Hi folks, a question that comes up often is:
How many Kiosk Viewing Stations (KVSs) can Photo Parata support?
As you know Photo Parata is a program that is all about shares images (files) between a server and multiple clients. Initially I thought of solving the problem with Windows file sharing, than the using a web server revealed itself to be a far better solution.
The core designed of any web server is to provide content to many clients as possible. Theoretically a web server can service tens of thousands of clients at one time. Web servers are also designed to provide content in a read only manner. This is exactly what the doctor called for with event photography software, we want to distribute images quickly, but in a fashion that does not allow the user to alter the images.
Compare this to Window file sharing. File sharing is designed for multiple users to share the same file, all the users normally need read and write access to the files along with the ability to create folders, delete, rename, etc. Basically a lot more functionality that what is needed to display some images on KVS. That extra functionality does come with a price: There is a higher security risk, if it isn't setup correctly someone could get to the network and steal the files (images) and it take more computing power.
With this, I knew that using a web server to distribute the images, I was making a bit more work for myself, but I was starting with a core delivery system that was very fast, faster then the alternative. I knew that if there was going to be a real performance issue, it was not going to be hardware related, operating system related, or related to the core delivery system (the web server), it would be my code. If it is in my code, I can fix it!
This actually happened, in an earlier version I had reports that my system was running too slow under a load of 16 viewing stations. It took me a bit of digging but I finally figured it out and sure it enough, it was my code, and because it was, it is fixed now!
One of the customers that reported the problem now happily runs Photo Parata with 32 KVS, here is a thread he replied to where he posted an image of Photo Parata running the 32 viewing stations.
The same customer, and another talked again just the other day about Photo Parata's speed under load on Sports Shooter.
So how many viewing stations can Photo Parata handle? I know it runs 32 just fine on a Pentium IV, but I don't know the limit. Because it uses a web server, not file sharing, I am guessing it can easily handle 200+ viewing stations on a modern server.
Sam
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Setting up a Photo Parata network
A customer called me today. While we talked, he mentioned that he had to turn off his WiFi connection on his laptop to talk to the router on the wired network port he is going to use with his Photo Parata network. I realized he was running into a simple problem, the IP addresses range of the WiFi router and wired router were one in the same.
All the Linksys, Netgear, and D-Link routers I have seen come configured with the router address being 192.168.0.1. The problem is that the computer sees two different networks, both having the same range of addresses, it doesn't know which one to talk to for a given request. The solution is to change one of them. I would recommend changing the router that will be used with Photo Parata.
One must be careful in choosing an IP address to use, for most IP addresses are real address on the real Internet. I know that in the case of the Photo Parata network, must of you are not going to connect the Internet. It is just good policy to follow the standards and pick one of the IP address that is reserved for private networks.
It turns out that 192.168.0.1 is one of those special private network address, hence why all the Linksys , Netgears, and D-Links of the world pick that one. There are a few more of these special IP address ranges that have been reserved for private use. Personally I recommend the class B address of 172.16.0.1. On all the routers I have seen, you simply need to change the router address and everything else will fall into place.
For details on how to make this change, please see the owners manual of your router.
All the Linksys, Netgear, and D-Link routers I have seen come configured with the router address being 192.168.0.1. The problem is that the computer sees two different networks, both having the same range of addresses, it doesn't know which one to talk to for a given request. The solution is to change one of them. I would recommend changing the router that will be used with Photo Parata.
One must be careful in choosing an IP address to use, for most IP addresses are real address on the real Internet. I know that in the case of the Photo Parata network, must of you are not going to connect the Internet. It is just good policy to follow the standards and pick one of the IP address that is reserved for private networks.
It turns out that 192.168.0.1 is one of those special private network address, hence why all the Linksys , Netgears, and D-Links of the world pick that one. There are a few more of these special IP address ranges that have been reserved for private use. Personally I recommend the class B address of 172.16.0.1. On all the routers I have seen, you simply need to change the router address and everything else will fall into place.
For details on how to make this change, please see the owners manual of your router.
  | EtherFast Cable/DSL Router with 8-Port Switch |
  | Linksys EtherFast Cable/DSL Router with 4-Port 10/100 Switch (BEFSR41) |
Friday, March 28, 2008
How often do we release code?
There are many different approaches to how to develop software. I have come to find that frequent releases, one to four weeks rather then months, works the best for both me, the developer and you the customer.
Here are some of the beneifits:
* When customers report a bug, there is a very good chance that it will be addressed in the next week to month!
With development always taking small steps, it is always easy to fix minor bugs. With the short release cycle, the minor fixes get to you fast!
* Customers can have a lot more input on the direction of the software.
Because each release is only a small step, the customer can quickly see the direction I am taking the software and help direct the software in the correct direction!
* Chances of major bugs are minimized.
With the changes always being in small steps, not sweeping changes, the chances of major bugs is minimized. And when bugs are found, because only small changes to the program have been made, it is possible to identify and fix the bugs quickly!
So please continue to try out Photo Parata and get back to me with what you like and dislike and I will do everything in my power to make Photo Parata the best Event Photography program out there!
Sam
Here are some of the beneifits:
* When customers report a bug, there is a very good chance that it will be addressed in the next week to month!
With development always taking small steps, it is always easy to fix minor bugs. With the short release cycle, the minor fixes get to you fast!
* Customers can have a lot more input on the direction of the software.
Because each release is only a small step, the customer can quickly see the direction I am taking the software and help direct the software in the correct direction!
* Chances of major bugs are minimized.
With the changes always being in small steps, not sweeping changes, the chances of major bugs is minimized. And when bugs are found, because only small changes to the program have been made, it is possible to identify and fix the bugs quickly!
So please continue to try out Photo Parata and get back to me with what you like and dislike and I will do everything in my power to make Photo Parata the best Event Photography program out there!
Sam
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