
    3                           Artnet3        HTP
    4                           Artnet4        HTP
----------------------------------------------------------

And ola_artnet:

patrick$ ola_artnet -d 1
Name: OLA - ArtNet node
Long Name: OLA - ArtNet node
Subnet: 0
Net: 0

I've also changed the ola-artnet.conf so that ip = en0 (to force it to use the ethernet card). Here's the full config:

always_broadcast = false
enabled = true
ip = en0
long_name = OLA - ArtNet node
net = 0
short_name = OLA - ArtNet node
subnet = 0
use_limited_broadcast = false
use_loopback = false

Please let me know if I can provide any more information, thanks.

Patrick

[Simon Newton]

Thanks for the clear description of the problem. Can you try setting  always_broadcast to true and restarting olad.

Simon

 

Patrick

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[Peter Newman]

What does the OLA log say?

You could try enabling always_broadcast to see if that makes a difference.

You could also try this to list IPs:

ola_artnet -u <universe number> -d <OLA dev id>

[Jason Kyle]

If you’re using 2.x.y.z ArtNet address mode then you’ll need to configure the other network gear with subnet mask 255.0.0.0 (not 255.255.255.0)

Note Universe 0 in OLA = ArtNet port address 00:0:0

 

Best Regards,

 

Jason Kyle

DMXking.com / JPK Systems Limited

--

[discop...@me.com]

Thanks for the suggestions all.

What fixed it was a combination of setting my router to use submask 255.0.0.0 (thanks jpk) and setting always_broadcast = true (thanks Simon and Peter). Doing just one or the other didn't solve it.

So, what does this all mean? 'always_broadcast = true' is supposedly for ArtNet1 devices that don't respond to ArtPoll messages. Does that mean the eDMX4 does not respond to ArtPoll messages? The eDMX4 is supposed to be compatible with ArtNet 1, 2 and 3. Perhaps the eDMX4's responses (ArtPollReply?) just aren't getting back to olad? Firewall issue?

Patrick

[Jason Kyle]

The eDMX4 responds to ArtPoll messages so something must be stopping the ArtPollReply messages (which are broadcast btw) getting back to OLA.

[Simon Newton]

Patrick: can you take a tcpdump for us?

[Andrew Frazer]

There are some switches which implement broadcast storm control.   The ArtPoll / ArtPoll Replys should fall well below any normal thresholds though and not be considered a 'storm'.

When you say "firewall" issue, were is your firewall?

[discop...@me.com]

It was indeed a firewall issue. The firewall in question is the one in Mac OSX. It was set to block any incoming connections to olad. I have now set it to allow incoming connections, meaning olad can now receive the ArtPollReply messages. I can now send ArtNet to my eDMX4 while 'always_broadcast = false'.

Thanks for everyone's help :)

Patrick