Mid-Range PC System Setup Guide
Mid-Range Video Wall Appliance
Setup Guide
V1.4, April 2018
Mid-Range PC System Setup Guide
The Userful System Setup Manual
Hello, and thank you for purchasing your Userful Video Wall system. This document will cover everything
needed to successfully install your Userful server and Zero Client Receivers.
This document is not a comprehensive user manual for Userful. For complete and up-to-date documentation,
please refer to our Support Wiki at support.userful.com.
Our YouTube channel also contains many easy, informative videos on use of the Userful Control Center. Just
search for “Userful”.
Preface
The Userful Network Video Wall is an A/V product that is unique in the industry in its cost-effectiveness,
flexibility, and infrastructure requirements.
Unlike most A/V products, Userful makes use of a local network much like the one that links the computers in
your office together to communicate with its end points. The devices we refer to as “Zero Client Receivers”
function as receivers for the displays they are connected to, and work to move video data over that network
from your sources, processed by the Userful server, to your displays.
The Userful system relies very heavily on that network being reliable and high-capacity, as it will use it to its
fullest extent. This guide will detail requirements and best practices for that network.
If you’re knowledgeable about at least the basics of networking, then let’s begin. If you need some assistance
with the fundamentals, contact Userful (below) and we can help.
Mid-Range PC System Setup Guide
Part 1: Userful and your Network
The reliability of your Userful system depends heavily on being part of a reliable, stable network and following
best practices. Please take the time to read the following information carefully.
Userful uses network Zero Client Receivers to deliver content to your displays. These Zero Client Receivers
are USB and video endpoints that link to the host over TCP/IP through your local network using a chip in the
Zero Client Receiver and software in the Userful host. The Zero Client Receiver communicates only with its
assigned Userful host. It has no capability to communicate with the Web or run any commands of its own.
Userful-certified network Zero Client Receivers are not conventional thin clients. They have no CPU, RAM,
local storage, software, or operating system. They have no moving parts and consume under 2 watts of power.
They have a very basic firmware and the ability to program a few variables via Userful’s Control Center:
• IP address
• Subnet mask
• Name
• Location
Important: Zero Client Receivers are addressed exclusively by IP address. By default, they are configured to work with
DHCP. This is okay for initial setup or mobile systems in place for 24-36 hours.
Assigning your Zero Client Receivers to a contiguous block of static IP addresses is strongly recommended. If a Zero
Client Receiver IP changes, it cause a disruption in its display content for up to 30 seconds and will contribute to long-term
instability.
Planning your Network
Zero Client Receivers by nature consume a very high amount of network bandwidth. When used as part of a
video wall, one Zero Client Receiver can consume up to 90 Megabits per second (Mbps) of bandwidth.
They are also extremely sensitive to poor network latency conditions. Typical acceptable latency limits is a
half-millisecond or better - .500ms or lower. This can be easily achieved with standard un-managed rack-
mountable network switch from most major vendors (HP, Cisco, Netgear, etc).
For these reasons, it is absolutely necessary that a Userful network Zero Client Receiver deployment of up to
25 displays be done with network equipment capable of Gigabit (1000 Mbps) speeds. It should not pass
through any managed interfaces such as routers or firewalls.
For deployments of 26 or more displays, a 10Gbps link between the host and the switch must be used. Userful
can provide compatible 10Gbps network adapters, and any commercial switch with 10Gbps uplink ports should
work. A Category-6 or -6a certified cable is also required. Please contact Userful for certified hardware
recommendations.
Userful does support and recommends using multiple network adapters in a single host. They can be
configured through the Userful Control Center. Individual interfaces can also be configured to run DHCP
servers, enabling the ability to create an isolated network for the Zero Client Receivers.
Important: It is critical for long-term stability that the Userful host and its network Zero Client Receivers be as isolated
from other network traffic and devices as possible. Public networks and Wi-Fi are particularly problematic and will cause
issues. Corporate networks should likewise be avoided to ensure network traffic requirements do not exceed tolerances.
Mid-Range PC System Setup Guide
Network isolation can be achieved in a number of ways:
1: The diagram below describes the simplest layout, so long as no other devices share the switch.
Recommended for small systems of up to 10-12 displays and minimal streaming content.
2: The Userful PC forming the gateway to its own managed network is ideal as no traffic interference is
possible. Any other devices connected to the switch used by Userful would have no Internet connectivity.
Recommended for larger systems with 12+ displays and/or heavy streaming content.
3: When necessary, managed switches can be configured to provide separate VLANs for ports served by
Userful. The respective device’s documentation should be consulted to ensure adequate bandwidth can be
allocated for the task. Userful cannot assist in the configuration of managed network switches or devices.
Mid-Range PC System Setup Guide
Finally, in order to receive the best possible support from Userful, and to ensure full connectivity and
functionality for your Userful system, it is strongly recommended that one interface on the Userful system have
Internet connectivity at all times. An Internet connection ensures:
• Userful Support representatives will be able to quickly and easily access your system to diagnose and
resolve issues and deliver training.
• Userful Cloud services are available, increasing the capability and accessibility of your system
• Software updates can be delivered, bringing bug fixes, new features and performance enhancements.
Systems without an available Internet connection may be restricted to support via email only.
Best Practices:
1: For better manageability, set aside and assign Zero Client Receivers to a contiguous block of static IP
addresses.
2: Display IDs can be fluid. Use the Control Center to number the clients in a manner that makes sense to you.
Give names / locations to your Zero Client Receivers, so you can document and manage which client is where.
3: For systems that require heavy use of Internet content, a dedicated network adapter is recommended to
handle loads from network streaming services, CMS systems, or online content rather than sharing a single
adapter with bandwidth-intensive Zero Client Receivers.
Requirements Summary
• Create an isolated network for the Zero Client Receivers to use to connect to the Userful host.
• All links between the Userful Zero Client Receivers and Userful host must be 1Gbps in speed or better,
and maintain very low latency.
• Assign static IPs to the Userful host and Zero Client Receivers.
• The Userful host can be used to easily create its own network.
• For setups of 25 displays or more, a 10Gbps uplink from Userful host to the switch is required.
