CRG COCKPIT INSTRUMENTATION. Using Multiple Computers

Transcription

1 CRG COCKPIT INSTRUMENTATION Using Multiple Computers Abstract Having got it into my head that it would be great to make my experience one that places me in the cockpit, I searched the internet and tried many instruments that worked but only on the PC that ran the FSX simulation program. That is until I stumbled on the instruments built by Chalk River Graphics. Adrian Lawrence aidylawrence@mail.com

2 Overview. I have been blessed with a job that involved me with real full mission flight simulators for over 20 years, it is an interest that follows me to retirement and the building of a flight simulator that allows me to continue my interest in computing and electronics. The latest PC simulators range widely in their specialisation, combat, P3D, FSX, FS2004, FSW, Xplane. All of these have their place, and each user will profess it s the best. Regardless of all these options CRG have enabled the users of Pete Dowson s simulator interface program FSUIPC to run their graphics programs that interact with the simulation variables. I don t write these programs but I do use them and I have found that if support from Chalk River Graphics is needed, it is always there and what seems a nightmare for me, becomes an educating experience for me and a quick resolution as to how to overcome my problem. My intention is to write a document that could simplify how computer networks can be used to enable the communication between your simulator computers. Your system may be different in size to mine but it did start out as a single computer and monitor using the keyboard to control the flight. Over the years many changes have taken place as and when I could afford them. The system shown should be thought of as a long term plan to achieve an end. I have upgraded computers but always kept the old ones, a good job in the end, as they have been reintroduced into the main project. The three flight computers are loaded with WIN 10, I also run WidevieW and Widetraffic ( ). These programs require that, FSX and the main machine has the Wide program server (Requires registration) and the other three machines have the client copies loaded. Three PC s are setup with the following programs. PC0 (main Simulator PC). FSX FSUIPC WidevieW and Widetraffic - Servers. CRG Instruments - Sim Interface and Comm manager, NAV, Annunciator, CDU. Kcars - Flight logging. Arrester Cables - Airfield and Carrier Catapult and Arrester Cable program. Teamspeak3 client - Multiplayer comms. JoinFS - Multiplayer. SIOC Cockpit switch, light and LCD control software. ( 1 of 15

3 PC1 and PC2 FSX FSUIPC WidevieW and Widetraffic - Client. PC1- CRG Instruments - NAV, Annunciator, EICAS. PC2- CRG Instruments - Map. Arrester Cables - Airfield and Carrier Catapult and Arrester Cable program. PC3 CRG Instruments. The computers are all fitted with SLi Motherboards so that it is easy to install Two GPU s on each one but are NOT in Coupled into SLi Mode, this enables the GPU s to be used as independent units. This means extra monitors can be used giving both an outside view from the cockpit GPU. The second card connects the monitors for the cockpit instruments to be displayed. Connecting to the internet. I use LAN 1 ( the port on the motherboard ) to connect to the router from my ISP (Internet Service Provider) by a cable (faster than wireless) this enables programs that require access to the Internet, Kcars, Teamspeak etc. to connect to the internet and requires the computer to be set accordingly ( more on this later). A wireless connection could also be used for this connection. Connecting to the SIMNET. Firstly why two LAN Connections. My main reason was that if everything went via the Main ISP router then it would be harder to manage updates, all LAN traffic would be going to and from my main router and may affect the bandwidth and speed to other machines. So only the programs that need access to the internet are loaded onto PC0 and connected via LAN1. When I need to have the slave PC s connect to the internet I only have to enable the LAN 1 card on the machine I need to connect. Why wired? It s faster than wireless. The SIMNET solution. As my motherboards only have one LAN port on the motherboard I have a Second LAN port PCI card fitted to convenient PCI slot, I have called this LAN 2. My private network is called SIMNET, it could be any name you choose. Unlike the ISP Router I have changed the original network from its Local Area Network address (a Class C address) to Private Network (a class A address). This removes confusion between the networks (but it is not the only way). 2 of 15

4 Router Preparation. *** Ensure you are logged onto your computer as an Administrator *** Choose your router of choice, me, I had an old Linksys BEFW type it does have wireless and if you choose to use it then make sure you change the channel of the WIFI as not to interfere with your ISP routers WIFI. I have set the wireless to Disabled as I only used wired connections Do NOT connect this router to the Internet, an internet connection to the PC will only be via LAN1 and the ISP router when required. Getting into the router is by means of using a browser to connect Use a LAN cable to connect the router to LAN Card 2. The Lan Cable should not have crossover connections. They should be the straight type. And switch on the router. If the router is at its factory default settings then the browser address bar you enter the routers factory default address, if you don t know it then it can normally be found on the information plate attached to the router. This plate should also give the default username and password. An example of this might be, , , 192, , The username is sometimes left blank and a password used, could be admin, 1234, see what is on the box info plate. When the information is gathered, it is time to prepare the computer so that setup of the router is achieved. Your computer will have detected the second LAN card on switch on, any drivers required should have been loaded following the manufacturer s instructions. 1 Left Clk Windows Button 2 Left Clk Settings Button 3 of 15

5 3 Left Clk Network & Internet 4 Left Clk Ethernet 5 Left Clk Change adaptor options 7 Check that this adaptor is NOT disabled. (the name will be the name of your router or just network). 6 Right Click and select disable If the Cable is not connected a big Cross and cable disconnected, simply check and connect 4 of 15

6 8 Open your browser Enter the IP Address of your Sim network router from the information plate. Into the browser address bar and press enter 5 of 15

7 If You are not showing this screen then check the operations 1 to 8 1 Enter the Log on info from the Info Plate on the router. 2 Clk OK 6 of 15

8 Configuring the router. Having successfully Logged into the router a page similar should be similar to the ones I have used, manufacturers have different layouts but the functions will be the same. The pictures below are from a Linksys Router. Default page. Setup/ basic setup tab 1 Replace the default name (Linksys) with a name of your choice, I have called it simnet 2 Replace the default local address to Subnet to If it looks like this scroll down and SAVE SETTINGS 7 of 15

9 Select Administration tab. And this page should appear. Changing your password Enter your Password and confirm here Wireless access disable SAVE SETTINGS Select WIRELESS Tab Use dropdown box to DISABLE wireless L Clk SAVE SETTINGS check Status is INACTIVE Check STATUS is INACTIVE Close browser. 8 of 15

10 Now that the router settings are sorted Will not be able to communicate with it until you change some more settings on the LAN card. Remember you set it to the router default address Your LAN card will not recognise its connection to (the new settings in your router). Navigate to the LAN Cards (if you can t remember go to page 4 complete steps 1 to STEPS 1 to 4 then return here. Right Click on your Private network card icon and select DISABLE Use the Rename tab to change the name to SIMNET (or your chosen name). This is an any time job Right Click on your Private network card icon and Left click Properties on dropdown 9 of 15

11 L CLK Select internet protocol Version 4 TCP/IP IPv4 L CLK Properties Change the following so that it appears like the picture. Select radio button - Use the following IP address. IP add Subnet Default Gateway Radio Button preferred DNS server L Click OK box may close (good) NOW enable the Ethernet connection just double Click on it. Now try to connect to your router as Admin If you can, great. If not recheck the settings. Close the box by using X if they don t disappear when the OK button is pressed. Right Click the Private Connection again. This time Left click the ENABLE and close 10 of 15

12 Now setup the other PC s Setting the other computers to the Simnet you need to set their LAN 2 Cards the same as PC0 except using a different Identity Where you set up on the last page, SET PC1 to PC2 to PC3 to etc All your PC s should connect to each other on the SIMNET. RE Boot the router (disconnect supply for 1MIN and reconnect supply. Reboot the PC s When all fired up Make sure you have a connection. See if computers can swap files if you have this enabled or check that your connection is communicating by a double L Clk on your enabled network connection ICON to see the screen below. I have used the wireless connection here as an example. You will of course use the enabled LAN 2 Connection (have you changed the name for easy identification page 9). 11 of 15

13 The skeleton plan of my system is shown below. Visual Monitors Display front views Left front view Centre view Right front view Video cables to Front view monitors are connected to video card 1 on each Cockpit View PC ISP Router SKT 1 ISP Router SKT 2 ISP Router SKT 4 ISP Router SKT 3 LAN 1 LAN 1 LAN 1 LAN 1 SIMNET Router Connected to LAN 2 on each computer PC 1 PC 0 PC 2 PC 3 LAN 2 LAN 2 LAN 2 LAN 2 3 x Inst Monitors connected to PC 4 Graphics Cards 1 & 2. 3 x Instrument Monitors connected to graphics card 2 on each PC 0, 1 & 2 Note. I have found using a touch screen monitor that displays the CDU my best purchase. 12 of 15

14 FURTHER READING. Choosing your Network. Networks are a bit of a mystery for a lot of computer users but are really only a way to control how machines are joined together in the real world. Your ISP will more than likely set you up with a router that connects to the internet via their server which is decoded from a name such as eg. homehub@btinternet.com or maybe virginbroadband.com They send data to you via your network address they allocate to your router and use a number such as ( the number you use to connect to see your security camera when out and about or friends connect to when you are running a teamspeak server). Now that the ISP have made way for you to communicate with the outside world and the outside world to you. It now falls for you to enable them to connect to a program on your connected PC. Lets suppose that you are running a program and we will use teamspeak as an example. We have the server at one end and a client at the other. The teamspeak server is listening for a client s request to connect it. We have to set up the system known as Port Forwarding or Mapping that redirects a communication request from one address and port number to another. While data packets travel to each other via the network gateway such as a firewall or router. Firstly the program you are running will tell you that the program requires certain ports to be open A port can be explained as a gate, when the gate is open traffic can pass through it. Your router can be set up to recognise the port and direct the traffic to the machine that is running the program that is listening for traffic on that port Teamspeak has a default port which is 9987 UDP (User datagram Protocol) when the time comes we may need to setup our own port forwarding Under the advanced TAB in the router setup menu and sub menu Port Forwarding a table can be completed similar to the one below. Name Port range from Port range to Type UDP/ TCP/BOTH IP Active TS Default UDP Single port FS BOTH Multi-port range Brief identifier PC IP directed to 13 of 15

15 A call on Port 9987 will be directed to the PC with an address of and any call on ports within the range directed to PC It can be seen that the IP address belongs to a network with a range of Addresses from to it should be noted that are reserved for system use. And this group is normally used on your ISP router. The ISP server connects to your router by allocating an IP address to your computer based on the order the computer connected to the ISP router which means the PC IP address may change from time to time as when a machine is turned off its IP address in now available to be issued to the device that connects next i.e. your mobile phone. This is not an option when we use port forwarding so a system is available within your router to make the IP given to your PC is the same each time you connect the PC this is called a Static IP. The LAN card holds the setup for this and we get to it as described below. Follow the steps below. 1. L Click the windows button on the task bar 2. L Click the settings icon 3. L Click Network and Internet 4. L Click Ethernet 5. L Click Change Adaptor Settings 6. The screen Right should now be visible. 7. Disable the card you are going to work on when finished re-enable it. 14 of 15

16 Remember this page, the numbers are different to the one you set but Where it says Use the following IP address, That is the IP number the computer is going to connect to the router with. If you are changing the connection to the ISP router this will be probable set to Obtain the IP address Automatically. To change it to a fixed IP Click the two radio buttons to set following IP address and DNS server address. Put the computer address you ant to set ie DNS or your router internal IP if different Programs sometimes don t function correctly as they cant get information through the firewall. Again your firewall program will have a setting value that will allow you to see which programs are allowed through the firewall and an editing facility. 15 of 15