RMS II
RMS Server Application

(rev. 5-May-08)

RMS Server

Introduction

The RMS Server application is the heart of the RMS II system. It executes a script file and collects sound and band scan data from a radio receiver under its direct control. The script file tells the server what data to collect and when. The server accepts RMS Client connections which allows a remote client to retrieve the collected data. The server can also be scripted to automatically send its collected data over the Internet via FTP or E-mail.

System Requirements

CPU:           Any PowerPC Macintosh, PowerPC PowerBook, or PowerPC clone
Memory Usage:  6MB
Disk Usage:    1MB + however much space is needed to store collected data files
Network:       28.8+ Modem for client dial-in (external, internal, or PCMCIA);
               Full-time Internet connection with Open Transport 1.1.1 or later, or
                 part-time Internet connection via Modem and OT/PPP 1.0 or later;
               EtherTalk/LocalTalk connection optional, depending upon supported Client connection
OS:            System 9.1 or later (RMS Server 9);
               OS X 10.2 or later (RMS Server X); OS X 10.4 or later is required for RMS Server v3.8 and later.
Audio Input:   Built-in; or for USB Macs without built-in, an iMic USB adapter plugged directly into a powered
               USB hub (Apple Audio Extension 1.0.7 or later also required).
Radio:         Drake R8A Communications Receiver with Mac compatible cable (contact B. Whitacre for cable) OR
               Icom PCR-1000 Communications Receiver with Mac compatible cable (contact B. Whitacre for cable) OR
               TenTec RX320 Communications Receiver with Mac compatible cable (contact B. Whitacre for cable) OR
               AOR AR7000B Communications Receiver with Mac compatible cable (contact B. Whitacre for cable) OR
               Griffin Technology radioSHARK (directly plug into USB port on Mac, no other adapter or cable needed).
               RF space SDR-IQ (directly plug into USB port on Mac, no other adapter or cable needed).
               For USB Macs and radios other than radioSHARK, a KeySpan (dual port USA28X, either port can be used) or
               iPort USB serial adapter plugged directly into a powered USB hub.

Hardware Setup

  1. Connect Communications Receiver to Mac
    • Drake R8A
      • Attach specialized cable to Drake Receiver.
      • If using a non-USB based Mac, connect Receiver cable to the radio serial port specified in the Server Config document.
      • If using a USB based Mac, install a KeySpan or iPort USB serial adapter and connect the radio to the adapter port specified in the Server Config document.
      • If using a USB based Mac without built-in audio input, install an iMic USB audio adapter with the switch set to "line".
      • Connect line audio out from the Receiver to the Mac's sound input port (or iMic) using the proper RCA connector.
      • Connect an appropriate receiving antenna to either the antenna 1 or 2 connector on the Receiver.
    • Icom PCR-1000
      • Attach specialized serial Receiver cable to Icom Receiver's RS-232C port.
      • If using a non-USB based Mac, connect Receiver cable to the radio serial port specified in the Server Config document.
      • If using a USB based Mac, install a KeySpan or iPort USB serial adapter and connect the radio to the adapter port specified in the Server Config document.
      • If using a USB based Mac without built-in audio input, install an iMic USB audio adapter with the switch set to "line".
      • Connect EXT-SP audio out from the Receiver to the Mac's sound input port (or iMic) using a cable with the proper connector jacks.
      • Remove the 8 screws on the radio cover, and flip the small switch from "Speaker" to "Phones" (see page 3 of the PCR-1000 instruction manual). Replace cover.
      • Connect an appropriate receiving antenna to the ANT connector on the Receiver.
    • TenTec RX320
      • Attach specialized serial Receiver cable to TenTec Receiver's Serial Data port.
      • If using a non-USB based Mac, connect Receiver cable to the radio serial port specified in the Server Config document.
      • If using a USB based Mac, install a KeySpan or iPort USB serial adapter and connect the radio to the adapter port specified in the Server Config document.
      • If using a USB based Mac without built-in audio input, install an iMic USB audio adapter with the switch set to "line".
      • Connect Line Out audio from the Receiver to the Mac's sound input port (or iMic) using a cable with the proper connector jacks.
      • If desired, connect External Speaker audio from the Receiver to a proper external speaker.
      • Connect an appropriate receiving antenna to the Antenna connector on the Receiver.
    • AOR AR7000B
      • Attach specialized serial Receiver cable to AOR Receiver's RS-232C port.
      • If using a non-USB based Mac, connect Receiver cable to the radio serial port specified in the Server Config document.
      • If using a USB based Mac, install a KeySpan or iPort USB serial adapter and connect the radio to the adapter port specified in the Server Config document.
      • If using a USB based Mac without built-in audio input, install an iMic USB audio adapter with the switch set to "line".
      • Connect EXT SP audio from the Receiver to the Mac's sound input port (or iMic) using a cable with the proper connector jacks.
      • Connect an appropriate receiving antenna to the ANT connector on the Receiver.
    • Griffin Technology radioSHARK
      • Attach USB cable from radio to a USB port on Mac.
    • RF space SDR-IQ
      • Attach USB cable from radio to a USB port on Mac.
      • You also need to install VCP software and the 'sdriq' driver software (see below in Software Setup)
  2. Connect hardware for RMS Client communications:
    • OPTION A. Set up for Client dial-up connection (Server 9 only).
      This is assumed to be a typical communication installation. In this situation, the Server will accept dial-up connections from an RMS Client. In addition, this configuration allows the server to open a dial-out PPP connection in order to send data files on the Internet via FTP or E-mail.
      Connect the modem:
      • If using a standard Mac with external modem, connect the modem to the Mac's Printer port and phone cable to the modem.
      • If using a PowerBook with an internal modem, connect the phone cable to the internal modem.
      • If using a PowerBook with a PCMCIA modem, connect the phone cable to the PCMCIA card.
      • No other options for connecting the modem are supported.
    • OPTION B. Set up for full-time Internet connection to Client (Server 9 or Server X).
      This option assumes the Server will maintain a full time connection to the Internet (e.g. most likely via an Ethernet connection). In this situation, the Server will accept connections from Clients via standard TCP/IP connections over the Internet. This configuration also allows the server to be able to send data files on the Internet via FTP or E-mail.
      Connect to the Internet:
      • If using a standard Mac, connect to the Internet via the Mac's Ethernet port or via a LocalTalk connection (requires the use of an Internet gateway).
      • If using a PowerBook with a built-in Ethernet connection, connect to the Internet via the Ethernet port.
      • If using a PowerBook with a PCMCIA card that supports Ethernet communications, connect to the Internet via the card's Ethernet port.
      • No other options for connecting to the Internet are supported.
    • OPTION C. Set up for local network connection (e.g. LocalTalk) to Client (Server 9 only).
      This option is primarily to facilitate demonstrations and testing of the RMS II system and is not intended as an option for installing RMS II in the field.
      Connect to local AppleTalk network:
      • If using a standard Mac, connect to the local network using either a LocalTalk connector connected to the Printer port, or an Ethernet connector connected to the Ethernet port.
      • If using a PowerBook with a built-in Ethernet connection, connect to the local AppleTalk network via the Ethernet port.
      • If using a PowerBook with a PCMCIA card that supports Ethernet communications, connect to the local AppleTalk network via the card's Ethernet port.
      • No other options for connecting to the AppleTalk network are supported.
  3. Connect hardware for Internet communications:
    By setting up the RMS Client communications above, you probably already also have the desired Internet connection hardware set up to do FTP and E-mail data transfers, and NTP clock synchronizations.
    • If you chose "OPTION A: Dial-up connection" above, then you already have the hardware in place to open a dial-out PPP connection for FTP, E-mail, and NTP. [Note that this does not preclude you from having Client communications go through a dial-up modem, while having Internet connections for FTP, E-mail, and NTP go through a full-time connection. Although if this were the case then you'd probably just abandon the modem and have Client communications also go through the full-time Internet connection.]
    • If you chose "OPTION B: Full-time connection" above, then you already have the hardware in place to connect directly to the Internet for FTP, E-mail, and NTP.
    • If you chose "OPTION C: Local network connection" above, then you may set up any additional hardware needed for either a full-time Internet connection, or a dial-out PPP connection for FTP, E-mail, and NTP.

Software Components

Software Installation

For OS X installation instuctions, see Reference_E: OS X Installation Notes.

For OS 9 installation perform the following steps to install the software necessary to run the RMS Server application.

NOTE: To ensure proper operation of the RMS II system, the RMS II installation disks contain the proper versions of each of the above files except the 3rd-party applications. Make sure the versions of the files you have installed on your system correspond to the versions of the files provided on the installation disks. Remove any old versions of files before installing the new ones.

  1. Copy the file "RMS Server" to a folder on the Mac's hard disk. For example, you might name the folder "RMS II Server".
  2. Copy the following Communications Toolbox Tools to the Extensions folder within the Server Mac's System Folder:
    • Apple Modem Tool
    • TCP Tool
    • AppleTalk ADSP Tool
    • Mark/Space ZModem Tool
  3. If you intend to enable the Watchdog function, copy the two files "Macsbug" and "Debugger Prefs" to the Mac's System Folder.
  4. Install StuffIt v5.5 on the Server Mac. Note: StuffIt is not provided on the standard RMS II installation disks.
  5. If encoding with RealAudio, copy the RealAudio 14.4 Encoder and RealAudio 28.8 Encoder files into the RealAudio folder inside the Extensions folder within the Server Mac's System Folder (you may have to create the "RealAudio" folder inside the Extensions folder).
  6. If encoding with MP4, install QuickTime v6.0.3 or later.
  7. If you intend to utilize a full-time Internet connection between the RMS Client and Server machines, then install Apple's Open Transport software using its standard installer. Note: Open Transport software is not provided on the standard RMS II installation disks.
  8. If you intend to utilize a PPP Internet connection for mail and FTP events, and you intend to use MacOS 8.5 or later, then you must install the Okey Dokey Pro software Control Panel into the Control Panels folder of the Server's System Folder.
  9. If you intend to utilize the feature that allows the RMS Server to automatically send data files to an Internet server via FTP or E-mail, then perform the following installation steps (otherwise skip these steps):
    1. Install Apple's Open Transport software using its standard installer (if not already installed). Note: Open Transport software is not provided on the standard RMS II installation disks.
    2. If you intend to use a dial-out PPP connection to send data files to a remote Internet destination via FTP or E-mail, then install Apple's Open Transport/PPP software. Note: Open Transport/PPP software is not provided on the standard RMS II installation disks.
  10. If you need a sample RMS script file, copy the file "RMS Script XXXX" to the folder containing the "RMS Server" application. You will need to replace "XXXX" with the same 4-character Site Code that you configured in the RMS ServerConfig "config" file for this site.

Software Setup

Perform the following steps to configure the various software components on the RMS Server Mac.

  1. For SDR-IQ radio only:
    • Download and install Virtual com port (VCP) driver for OS X. Download from http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm. Install the latest "Mac OS X (Intel)" version. This is a universal build and actually runs on G4 Macs as well. The latest at this time is 2.2.7.
    • Download and install the latest sdriq "driver" from Sami in Helsinki here: http://kotisivu.dnainternet.net/ahti/sdriq/sdriq.zip. The latest at this time is 1.22. Place the 'sdriq' file in the same folder as the RMS Server app.
  2. Configure Open Transport software (may be optional).
    • If you installed the Open Transport software in the installation step, you must configure the software now. Please refer to the Open Transport documentation for how to properly configure the TCP/IP connection for your particular Mac.
  3. Configure Open Transport/PPP software (may be optional).
    • If you installed the Open Transport/PPP software in the installation step, you must configure the software now. Please refer to the Open Transport/PPP documentation for how to properly configure the PPP connection for your particular Mac.
  4. Copy the RMS ServerConfig document (a.k.a. "config" file) for this RMS Server site into the same folder as the RMS Server application.
  5. Create and/or edit the RMS Script file.
    • If you don't already have a RMS Script file, you can use the sample script file as a starting point for creating the sound, scan, FTP, and E-mail events the RMS Server will process. Refer to RMS II Script File Format for details on how to edit this file. Or use the RMS Scheduler application to create a schedule, and then have it generate the script file.
    • You will need to name the script file "RMS Script XXXX..." where "XXXX" is the same 4-character Site Code that you entered in the RMS ServerConfig "config" file. If "XXXX" does not match the "config" file setting, then the RMS Server will ignore the script file. The "..." can be any characters you choose.
    • The "RMS Script XXXX..." file goes into the same folder as the one containing the RMS Server application.
    • If you are manually replacing an existing script file (i.e. by dragging the new file with the mouse in the Finder), then you will need to throw away the file "RMS Script File Expanded" before the new file takes affect.
      • Quit the RMS Server application
      • Drag the new "RMS Script XXXX..." file into the folder containing RMS Server
      • Throw away "RMS Script File Expanded"
      • Re-launch the RMS Server application
      • RMS Server should create a new "RMS Script File Expanded" file corresponding to the new "RMS Script XXXX..." file
    • If you are replacing an existing script file from the RMS Client application, or by FTP or E-mail, the "RMS Script File Expanded" file is automatically purged and regenerated; i.e. you do not need to manually throw it away.
  6. Restart the Server Mac. The RMS Server is now configured for operation.

Notes