vsmGadgetServer - User Manual
Introduction
vsmGadgetServer is a separate software application that acts as a protocol converter between 3rd party hardware and vsmStudio.
This documentation describes how to install, setup and operate vsmGadgetServer.
System Overview & Topology
vsmGadgetServer acts as a protocol converter between 3rd party hardware and vsmStudio. It is designed as standalone application running on separate server hardware and with a redundancy concept independent of vsmStudio.
vsmGadgetServer can be operated redundant, following a Primary/Passive redundancy concept. If the master server is up and running, the slave is passive. It only takes over if the master fails.
The communication interface between vsmStudio and vsmGadgetServer is Ember+. Independently of being connected to a single vsmStudio server or a multi-server cluster, only the primary vsmGadgetServer is communicating to vsmStudio.
By joining Primary and Passive server, the configuration of the primary server is pushed to the passive server.
Understanding the various Versions of vsmGadgetserver
vsmGadgetserver acts as a protocol gateway between infrastructure and vsmStudio since quite some while. It has been released in various versions, which differ from each other in some aspects. The following table shows to details.
| Version | In Development | Availability | Version-specific remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 | Until 2016 | Upon Request | Non Redundant |
| 5.2 | Until 2016 | Upon Request | UI based on MS Silverlight technology |
| 5.4 | Until 2018 | No, replaced by v5.6 | UI based on MS Silverlight technology |
| 5.6 | Yes | Download | Platform-independent HTML5 based UI. |
Most protocol implementations have been ported from one version into the successing version of vsmGadgetserver, however, some exceptions apply for Versions 2.0 and 5.2:
- For drivers seldomly used in the field, it was decided to exclude them from a portation
- For drivers based on rather outdated protocol specifications, it was decided to exclude them from a portation and use a current specification instead
- For drivers used to control devices not existing anymore in the field, it was decided to exclude them from a portation.
In order to allow for broadest possible compatibility, system setups operating VSM and in need of older versions of vsmGadgetserver, Lawo can provide these versions upon request.
All interfaces implemented in vsmGadgetserver 5.4 are available in v5.6 without exception.