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Archimedia FAQs
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Installation
Configuration
System Problems
Recording

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Installation

How do I upgrade to a later version of Archimedia?

Here are the steps to upgrading to a later version of Archimedia. Similar steps are followed if you want to setup Archimedia on a different hard disk partition:

  1. Begin by flushing and purging all your XFS(s). Your cache should report 0 for Dirty and Used file sizes.
  2. Write down all the relevant information under the Software Configuration window in Windows, this can be accessed by going into Start -> Programs -> K-PAR Archimedia -> Setup Wizard -> Software Configuration.
  3. In UNIX, the password is stored in /etc/system file.

  4. Stop the xfsd service and back up your xfs folder under C:\Program Files\k-par in Windows.
  5. In UNIX, stop the /etc/rc3.d/S93xfs daemon and back up the xfs folder under /var/kpar.

  6. Uninstall the old version of Archimedia via Control Panel -> Add/Remove Programs in Windows. If you are uninstalling Archimedia V4.1.1 or later, then during the uninstall, you will be prompted as to whether you would like to retain the XFS(s) and registry settings. Say "yes" to both.
  7. In UNIX, you can run a pkgrm for KPARarch.

  8. Setup the new version of Archimedia. If you were upgrading from V4.1.1 or later, then on rebooting, your XFS(s) and Software Configuration entries should show up automatically, else copy the backed up folders and configure the software accordingly. If upgrading to V4.3.0 or above, then a new license key is required.
  9. Verify that all 3 Archimedia services are running in Windows.
  10. In UNIX, verify that the /etc/rc2.d/S91jbc and /etc/rc3.d/S93xfs daemons are running.

  11. Finally, re-share and re-map or re-mount your XFS(s) if previously mapped or mounted.

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I have a drive that is not listed under the Supported Hardware on your webpage. Is there anyway to support it?

It is best to call up the Technical Support number to verify this. We may have upgraded support to it but not released it, or we can guide you through registry modifications and configuration changes to support it.

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To what extent are MAC clients supported?

You can write and access media that is created in MAC Operating Systems, however we do not support MACs as client machines. Because MACs use a different type of file system than PCs, you need a third party software when using a UNIX/PC file server with an Apple client. An example of a program that is UNIX-based is Helios. As well, a program like DAVE Sharing or Citrix can be used to connect to the Archimedia shares on Windows.

OS X has SMB support, hence you should not need to do anything once clients are setup with this version.

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Configuration

How can I backup my filesystem (XFS(s)) and cache?

It is a good idea to backup your XFS(s) and cache(s). In case of a system failure, these can be used to recover the file system and it does not have to be re-built from scratch then. You can also run a batch or shell script with these commands. Here are the steps:

  1. Stop the Archimedia File System and Sharing services.
  2. This ensures that no changes can be made to the XFS during the backup.

  3. Copy the xfs directory (under Program Files\k-par in Windows, /var/kpar/xfs in UNIX) to the backup location.
  4. Copy the cache directory to the backup location as well.
  5. Re-start the Archimedia services.

To obtain a script that does the above, get in touch with K-PAR Technical Support.

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Can I delete/modify files from a Write-Once disc?

It is not possible to delete/modify files from a Write-Once file system, however you can delete the pointer or reference for that file from the file system database, thereby not making it visible to the user. This is only possible with CDWO or WFS file systems. Both the write protect and file removal flags need to be re-set. These can only be set from the command line, so make sure that you are at the utilities location (Program Files/kpar/bin in Windows, or /opt/KPAR/bin in UNIX):

xfs_set -s <subsystem #> "Write Protect" false

xfs_set <name of your XFS> "Allow removal of files on write-once disks" true

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Why am I unable to create a directory in my RW file system even though I see space available in my cache?

To be able to create directories from your mapped XFS or via the UNC path in Windows Explorer (or under your mount folder in UNIX), you are required to have created blank subsystems or have subsystems with space in your file system (XFS). These can be added from the GUI or via command line using the xfs_add command. Archimedia V4.2.0 and above have the option to disable this feature and hence allow migrating of files into the XFS, even when ‘no blank subsystems’ or ‘subsystems with space’ are not available.

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Can I load the files directly into the cache when adding subsystems for pre-recorded Read-Only media such as CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs?

Certain changes have to be made to the attributes of the cache in the GUI as stated:

  1. In Windows, under cache properties, File tab, select *.* for all files and add this so that all the files will get locked in the cache when adding a subsystem. In UNIX, this can be configured under Cache -> Non-Purgeable files.
  2. In the purge tab in Windows, check the box that says "Load locked file in cache when a subsystem is added". In UNIX, this is under the File System Attributes page, called File system Options.
  3. Stop and re-start the xfs services for the changes to take effect.

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Can I get an audited log for all the files that I flush to CD/DVD media?

You have to set the flag to allow this auditing from the command line. Ensure that you are at the program utilities path (\Program Files\k-par\bin in Windows and /opt/KPAR/bin in UNIX).

xfs_set <xfs-name> "Files written to CD/DVD are logged to audit log" True

To change the location of the audit log:

xfs_set <xfs-name> "transaction log directory" <full path to file>

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System Problems

Why is my jukebox not responding to the front panel when I need to open the front door of the jukebox?

K-PAR Archimedia locks the front panel of the jukebox when the software has claimed it and is using it. This prevents the jukebox from being tampered with or modified in anyway from outside of the software’s control. This feature was introduced in versions of Archimedia later than v4.1.2.

To use the jukebox manually or to open the front door, the Archimedia services need to be stopped first.

On UNIX:

#/etc/rc3.d/S93xfs stop

#/etc/rc2.d/S91jbc stop

Then make the changes that you need from the front panel of the jukebox. To restart the services:

#/etc/rc2.d/S91jbc start

#/etc/rc3.d/S93xfs start

On Windows:

Start -> Programs -> K-PAR Archimedia -> Service Manager -> stop the jbcd service and this will automatically stop all services.

To restart the services, start the ksmbd service and it will start the parent services.

If the above feature is not required, then it can be disabled via the registry in Windows or in the /etc/rc2.d/S91jbc file in UNIX by adding the –d switch.

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My jbcd service does not seem to be running, and my Windows system event log shows a "bad driver password" with the source as KPAR.

This error implies that the password for the software is either incorrect or expired. To verify this situation, please e-mail or call K-PAR Technical Support with the following information:

  • The Operating System that you are running the software on
  • The software version number.
  • Date of purchase of software with the software license number, or the date that the evaluation copy was setup.
  • Hostid and password. You can get these by looking under K-Par's Software Configuration in Windows. For UNIX platforms, run the hosted utility to generate the Hostid and the password should be located in /etc/system file.

If you are running Archimedia 4.0.0, please make sure that it is set up with the most updated patch.

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Can I disable a drive in my jukebox that is faulty?

This is possible by nulling the drive reference in the registry in Windows, under:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE -> SOFWARE -> K-PAR -> Jbcd -> reference # -> Modify drives by replacing the drive that you want disabled with "null".

In UNIX, this is done by nulling the reference in the configuration file in Solaris under:

/etc/rc2.d/S91jbc
(e.g. replace "/devices/pci@1f,4000/scsi@2,1/KPAR_cdr@1,0:c,raw \" with "null \").

The services should be stopped when these changes are made. The system will have to be re-booted for these new hardware configurations to take effect.

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Recording

Can I carry out multi-session recording (recording in
increments rather than burning a complete image) on CD media
?

You can do this, but you have to make sure that the following settings for the XFS and cache properties are set. These can also be set from the command line using the xfs_set command:

  • Under the XFS properties window and CD Recording tab, check the box reading "XA Mode 2" to set it to True.
  • In the same window, make sure that "Finalize CD" is unchecked, therefore set to False.
  • Select the "Allocation" tab, and "Lowest numbered subsystem with space".
  • Open up the Cache Properties window, and the "Flush Control" tab, uncheck "Flush each disk only once" to set it to False.
  • Finally, stop and re-start all services in Archimedia for these changes to take effect.

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How can I make backups of CD/DVD media using K-PAR's Archimedia or software?

Archimedia can record a duplicate of a CD or DVD at burn time or after the source media is recorded. To do this during the recording of the source media, you can select the duplicate device when creating a subsystem for the source media.

After a media has been recorded, then Archimedia can use the xfs_copydisc command to make duplicates of the media. This is only available for CD/DVD media in the later releases of Archimedia starting V4.2.0. The same can also be run from the jukebox level as jbc_copydisc. These copy operations can be done equivalently via the GUI by right-clicking on the subsystem that is to act as the source and selecting the copy command or by right-clicking on the slot that has the source media and selecting copy again. This is done at the xfs and jbc layers respectively.

For older versions that did not have these utilities, you need to copy the tracks from the original CD/DVD media (using the cdtrack command) and then transfer the image file generated to the new CD/DVD using cdcopy.

All these commands need to be executed from \Program Files\k-par\bin in Windows and /opt/KPAR/bin in UNIX.

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Why does a Manual Flush not write out ALL the files?

It is very important to check the flush settings at this point. Certain factors play a critical role when flushing and if not set correctly will not do a flush as you may desire. Check the following configurations:

  • Manual flush should be checked in your CachePproperties and Flush Schedule tab.
  • "Flush each disk only once" should only be set for CD/DVD media.
  • Check the "file age" and "file latency" under the Flush Control tab. Set these to 0 seconds if you want to flush the files in the cache as soon as they are copied in.
  • Check the "minimum flush size" in the same window. Again, this should be set to 0 KB if you want the entire cache flushed out, unless using CD/DVD media.

All the above changes will only take place after the services in Archimedia are re-started.

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Can I write/record to media (flushing) directly without caching the files?

This is possible if you use the -C switch with the kcp command. This way, files are copied directly onto the media without first going into the cache. You cannot use this for CD or DVD media as you cannot write directly to these media since they require an image to be generated first. Hence, this is only viable for Optical, DVD-RAM, UDO and PDD media.

The following should be run at command line, at the utilities path (\Program Files\k-par\bin in Windows and /opt/KPAR/bin in UNIX) when copying files into the XFS:

kcp -Cr <source files> <xfs_name>

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Can I restrict users from accessing the File System (XFS) when a flush (writing) is taking place?

This feature works well in Archimedia V4.2.0 and above. This is possible by locking the XFS under the Cache Properties and Flush Control tab. Check the box that says "Lock file system during flush", and re-start the Archimedia services for the change to take effect.

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