Overview
New, out-of-the-box BrightSign players can be connected to a Carousel 7 server without writing a configuration file to their SD cards first. When a player is powered on and has network connectivity it will check for a specific DNS canonical name record (CNAME) or DHCP option 43 (vendor-specific information). Both options will require network knowledge and configuration access but can potentially streamline a large deployment or system expansion.
Be aware that the BrightSign Automatic Setup with Carousel 7 guide is preferable for small and medium-sized deployments.
Important Note - Carousel 7 for Brightsign does not currently support wireless networks that require security certificates or WPA-Enterprise and 802.1x (PEAP/EAP-TLS protocols)
Initial Requirements
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Your Carousel Server must be setup and licensed
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You must have network connectivity between the server and the anticipated player location
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An SD card must be inserted into the BrightSign player (blank and formatted FAT32/exFAT)
Log into your Carousel web interface and navigate to Settings (Gear Icon) → Configure → Players → Player Setup
Under the Setup Script for BrightSign Players ensure that a server location is set, if not click “New”and set one: The name can be anything such as simply "Default Config" but the URL setting should be the Carousel server's IP address, hostname.
Once the server location is set, there are two methods for zero-touch Brightsign deployment, choose one of the following:
BrightSign Known URL
This is the CNAME method of zero-touch deployment and it is the more common method of the two.
When a BrightSign player is powered on without a configuration file on it’s SD card, it will search the network for a configuration file using brightsign-b-deploy. Setting a CNAME record for brightsign-b-deploy as an alias for the IP/hostname of the Carousel server will redirect the player to that location. The Carousel server will then provide the setup script once the connection is made.
The Carousel UI will display the DNS settings you’ll need. The value for the server location is based on the default configuration created in the Initial Requirements section.
With the Carousel server set up and licensed, and the DNS CNAME record set, simply follow this process for the zero-touch deployment:
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Take the BrightSign player out of the box and insert its SD card.
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Connect the BrightSign player to a display, then connect the ethernet cable and power on the unit.
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The display will show instructions for setup with a two-minute timer. Let this timer elapse and the unit will start the auto provisioning process.
In about 3 to 8 minutes your player will connect to the Carousel server and display your initial channel. There are a few reboots involved during this setup and some spans of seemingly no signal or black screens. If the player does not setup within 20 minutes, there may be an issue with the configuration, the server or the network. Double check all settings and try again. Reach out to Carousel Support for assistance if needed.
BrightSign Option 43
When a BrightSign player is powered on without a configuration it will use DHCP for general network information and connectivity. DNS Option43 provides additional “vendor-specific information “ during this step. Setting Option 43 will provide a URL to the configuration file on your Carousel server to the player.
The Carousel UI will display the DHCP values you’ll need. The value for the server location is based on the default configuration created in the Initial Requirements section.
Not all DHCP solutions are identical. Some will allow the plain text URL, while others will require hexadecimal values in specific notations. The Carousel UI creates these different possible values, use the correct one for your specific solution.
With the Carousel server setup and licensed, and the DHCP Option 43 value set, simply follow this process for the zero-touch deployment:
-
Take the BrightSign player out of the box and insert its SD card.
-
Connect the BrightSign player to a display, then connect the ethernet cable and power on the unit.
-
The display will show instructions for setup with a two-minute timer. Let this timer elapse and the unit will start the auto provisioning process.
In about 3 to 8 minutes your player will connect to the Carousel server and display your initial channel. There are a few reboots involved during this setup and some spans of seemingly no signal or black screens. If the player does not setup within 20 minutes, there may be an issue with the configuration, the server or the network. Double check all settings and try again. Reach out to Carousel Support for assistance if needed.