setting up a backup laptop --> second license needed

[tocsin]

Hi Mike,

i am setting up a second laptop for live backup reason and i have 2 questions.

1. Do i need to purchase a second license if the second laptop is running in sync simultaneously just to switch in when the first one fails?

2. Any progress or plans in master/slave 2 SCS PC via telnet or similar? I am gonna test the Software Input Director, but i would prefer the keep it in one system with no extra software. What would be great is if all keystrokes or mouse clicks within the master SCS are transmitted simultaneously to the slave. F.e. if i hit the "Down Arrow Key" both SCS are going one Cue down. If i select a specific cue with the Mouse arrow in the master SCS, the slave SCS is always in sync or at the same position.

Thank you for your help
Regards
gun

[Mike Daniell]

1. Do i need to purchase a second license if the second laptop is running in sync simultaneously just to switch in when the first one fails?

No, a single-user license is OK for this. Having SCS running on two computers for the same show in the same venue is OK. Also for having a separate 'design' computer. For anything more than this we ask you to purchase a relevant multi-user license.

2. Any progress or plans in master/slave 2 SCS PC via telnet or similar? I am gonna test the Software Input Director, but i would prefer the keep it in one system with no extra software. What would be great is if all keystrokes or mouse clicks within the master SCS are transmitted simultaneously to the slave. F.e. if i hit the "Down Arrow Key" both SCS are going one Cue down. If i select a specific cue with the Mouse arrow in the master SCS, the slave SCS is always in sync or at the same position.

This is a complex issue. It would be relatively simple to have a master/slave setup where the slave computer plays cues started by the master, and that, of course, would be the main requirement. However, as you point out the ideal solution requires every keyboard and mouse action to be caught by SCS on the master computer and be replicated by SCS on the slave computer. Then there's the issue of being able to switch to the slave computer if the master fails - which is the whole point of having the backup computer.

I haven't tried Input Director, but in the description it does state under 'Keyboard and Mouse Features': ​​Mirror input - Broadcast mouse gestures and/or keyboard input to all computers simultaneously​. So​ 'Input Director' may provide a workable solution.

[tocsin]

No, a single-user license is OK for this. Having SCS running on two computers for the same show in the same venue is OK. Also for having a separate 'design' computer. For anything more than this we ask you to purchase a relevant multi-user license.

Perfect! Just bought a new update plan to test the new video features.

This is a complex issue. It would be relatively simple to have a master/slave setup where the slave computer plays cues started by the master, and that, of course, would be the main requirement. However, as you point out the ideal solution requires every keyboard and mouse action to be caught by SCS on the master computer and be replicated by SCS on the slave computer. Then there's the issue of being able to switch to the slave computer if the master fails - which is the whole point of having the backup computer.

I haven't tried Input Director, but in the description it does state under 'Keyboard and Mouse Features': ​​Mirror input - Broadcast mouse gestures and/or keyboard input to all computers simultaneously​. So​ 'Input Director' may provide a workable solution.

I would be fine with the simple way, too . Once a show has started the only key i press is the GO Button and some hotkeys. No keystrokes or mouse moving beside that. If they are triggered at the spare laptop too, that would fit my need totally! The The rest is a nice to have feature but not absolutely necessary.

It is important for me to switch fast to the spare system if the main system fails. Sound is switched via the soundmixer (mute and unmute channels), video ist switched via a KVM Switch and the Light (running on the same Laptop as SCS) is merged via a DMX Merger (DMX Merger --> Main Laptop + Spare Laptop + Lighting Desk). No interruption longer than a few seconds. It has never happend to me to switch to my spare system (Lighting Desk + iPhone App "Big Button Player" at the moment), but it feels better when you are able do it fast and reliably. And i just bought a second Laptop and want to achieve this reliability.

Maybe there is a way with Telnet/OSC Commands. Running the same Cue file on main and spare laptop, each Cue has a ID. So even if the artist misses a part, where i have to go forward in the cue list and hop over some cues, the spare laptop follows. No mouse gestures needed to transmit.

Thank you
gun