Linux ArtNet Node

Written by Thomas Hinterberger.

This HOWTO outlines a method for creating an ArtNetNode on an Intel/AMD32 Computer (minmum proved: PI/200 32 MB Ram/400MB Harddisk ) using an Enttec Open DMX USB Interface (not the Pro). For instructions on how to install on to a USB stick see http://d-i.pascal.at/

This howto uses the Debian Sarge Netinstall-CD-Image (100 Mb) - http://www.debian.org/releases/sarge/debian-installer/

The computer must be connected to the Internet using DHCP to download the packages.

Initial Install

For installation follow: http://www.howtoforge.com/perfect_setup_debian_sarge (enter linux26 at the boot prompt to install a 2.6 kernel)

choose Node1 as hostname and ArtNet as Domainname

on page 2 of the installation guide "debian software configuration" you choose manual package selection by going there with the courser and use the space tab to select it.

On the Configuration Exim v4 you choose no configuration on this time and you will end up with aptitude

close aptitude with :q

log in with your username and password

now you typ to the console with the following convention:

1. command Type command as root- to get root type 'su' followed by the root password

$ command Type command as user - to get user type exit

$:su
#:nano /etc/apt/sources.list

You add the following line:

deb http://www.nomis52.net/data/debian ./

ctrl (strg) o + enter to save ctrl x to exit nano

#:apt-get update
#:apt-get install kernel-headers-$(uname -r) g++ make libartnet1 artnet-examples

before you say yes note the version of your kernel-headers

#:exit
$:wget http://www.erwinrol.com/downloads/software/dmx_usb_module-20040914.tar.gz
$:tar -zxf dmx_usb_module-20040914.tar.gz
$:cd dmx_usb_module
$:make
$:cd ..
$:su
#:cp dmx_usb_module/dmx_usb.ko /lib/modules/2.6.x-x-386/kernel/drivers/usb/serial/dmx_usb.ko (x-use the noted version of your kernel headers)
#:rm /lib/modules/2.6.x-x-386/kernel/drivers/usb/serial/ftdi_sio.ko
#:cd /dev
#:mknod -m 666 dmx0 c 180 192
#:nano /etc/modules

you ad now the following line:

 dmx_usb.ko

ctrl (strg) o + enter to save ctrl x to exit nano

Reboot the machine

#:reboot

Starting the Node

Login to the machine with your username and password

Check that the dmx_usb module is loaded:

$ lsmod | grep dmx_usb

You should see a line like the following:

dmx_usb       122112

Plug in the Enttec Open DMX Interface. Run dmesg and check that the device was initialized corrected:

$ dmesg

Start the artnet node by running:

artnet_usb

By default the node starts up using ArtNet subnet 0 and port 0, this corresponds to Universe 0 in Magic Q PC

Running artnet_usb with the -v option gives you debug information. Use --help to get the following message:

Usage: artnet-usb [OPTIONS]
Acts as an ArtNet to DMX node using the Enttec Open Usb Interface

 -a <ip-address>        IP address to listen on (defaults to the address
                        of the first non loopback interface)
 -d <dmx-device>        device for dmx output (default /dev/dmx0)
 -p <port-address>      port address for output universe (default 0)
 -s <subnet-address>    subnet address for output universe (default 0)
 -v                     be verbose (prints data for first four channels)

The universe address of the port is made up from the ArtNet subnet address and the ArtNet port address. The four least significant bits are the port address, the four most significant are the subnet address.

For example :

artnet-usb -p 3 -s 2

sets the universe address to 0x23

Testing with DMX Workshop

Start DMX Workshop and verify that the node appears in the connected devices list.

Using the node with Magic Q PC

If you enable now Artnet Universe 0 in Magic Q from ChamSys, you have a fully functioning one universe DMX512 interface. This works much better than MagicQ alone with the Open DMX USB Windows drivers. You can also use as many universes as ArtNet supports (but at the moment only one Open DMX USB device per node is supported)