Publish content on a web server via FTP
From SpinetiX Support Wiki
Contents
Introduction
The HMP is able to automatically retrieve content from a web server, which is useful for large setups involving a centralized content server or whenever is not possible to push content directly on the player (for instance, due to firewall / NAT usage).
To facilitate the content deployment for such setups, Elementi M and Elementi X offer the possibility to publish the content directly on a server through the Publish Location feature. This feature is not available for Elementi S.
- Starting with version 3.1.0, Elementi automatically generates within the project, the XML repository descriptor file required when using Pull Mode with web servers without WebDAV support.
The tutorial below explains how to publish content from Elementi (M or X) on a web server via FTP.
Tutorial
- Difficulty: Easy.
- Total duration: 10-20 minutes.
- Requirements:
- Elementi M or Elementi X, version 3.1.0 or later.
- One or more HMP devices using firmware 3.1.0 or later.
- A project to be used as content.
Publish content on the web server
- Open Elementi and prepare the content. For instance, you can use one of the sample projects included within Elementi or create a new project (this tutorial might also come in handy).
- Open Elementi Devices view and create a new Publish Location having the following details:
- Protocol: FTP
- Hostname: ServerHostname (e.g., spinetix.com)
- Path: /MyProject (replace this with the folder name on the FTP)
- Security: enter the username and password for your FTP account
- Publish the content onto the newly created Publish Location.
- At this step, Elementi automatically generates within the project an XML repository descriptor file, named "spx-listing.xml", which is required when using Pull Mode with web servers without WebDAV support.
Display a project from server on HMP350 or HMP300
The HMP can retrieve the content from a web server and display it on the screen, using Scheduled Download.
- Scheduled Download is strongly recommended because it is resilient to network and bandwidth problems, which are inevitable when using an public server.
If your server is password protected, the HMP won't be able to connect to the server unless you add the credentials for your web server on the HMP. This is done from HMP Control Center > System > Saved Passwords.
Adding credentials
In order for the HMP to be able to retrieve the content from your password protected web server, you need to add the credentials on the HMP.
For that, follow these steps:
- Open HMP Control Center > System > Saved Passwords.
- Add the address for your server (e.g.
http://spinetix.com/) as Server URI and the username and password of your web server account.
Scheduled Download
To add a Scheduled Download to the HMP, follow these steps:
- Open HMP Control Center > Content > Scheduled Download.
- Under "Server URI", enter the name of your server, followed by 'spx-listing.xml' (e.g.
http://spinetix.com/spx-listing.xml). - Select the type of update to be performed (Manual, Hourly, Daily)
- In case of Daily update, select the time at which you would like the publish action to take place.
- In case of Manual update, you need to press the reload icon to trig the update of the content manually.
- Click on "Apply" button. Once the download is completed, the HMP will display the content retrieved from your web server.
Display a project from server on HMP200 or HMP130
The HMP can retrieve the content from a web server and display it on the screen, using Pull Mode.
- Pull Mode is strongly recommended because it is resilient to network and bandwidth problems, which are inevitable when using an public server.
If your server is password protected, the HMP won't be able to connect to the server unless you add the credentials for your web server on the HMP. This is done from HMP Control Center > Network Settings page > Credentials tab.
Adding credentials
In order for the HMP to be able to retrieve the content from your password protected web server, you need to add the credentials on the HMP.
For that, follow these steps:
- Open HMP Control Center > Network Settings page > Credentials tab.
- Add the address for your server (e.g.
http://spinetix.com/) as Server URI and the username and password of your web server account.
Pull Mode configuration
To configure the HMP for Pull Mode, follow these steps:
- Open HMP Control Center > Content Settings page > Pull Mode tab.
- Select "Manual settings" option and enable "Automatically upload project to the HMP[...]" option.
- Under "Project source", enter the name of your server, followed by 'spx-listing.xml' (e.g.
http://spinetix.com/spx-listing.xml). - Select the time when the HMP should start pulling the content (you check the status within uploader.log).
- Click on "Apply" button. Once the pull action is completed, the HMP will display the content retrieved from your web server.