Yamaha MCX-2000 setup guide Configuring Your MusicCAST Network, Network Basics

Configuring Your MusicCAST Network

After connecting necessary devices and cables to the MCX-2000 music server and clients (optional MCX-A10 or MCX-C15, or both), you can now configure a MusicCAST network customized for your specific needs. The MusicCAST network uses standard wired and wireless PC networking technologies, and the MCX-2000 allows both wired and wireless connections at the same time. The unit can also connect to the Internet and an existing computer network, enabling exceptionally flexible configuration of your MusicCAST network. In this section, we’ll explain some network basics and give some configuration examples for different purposes. Examine these and see which MusicCAST network is best for you.

nThe MCX-2000 incorporates the Easy Setup feature (page 27) that helps you configure the best MusicCAST network for your environment. Since configuring a MusicCAST network requires some knowledge about computer networking, we recommend using Easy Setup for optimum results. When you configure a MusicCAST network for the first time, you need to manually operate the MCX-2000 and clients. For this reason, regardless of where each client is finally to be placed, bring the MCX-2000 and all of its clients together in one place to make these processes easier.

Network Basics

You can easily configure a MusicCAST network using the built-in networking features of the MCX-2000 and clients. The more you learn here about basic networking mechanism and terms, the more you will get out of your MusicCAST systems. Take the time to read this section carefully before configuring your MusicCAST network.

The MCX-2000 finds each client (or each client finds the music server) using a unique address assigned to the companion. This address is called IP address and is similar to the physical address of your house. We’ll take this analogy a little bit farther and compare the server-client network relationship to the communication between you and your neighbor friend living on the same street.

An IP address is comprised of a network address and a host address, which are comparable to your street address and home address. The MCX-2000 can only communicate with clients that live on the same street (or have the same network address). Naturally, they are separate entities, and so each has its own unique host address in the same network.

If the MCX-2000 and its clients have a slightly different network address (or, In other words, have a different street, town, city or country name), they are no longer neighbors living on the same street.

Georgetown, Washington DC

George Town, Cayman Islands

George Town, Malaysia

All different places!

George Town, Tasmania

Fortunately, the MCX-2000 and its clients are designed to automatically have the same network address (factory settings). So, the first step of configuring a MusicCAST network is easily cleared. In other words, they are designed to live on the same street. The second step is to determine and assign a unique host address to each of them.

MCX-2000 Owner’s Manual

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