Control LinuxMCE using a Windows device as an Orbiter

Setup Instructions

There are two things that need to be accomplished when setting up an Orbiter using a Windows device:

• Install the Orbiter application on a Windows device
• Set up the Orbiter on the core.

If all goes well, the Orbiter is set up on the Core automatically the first time the Orbiter application is launched on the Windows device.

To set up an orbiter on a Windows device, follow these steps:

1. Go to the LinuxMCE Admin Website. Click on Download Orbiter, Utilities and other software to get the application installer that will run on your Windows device.
2. Install the Orbiter application on the Windows device.
3. Launch the Orbiter application. Under Windows XP it is installed as Pluto Orbiter in the Start Menu.
4. It should prompt you to set up a new Orbiter. Select Yes - This is a new Orbiter. Follow the on-screen prompts. Select the Basic skin when prompted. The Core will then generate the Orbiter, which can take a while. Finally, click Yes - Reset it now when prompted. The application will exit.
5. Launch the Orbiter application again. You should now see LinuxMCE Orbiter controls.

Note: If the Windows device will be connecting to the core via the "External" home LAN network, you will need to configure the firewall to allow Orbiter access (or disable the firewall altogether) in order for the Orbiter application to connect.

Manual Orbiter Setup on the Core

Note: You normally shouldn't have to manually set up an Orbiter running on a Windows Device if you follow the simple instructions above. However, if they don't work for you, try following these instructions:

• Go to the LinuxMCE Admin Website-->Wizard-->Devices-->Orbiters-->'Add Orbiter'. Note that two devices can never share the same Device ID. So if you have two web pads you want to use as Orbiters, create 2 separate Orbiters, or devices, and give each one a unique name. Specify the room, resolution, and language, choose a skin, and select a main menu or user interface. Click the 'help' button on that page for information about other Orbiters.

• DCERouter caches a list of all the devices in your home for better performance. Go to LinuxMCE Admin Website-->Wizard-->Restart-->Quick Reload Router. All the devices will close and wait for the router to restart, which takes about 15 seconds. If you're adding lots of devices, you can add them all at once, then do a Quick Reload Router when you're all done.

• The user interface for each Orbiter needs to be pre-built according to the language, skin, and resolution that you selected. If you reboot the Core it will automatically rebuild all the Orbiter user interfaces. However, you probably want to start using your Orbiter right away, so go back to Wizard-->Devices-->Orbiter-->"Quick Regen". You will see a message in red indicating the Orbiter's user interface is being generated. This process can take from 5 to 20 minutes depending on the speed of your Core, the resolution, and the user interface.

• After the user interface has generated, make note of the device number for this new Orbiter (as shown in LinuxMCE Admin). Then open a web browser on whatever device you want to run the Orbiter software, and bring up the LinuxMCE Admin web page. There is a link "Download Orbiter Win Installer" on both the first LinuxMCE Admin login page, as well as on the Wizard-->Devices-->Orbiters page. Click the link and run the Orbiter Installer -- either the Windows XP/2000 version or the CE Version. Once installed, run the LinuxMCE Orbiter. Type in the device number, and the IP address of your Core. Also check 'full screen' if you want the Orbiter to run full-screen. Click 'Apply'. The Orbiter will start. These settings are remembered, so you do not need to type them in again.

Programmer's guide

• Orbiter Programmer's Guide