Executing command at shut down of Dolby IMS3000

[Christian Hove]

I would like to run a command at shut down of our Dolby IMS3000 (tell the projector to power off), but the directory structure confuses me.
On a normal Linux installation I would put a script in /etc/init.d/ and put a link to to it in /etc/rc0.d/ but on the Dolby/Doremis I see the init.d and the run command directories at both /etc/ and /doremi/etc/
Can someone explain the purpose of the doubled structures and in which one of them I should do the changes?
Thanks,
Christian

[Steve Guttag]

If you are really wanting to get into the altering the structure of the server's folder, your question should probably go to Dolby to ask their recommendations as well as to answer your question as to why things were done the way they were.

As issuing a shutdown command, there are multiple ways of doing so:

• Create an automation macro and then execute it via a Trigger and making the link via a firealarm_cues.xml file. There is a video on their site for creating this file via Cinelister. The firealarm_cues.xml file is always active, regardless of what is or isn't playing. It creates the link between triggers and automation cues (including, but not limited to, fire alarm type triggers).
• Issue a KLV command to directly shut it down (Via TCP). You'll need to obtain the KLV document from Dolby to get the needed information (or they may merely provide you with the command you desire). KLV commands are lengthy and in HEX...so, enjoy there. The document I have says "confidential" or I'd post the command here.
• There is a means via their WebAPI and you can download that from the server itself (Setup and Maintenance>ControlPanel>Tools. If you are handy with WSDL/SOAP, you can issue the command in that method.
• And, if by chance, you have Q-SYS, there are now multiple plugins that have this functionality already built-in.

[Christian Hove]

Steve, thanks for the reply.
My apologies, I should have been more clear on the use case:
When the IMS is shut down from the web ui (Logout->Shut down) it switches off but the projector remain on. To power the IMS back on again the projector must be brought into standby or switched off and then power back on. This causes a great deal of confusion among our volunteer projectionists.
My thinking was that by placing a script in rc0.d I would ensure that the projector will be brought into standby when the IMS is shutting down and left on at restarts of the IMS.
I have been in contact with Dolby which confirmed that I can use the init.d and rc structure as I do on other Linux distros - I just got confused by the duality of the /etc/ folder and felt that it would be better to bother someone else with my questions :-)

[Leo Enticknap]

I'm guessing that the projector is an NEC: I've come across this issue before. The IMS3000 is shut down, the projector is put into standby (card cage off) mode, and then the only way the IMS3000 can be booted up again is by power cycling the NEC. Unless you absolutely have to shut down the IMS3000 completely, the simplest solution is not to do that all, but just to put the NEC into standby. That will also put the IMS3000 into a standby mode, too (which, AFAIK, cannot be done with an IMS3000 in a Series 2 Barco), from which it will wake up fully when the NEC's card cage is powered up again.

If you feel that you do have to shut down the IMS3000 completely when it's not in use, my suggestion would be to train the other projectionists to power cycle the NEC's card cage as part of the shift opening procedure. If you need the ability to do this remotely, powering the card cage (or in the case of the NC900 and 1000, the entire projector) through a WattBox or other device that enables this would be the way to go.

[Marcel Birgelen]

I'm not sure about shutdown, but the IMS executes the scripts inside /doremi/etc/standby.d/ in alphabetical order during standby, and probably also during shutdown.

Most Linux distributions create a special file /run/nologin during shutdown, so the presence of this file may indicating the system performing a shutdown rather than a standby, I've never checked if this is true for the distribution running on the IMS3000.

Furthermore, I'm not really a fan of deploying files directly onto the filesystem, because those things may break during upgrades. If you can fix this using other means, I think that would be preferable.

[Christian Hove]

I'm guessing that the projector is an NEC.

It is actually a Christie (CP4415) but I guess that it behaves similar. A complicating factor is that two of our CP4415 installs are not equipped with touch computers and thus complicates the process of putting the projector into standby as it requires the projectionist to open a web browser, log in and cliking the power button.
Being the one who is called when our projectionists are in any kind of doubt, I really like to make things as straight forward for them as possible :-)

[Christian Hove]

Furthermore, I'm not really a fan of deploying files directly onto the filesystem, because those things may break during upgrades. If you can fix this using other means, I think that would be preferable.

I totally agree. I really would prefer to do it in "app space" If signals existed for reboot and shutdown that enabled me to make a trigger que for the signal "localhost::shutdown" then it would be simple to put into the firealarm playlist triggering a command to the projector at shutdown. I guess that it would require one to be confident that drmplaylistd get enough time to do things before the system ask it to shut down.
Anyone that know about any such signals?

[Matt Fields]

You should be able to leave the IMS on in standby with any series 4 Christie...go to service setup -> preferences -> IMB and then turn on the "Power on IMB in standby" option if that makes things easy for you.

[Steve Guttag]

FWIW, just about all of my installations use an Eprad eCNA automation and I do automate the server/projector shutdown. So, they are not getting into the WebUI for a shutdown...and I use toggle switches on the automation or pedestal for a simple System On/Off. Something like that might be an option for you as you can also power down the projector fully instead of just standby.

[Leo Enticknap]

You should be able to leave the IMS on in standby with any series 4 Christie...go to service setup -> preferences -> IMB and then turn on the "Power on IMB in standby" option if that makes things easy for you.

I can't speak for a Series 4 Christie, but for a Series 2 with an IMS3000 in it, that option doesn't work. At least, it didn't for me on the one and only occasion I've installed one with an IMS3000 (a CP4230, a couple of years ago). I seem to remember being told that it only worked with a Christie IMB. If you put the projector into standby/card cage off with an IMS3000 in it, it cuts all power to the option slot if there is anything other than a Christie IMB in it.

[Christian Hove]

You should be able to leave the IMS on in standby with any series 4 Christie...go to service setup -> preferences -> IMB and then turn on the "Power on IMB in standby" option if that makes things easy for you.

I tried that, but it seems to make things even worse. With the power to the IMB in standby enabled then a shut down IMS (logout->Shut down) would require a hardware power-cycle of the projector to get the IMS back up again :-(