Bins As A Server

The Bins are provided by a program called eyeonServer. When Fusion is started, a quick check is made to see if eyeonServer.exe is already running. If it is not, Fusion starts a copy of eyeonServer, otherwise it connects to the bins that are already running on the local system.

If Fusion started eyeonServer, Fusion will shut it down when the application is exited.

eyeonServer is also responsible for making the bins available to other copies of Fusion on the network.

Collaborating With Bins

The Bins are not actually a part of the main Fusion executable. They run as a separate program that appears in the tasklist as eyeonServer.exe. This is launched automatically each time Fusion is started.

As noted in the Bins As A Server section above, this is because bins are actually a server that can be queried remotely, allowing anyone that is operating Fusion to connect to bins on another copy of Fusion. The sections below describe how to connect to bins on another system, and how to run a standalone bins server that can be used by all copies of Fusion in a facility.

Connecting To Bins On Another System

To connect to a remote system and display its bins, open the preferences and locate the Global>Bins>Servers panel in the list.

This panel shows a list of the systems, with buttons below to allow new entries to be added to or deleted from the list.

Adding An Entry To The Bin Server List

Click the Add button to add an entry to the list. The text controls below the button will become enabled for editing. Enter the system name or IP address of the system hosting the Bins to be connected.

Fusion does not attempt to test or connect to the system until the Bins dialog is opened. If it cannot connect, the system will still be listed, with access denied or unavailable marked next to the name of the system in the tree.

There is no practical limit to the number of bins that can be accessed.

Accessing Remote Bins

Remote Bins show in the Bins list as another top level item in the tree on the left side. The system is shown by name. If the system is unavailable, or requires a password, the label will also read unavailable or access denied

Open and navigate remote bins just like local bins.

Running A Bins Server

A standalone Bins Server that does not require a copy of Fusion to be running can be created. This is done by running eyeonServer.exe [option] from the command line.

Files Required To Run A Bin Server

It is strongly recommended to run a standalone bins server from a fresh directory. Copy the following files from the Fusion installation to the new directory.

eyeonServer.exe 
eyeonScript.exe 
eyeonScript.dll 
iup2.5.dll
Lua5.1.dll

Command Line Options

Run eyeonServer with the Command Line Options to see the following list.

Usage: eyeonServer [options]

-i --install

Install as Service

-u --uninstall

Uninstall Service

-s --serve

Serve a while,

-S --serveforever

Serve Forever!

-i --install

Installs eyeonServer.exe as a service. See below.

-u -- uninstall

Remove previously installed service

-s --serve

This option is used to start the eyeonServer when Fusion starts up. eyeonServer will then watch for Fusion.exe in the process list and exit when its no longer available. This is not an appropriate option for a user controlled startup.

-S --serveforever

This option is used to start the eyeonServer manually. eyeonServer will initialize then detach itself from the command prompt. The only way to stop a eyeonServer started this way is to end the eyeonServer.exe process manually from the task manager.

Installing The Bins Server As A Service

To install the Bins Server as a service, open a command prompt and browse to the folder where eyeonServer is installed. Run eyeonServer.exe with the -i command line option, as pictured below.

A service called eyeonServer will be added to the list of services, set to start automatically when the computer is booted. The service will not be started when it is first installed so restart.

Start a service by using the administrative tools/services control panel, or by typing `net start eyeonserver' from the command prompt, as pictured below.

Permissions

A remote users access to the Bin can be restricted, requiring a login to view the contents, make changes or create folders.