LIGHTWARE Taurus UCX-2×1 MTRoW Integration Starter Package User Manual
- June 22, 2024
- LIGHTWARE
Table of Contents
MTRoW integration starter package for common
MTR applications
Taurus UCX-2×1 MTRoW Integration Starter Package
Version | Comment | Date |
---|---|---|
v1.0 | 30-06-2023 | Initial version |
v2.0 | 2/11/2023 | 1st increment |
v3.0 | 24-01-2024 | 2nd increment |
v3.1 | 22-02-2024 | additional info |
v3.2 | 10/3/2024 | additional info |
v3.3 | 15-03-2024 | additional info |
v3.4 | 20-03-2024 | additional info |
v3.5 | 13-05-2024 | Companion app and UI changes |
MTRoW integration starter package for common MTR applications
Introduction
This document was created to help integrators during the installation and
configuration process of the MS Teams
Rooms System on Windows (MTRoW) Integration Solution.
The system’s main components are:
- One of the following Lightware Taurus UCX and TPX Universal Matrix Switchers:
- UCX-2×1-HC30
- UCX-2×1-HC40
- UCX-2×2-H30
- UCX-2×2-H40
- UCX-4×2-HC30
- UCX-4×2-HC30D
- UCX-4×2-HC40
- UCX-4×2-HC40D
- UCX-4×3-HC40
- UCX-4×3-TPX-TX20
- MTRoW bundle (MS Teams Rooms PC and Touchpanel)
- MS Teams Certified peripherals
The integration and room automation is done by Lightware Advanced Room Automation (LARA). It is a modular system which includes drivers for the equipment applied in the system. In our case LARA Companion Module with a Companion software app running on PC makes the integration possible.
Solution overview
The MTRoW integration needs the following components:
- LARA Room PC Companion Software running on MTRoW PC-s (Lenovo/HP/etc)
- LARA configuration uploaded to Taurus UCX, which includes MS Teams Rooms style LARA userpanel
There are three scenarios implemented:
-
Automatic source selection (without LARA userpanel)
Taurus embedded video and USB autoswitching functions, based on MTR call state. -
Automatic and manual source selection (with LARA userpanel)
• During Teams call:
source selection for connected sources to ingest to MTR call.
• During out of call:
BYOD selection for connected laptops (or PCs) to switch display, camera, mic, speaker. -
Automatic and manual source selection and Room Control (with LARA userpanel)
• During Teams call:
source selection for connected sources to ingest to MTR call.
• During out of call:
BYOD selection for connected laptops (or PCs) to switch display, camera, mic, speaker.
• Room control for:
• Projector on/off
• Projector screen on/off
• Light control on/off
Installation and Configuration
3.1. Hardware setup examples
3.1.1. Taurus UCX-2×1 with Lenovo ThinkSmart Core Full Room Kit 3.1.2. Taurus
UCX-4×2 with Logitech Tap Small Room Kit 3.1.3. Taurus UCX-4×3-TPX with Poly
Studio Small Room Kit for MTR For configurations not listed above, please
connect the MTR and display by the followings:
| UCX 2×1| TPX and all other UCX
---|---|---
MTR HDMI output to:| Display| I4
MTR USB to:| I4| I4
UCX/TPX O1 to:| MTR HDMI Input (in touchpanel or integrated)| Display
UCX/TPX O2 to:| n/a| MTR HDMI Input (in touchpanel or integrated)
3.2. Installation
3.2.1. Prerequisites
Minimum equipment requirement for the solution:
- Lightware Taurus UCX or Taurus TPX Universal Matrix Switcher
- minimum UCX firmware: v2.9
- minimum TPX firmware: v1.7
- MTRoW bundle (Lenovo/HP/etc)
- Teams app version: 4.19.57.0
- Windows version: 10.0.22621.2506
- Companion application on Windows
- v1.2.2b3 (current release)
- Companion driver on Lara
- v1.2.2
Before uploading and configuring the MTRoW integration starter package for
common MTR applications please download the latest firmware from
https://lightware.com/, then upgrade your Taurus UCX or TPX Universal Matrix
Switcher.
For further information please refer to the followings:
- https://lightware.com/pub/media/lightware/filedownloader/file/User-Manual/Taurus_UCX_series_Users_Manual.pdf
- https://lightware.com/pub/media/lightware/filedownloader/file/User-Manual/LARA_Users_Manual.pdf
- https://lightware.com/lara/
Please note that the current solution can only be used on Lara 1.2 based
systems if the modules have not been updated. Therefore please do NOT update
the modules!
The next version of MTRoW integration solution will be based on Lara 1.2.
3.2.2. Install Companion software
As the first step it is necessary to install LARA Room PC Companion software
onto the Teams Rooms PC. It must be done as the local admin user of the PC via
remote desktop or local sign-in.
-
For local sign-in please attach a keyboard to MTR PC and hit the Windows key five times, then specify the admin credentials.
- username: admin
- password: sfb (by default)
-
Install the Companion software in admin mode.
-
On the Connection tab choose Enable remote control for LARA over network option.
-
On the Security tab please specify the password for LARA configuration to get access to the Companion software.
-
On the Teams tab it is necessary to tick the first checkbox to enable to receive call status information from MTR system.
The LARA Companion module will automatically display or hide the Second page flip based on the scenario you choose, therefore you do not have to specify it here, it is optional. The second page flip URL will be defined later (in case of Scenario 2 or 3). -
On the Log tab you can open the Companion App log folder which could be useful for troubleshooting.
3.3. Configuration
3.3.1. Activate LARA
Start a new browser window and type the Taurus UCX or TPX IP address (e.g.
192.168.1.88).
- Go to Settings > Services page and specify a new password and save it
- Enable TCP 443 with Authentication
- Finally Enable LARA
3.3.2. Uploading LARA configuration
In the browser go to LARA interface: https://
Choose UPLOAD CONFIGURATION option and browse the
MTRoW_LARA_configuration_v4.0.2_for_Lara1.2.zip file. 3.3.3. Status bar
information
After uploading and starting the configuration the status board will display
the actual state of the configuration:
To avoid any orange X markings on the status boards, which means there’s an
error in the instance, the correct parameters should be set in each instance,
before you start the LARA service.
The parameter setting can be done with opening each instance’s parameter
section with this icon:
3.3.4. Setting parameters of Companion driver
The Companion driver settings can be defined by UCX_MTR instance. Set the
connection method to network, and specify the MTR PC’s IP and MAC addresses,
then the password you defined previously in the Companion software. 3.3.5.
Setting parameters of Userpanel
The LARA userpanel settings can be defined by MTR instance. On MTR’s parameter
fields specify the Meeting Room details by your needs. The proper scenario
settings will be detailed in the next section. This release uses three GPO
port as an example for controlling three devices (like projector, screen,
light). To support any language all text-field can be changed. If the
configuration runs, and the IP address settings are properly done all the
status signs should be green on the left side of each instance’s status
section:
3.3.6. Setup scenario
3.3.6.1. Scenario 1 – Automatic source selection
Open MTR Instance (USER PANEL) Parameters and select ‘Scenario 1 – Automatic
source selection’ option. Either ‘Last detect’ or ‘First detect’ is chosen,
the operation is as follows depending on the MTR system’s state:
Teams call status | Connected laptop or PC | Operation mode |
---|---|---|
Idle | no | MS Teams |
Idle | yes | Bring Your Own Device |
InCall | no | MS Teams |
InCall | yes | MS Teams |
3.3.6.2. Scenario 2 – Automatic and manual source selection
-
Companion software settings
In addition to the previous mode, it is also possible to select the sources or clients manually from a LARA userpanel.
To display the userpanel on the MTR touch the second page flip option has to be enabled and specified the URL.
The exact URL can be found on the LARA Status Board by clicking the white QR code icon of userpanel instance. After you finished to set the Companion app please log off or restart the MTR. -
LARA settings
Open MTR Instance (USER PANEL) Parameters and select ‘Scenario 2 – Automatic and manual source selection’ option. Source selection could be Last detect, First detect or Manual.
User interface
- Teams mode – no source connected – last input detect (input logos are grey and inactive).
- Teams mode – a source connected and automatically selected on the first USB-C port (Laptop 1 logo bright, and the border signs that it is selected).
- Teams mode – another source connected and automatically selected on the first USB-C port according to the last detect operation the lastly connected device is selected.
- Teams mode – content sharing is stopped by tapping the active source icon.
- BYOD mode – a laptop is connected and automatically selected on the USB-C port.
Priority is fixed (from the highest to the lowest priority):
- Input 1 (USB-C)
- Input 2 (USB-C)
- Input 3 (HDMI and USB-B)
3.3.6.3. Scenario 3 – Automatic and manual source selection with Room Control
Companion software settings
In addition to the previous modes, it is also possible to select the sources
or clients manually from a LARA userpanel, as well as control your room.
To display the LARA userpanel on the MTR touch the second page flip option has
to be enabled and specified the URL.The exact URL can be found on the LARA
Status Board by clicking the white QR code icon of userpanel instance. The
exact URL can be found on the LARA Status Board by clicking the white QR code
icon of userpanel instance. After you finished to set the Companion app please
log off or restart the MTR.
LARA settings
Open MTR Instance (USER PANEL) Parameters and select ‘Scenario 3 – Automatic
and manual source selection’ option. Source selection could be Last detect,
First detect and Manual. User interface
- Teams mode – no source connected.
- Teams mode – a source connected and automatically selected on the first USB-C port.
- Teams mode – another source connected and automatically selected on the second USB-C port.
- Teams mode – content sharing is stopped by tapping the active source icon.
- BYOD mode – a laptop connected and automatically selected on the HDMI port.
3.3.7. Start LARA
After setting all of the necessary parameters, please start the LARA by
clicking the upper left Play icon:
Troubleshooting
4.1. The FoR and the Touch displays are swapped
For local sign-in please attach a keyboard to MTR PC and hit the Windows key
five times, then specify the admin credentials.
On the left bottom corner choose the Administrator instead of the current
Skype user.
- username: admin
- password: sfb (by default)
How to solve the issue:
- Open the Settings > Display settings page
- Make sure the touch display is selected and check the resolution. For example the Poly GC8 touchpanel should be “1280×800”.
- Scroll down the page and enable “Make this my main display”, because the touchpanel should be the main display.
- Restart the MTR
4.2. Reporting an issue
We have compiled a list of the most relevant information to allows to find the
root cause of the problem. When reporting an issue, please let us know the
information below:
-
Schematic
-
Hardware version of Taurus
Settings > Status > Hardware version -
Firmware version of Taurus
Settings > Status > Package version -
Serial number of Taurus
Settings > Status > Serial number -
Support package
Settings > System > Support package -
Date and time (timestamp) of the issue experienced
-
Windows OS version of MTR
Start menu > System > About > Version -
MTR application version
Touchpanel menu > More > Settings > App version
MTRoW integration starter package for common MTR applications
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