I am wondering if anyone is networking two or more computers together and using plotters or printers not directly attached to the computer that your software and dongle is attached? I have not been able to get a straight answer from anyone from Gerber as to whether software/dongle has to be present on the computer that the plotter is attached to. I don't want to design from the guest computer, just go through it to use the plotter. There is a setting in the installation portion of the software that you use to specify a local/remote plotter-printer but I am not sure if this would work without a dongle present on remote computer.
Posted by Glenn Taylor (Member # 162) on :
Every computer that you intend to use GA/Omega software in your network must have a dongle. I'm in the process of trying to network my computers as well. Right now, I've only been successful in driving my plotter when the software & dongle are on the "driving computer."
Thats not to say it can't be done without the software & dongle. I just haven't found another way yet.
Posted by Elwood Kinder (Member # 2558) on :
Glenn-
I really appreciate your reply. Sorry if I sound starved for attention but Gerber has really not given me much input on this particular question. I approached a tech from one of my distributors and he suggested that I let him "build" a new system for just such a purpose as to network everything. Of course a new high end computer, an MIP, and lots of money would be involved but...
Here is my real problem. I am looking to purchase a new computer locally from a friend in the business as a matter of fact a pretty good customer of mine. I would like to avoid all the problems involved with adding multiple ports, as I am running 3)plotters, 1)Edge printer, and an HP 895cse inkjet. The last computer I had built didn't even have a sound card as to free up available irqs & dmas. So the only solution short of running two complete systems was to network. I am the only person manning the computers aside from my 15 year old son that comes in after school and helps out. I just can't justify an MIP from Gerber $1800.00 just so I can run all of GERBER'S cool plotters and printers!
So after all that... Are you saying that you are able to run a plotter on a remote computer (without a dongle and software) from a host computer (with a dongle and software)?
Posted by Bob Gilliland (Member # 28) on :
Elwood,
I believe what is presented below to be factual; however, I’m not a Gerber employee or sales rep.
In order to drive a Gerber device off a machine, either host or remote, will require that the machine that is physically attached to the device have the ability to operate the spooler program. In order to accomplish that, a security key is going to be required.
The Omega product line comes in three flavors, Cut Lite (CL), Cut Station (CS), and Cut & Print (CP). As you are already aware of, owners of current software can acquire additional copies under the MIP plan.
In the Graphix Advantage days there was a product offered called GA Design Station (DS). This was the same package as Premier to the exception that output could only happen across a network, not direct to the machine that was running it. Then there was Plot Station (PS). It allowed output only capabilities to any device attached to the machine it was running on or to a networked device. Both were offered at extremely attractive prices, all things being relative. Unfortunately, these packages were dropped as legitimate part numbered products in the Omega lineup.
I have been involved with a handful of networked Gerber systems. The largest included five Gerber stations. I myself currently have three. Most installed without much effort and have performed reasonably well.
I’ll be in my office most of the morning tomorrow, but out for the balance and through Monday afternoon. Feel free to call me if you would like and we can review some possible options after exchanging details. Posted by Glenn Taylor (Member # 162) on :
well......to free up irq's, you could make use of the USB ports, assuming you have them. You could convert those usb ports to serial or parallel using adapters like those made by Belkin. Then you could put anything on those ports or even your regular default ports. Throw in a usb hub and you could just keep adding stuff.
Just an idea.
Posted by Diane Crowther (Member # 120) on :
Curious about your request, I tried doing it here. You can send your job to the remote computer (the one with the plotter), but it will just remain silently in the queue until GSP Queue Manager picks it up - which means, of course, that it has to be open and running on the other machine. Once I took the security key over to the other computer it worked. So, yes you do need the key.
It would be a really nice addition to the OMEGA family to have just the queue manager available on another machine without the security key (or with a very inexpensive one).
Posted by Elwood Kinder (Member # 2558) on :
I really appreciate all of the input folks. It seems this sparked an issue that Gerber should be able to resolve fairly inexpensively as Diane put it. The question is will Gerber see this problem as a worthwhile effort when once again it would only be an inexpensive fix? Don't get me wrong I have used Gerber products from the start and I love them, but when it comes to security issues they don't seem to budge.
Once again, Thanks to all!
Posted by Elwood Kinder (Member # 2558) on :
Another stupid thought just raced through this ever expanding mind of mine. Has anyone ever tried to install a plotter on a USB port? I know you have to specify Com 1,2,3,4 but I was wondering if you could go through the remote setup? In other words set the path to the USB port?
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Unfortunately, these packages were dropped as legitimate part numbered products in the Omega lineup. ![[Frown]](frown.gif)
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