Hello Gentlemen. (and ladies)

Long time viewer, first time poster.

I have a system with 10 XP3 processors all on the same network. Each XP3 has it's own build file and each processor has one iPad associated with it. All of them are set for DHCP.

Problem: When the XP3 processor loses power or resets, the ipad has a very difficult time reconnecting to the XP3. I can use the "Reconfigure" on the iPad app, which forces the iPad to redownload the configuration file from the XP3. That works and I get the progress bar and it completes the download. However as soon as the configuration file downloads, it disconnects from the XP3 processor.

I have followed RTI's tech support instructions of closing the App, restarting the iPad and trying again, but it does not work consistently. Sometimes it will link within a few tries, other times I can spend an hour resetting and restarting the iPad before it will link and stay connected to the XP3.

One thing I noticed while looking at the IP Driver feedback page of the XP3, is that is when it is downloading the configuration file, the link type says "WAN" but when it links and stays connected, the link type switches to "LAN". That is the only consistent thing I can find. It seems to have an issue when switching from WAN to LAN. Unless this is just a coincidence.

Anyways, any ideas on getting 10 XP3 processors to work on the same Network?

all of them are set for DHCP?

I think you need to set a static IP for each processor

I agree with markrubin. You may want to set all your XP's with static ip's first and then start the rest of your troubleshooting.

10 XP3's on DHCP what a nightmare.  I wouldn't even attempt this without static addresses. Further you must be running the latest ID software.

We tried both DHCP and also Static IP. Neither scenario worked at all.

The solution, or band-aid as it should be called, is putting only five processors on a network. So I have two separate networks, separate WAPs, with the default IP scheme of 192.168.0.xxx. Then I have follow the steps:

1. Plug in a processor
2. Acquire and download configuration
3. confirm the operation
4. disconnect from the network
5. go on the next processor

After this I can plug all processors in and they work fine until the network goes down. Then you have to repeat the above process.

When you say each has its own build file, I assume that you mean that it's not a single ID file with 10 processors? Does the system zone code play a role in this?

have you set DHCP reservations for each iPad in your router?

I wonder if the iPads, which are DHCP (I assume) are creating a network conflict: I would use an iPad app such as Fing to see exactly what is happening on your network (s)

Please list the drivers you are using and the devices you are controlling via IP.

It is important to know what exactly you are doing with integration designer and your hardware.
--Are these stand alone processors or are they all inclusive of a single program.
--Is it possible that you are running multiple instances of particular driver on more than one XP device that may be pointing at the same device such as a Denon receiver?

The problem you are describing, (outside of a router issue or a locked up device on the network) could be best defined as a driver conflict. Denon drivers via IP will for sure do what you are describing if they are set up wrong or if you have more than one driver pointing at the same denon

You should always put all of your systems within a home into the same project file! Their are many reasons but one big one is you might now have 10
Processors all with the same driver loaded on them all trying to poll the same piece of equipment for info. If they were all in one system file the driver is loaded on one XP and that then shares info with the other 9.

Also like other said static IP for all of these.

It wouldn't be hard to put all of these devices into the same project. Open a project and just import the devices in from all of the others.

I also then must ask if their is a reason for separate XP on each room of this house. A single centrally located XP would be much more cost efficient and the project would run more smoothly

You are asuming he has wiring in place for a centraly located XP device. In many cases it is far  less exspensive from a labor standpoint to use multiple XP processors, than to fish emitter, control or net work cabling to remote locations. Even if you are using WAP's and esc2's and pcm4's the cost of those parts and the trouble involved is greater than using multiple XP3's. That said, I personaly will use the hub and spoke aproach where ever possible, and esc2's and pcm4's at my remote locations when exisiting wire is in short supply, it is simply far simpler to manage and trouble shoot a single processor system.

I've always thought so. And if you even have network at each location to me it's then worth it to use a PCM4 and esc2 in each location over the multiple xp3. Saves in labor, troubleshooting time, and is a more stable system IMO

For this system, the customer wanted each room isolated as much as possible from the others. His concern was that if one goes down, only one room is effected. So I have 10 different files. Each room only has two items, the XP3 and the iPad in the build file. Each room was programmed independently.

We tried setting up the processors on Static IPs but when this didn't work and I called RTI tech support, they insisted that they remain on DHCP. Not sure why? When I asked if they had tested their products in such a manner, they couldn't give me an answer if they've ever done that. I understand that manufacturers cannot test for every scenario, but I kinda figured that someone other than myself is using multiple processors in an installation.

As of now, the system is working with the iPads and XP3s set for DHCP and the router we are using have reserved the IPs to those devices. This seems to make it work okay and I have yet to lose control like we were before.

However, to me this is a band-aid for a very obvious problem. Until this is resolved we won't be using RTI processors for iPad control for future projects.

glad you made some progress there: the other thing I was going to suggest is put the router and as many processors as you can on UPS supplies

in fairness to RTI: I think yours may be the first application this complex as far as the number of processors and iPads

I use static IP for my XP and every Rti device I put on my jobs.... I don't see why a static address would give you a different result then using DHCP with reserved IP addresses. I'd assume when you made this switch the IP reservation is for same address as the static IP you were using?

Recently this came up over on the RTi forum. They said they recommend reservations from the router as it is simply less likely to get an IP conflict somewhere. If you manage the network and know what the DHCP scope is and what any other static devices are set to on the network you shouldn't have an issue.

I am working on a 11K SQ FT home which is using a dozen local processors. The new 9.0 prelim to Apex with Slave/Master processors makes it work fantastic when using multiple local processors. On a large home, one processor is not going to cut it especially if the client has complex local systems with multiple sources. Some people don't want to do video distribution and want ultimate quality and flexibility. If you are not going to use static IP try reserving the MAC address at least. But definitely, definitely set it up as a master processor with underlying slaves.