For MPEG2 decoding, VCP-Recorder supports the Vela Research 4-port SCSI-attached decoders. These decoders communicate with the VCP-Recorder server over a Single-Ended, Fast/Wide SCSI bus and decode MPEG2 Transport or Program streams to composite analog video.
The instruction manual that comes with the Vela decoder describes in detail how to connect the Vela decoder hardware and set the SCSI ID.
This chapter describes how to install and configure the Vela decoder in the following sections:
The Vela decoder requires a single-ended SCSI port. If your server has a mixture of single-ended and differential ports. Be careful to select the single-ended SCSI ports.
The built-in external SCSI ports on the O2 and Origin2000 are single-ended.
The Origin200 does not have a built-in SCSI port. PCI expansion cards are available for both single-ended and differential SCSI. A single-ended SCSI expansion card must be installed.
The M-SCSI XIO card has four SCSI ports: port is auto-sensing for single-ended or differential. Ports 1, 2, and 3 are differential only and cannot be used with the Vela.
VCP-Recorder supports up to three four-port decoders on each SCSI bus. No other SCSI devices should be attached to the bus that is attached to the Vela decoders.
The Vela decoders are attached to the SCSI port on the VCP-Recorder system using a standard SCSI-3 cable. Since the decoder does not provide a SCSI loop-through connector, if you are connecting more than one decoder to a single bus, you will need to use a bus-type cable, usually available as a ribbon cable with 4 to 6 SCSI-3 connectors attached.
The Origin2000 base I/O module includes one external single-ended ultra SCSI channel. Additional channels can be added via the M-SCSI four-port Ultra SCSI XIO option (XT-SCSIB-4P), or through the internal PCI adapter XIO option (XT-INT_PCI) together with PCI SCSI adapters.
The Origin200 does not have an external SCSI connector for adding external SCSI devices. Therefore, in order to add external SCSI devices you will need to add an Ultra SCSI PCI adapter to the Origin200. The single-ended Ultra SCSI PCI adapter (PCI-SCSI-Q-SE-1P) should be used.
Ensure that the vcp_recorder_eoe_sw.vela and .mpeg subsystems are installed. No configuration is required.
When the system is rebooted after connecting the Vela decoders (make sure they are powered on before rebooting the VCP-Recorder system), the decoders should show up as “Unknown Type 12” devices in the hardware inventory (see hinv(1M)). For example:
Unknown type 12: unit 3 on SCSI controller 1 |
The scsicontrol command may be used to test the connection by sending a device inquiry to the decoder. To inquire of the device with SCSI id 3 on SCSI bus 1, use the command:
% scsicontrol -i sc1d3l0 |
The device should respond as being ready and identify itself as a Vela 4-port decoder.
When VCP-Recorder is started, each of the four ports on each decoder is assigned a port name. The names are sequential, for example, if one decoder is attached, the ports are named vela_0, vela_1, vela_2, and vela_3.