Introducing Pandad

Pandad is a Windows service that allows MediaMatrix nodes, such as NIONs and nControls, to be discovered on the control network. It also allows communication between the units.

Pandad (pandad.exe) is started in the background on the control computer when NWare (nware.exe) is started. Pandad is also run as a process on nodes.

How Pandad works

Pandad creates and maintains a list of all MediaMatrix nodes on the network. Here are the steps in the process:

1. On the control computer, Pandad listens for multicast packets from other instances of Pandad on the network. It then sends its own multicast packet.
2. Pandad instances on each MediaMatrix node and the control PC respond with their device lists.
3. On the control computer, Pandad creates a list of all the devices on the network from the replies it receives.

As with all discovery processes, this broadcast bursts in the beginning and quickly tapers off. Small multicast packets are then sent every five seconds.

Notes:

• If there is more than one network interface available on the control computer (wired or wireless), when NWare is first started, a dialog box will open that asks which network interface to use for communications. The correct interface must be selected or no devices will be found on the network.
• If your network is using multicast filtering, it may interfere with Pandad. We recommend that you disable this feature.

For more information, refer to the Pandad Administrator Guide.