Advantage of cabinet with internet access?

[Fursphere]

(why the hell are still running XP again?)

Because you can still build MAME machines using $20 dell optiplex 256mb\512mb RAM computers......

I think you missed the point of what I was saying.
Simply plugging your Windows XP based system (why the hell are still running XP again?) into the "Internet" will not effect performance.  If you have Windows set to auto-update - there could be something there to blame.

I always install a fresh copy of windows in each system I build (have made a lot now) and always disable any auto update features and since I am using a striped down version of XP most services that I wont use are already disabled or removed without me having to mess with it. Despite this I have had a couple times when I did nothing but connect to the internet on one of these and download video\audio drivers from the manufacture's website and something funny happens. I have no idea what actually caused it those few times but ever since installing the same drivers from USB I have had no issues. I think overall in a system like this the internet, access to it and it just sitting idle while connected, is a bad idea.

It hails home as soon as it is connected. Does it change anything? Don't know, would depend on a lot of things considering the different security functions and protocols in the different service packs. But I prefer to be on the safe side as these machines I build will be in the hands of people who do not have the know how to fix any issues that may arise down the road.

 

I keep forgetting your build machines for sale.  Ya, I guess if you're going the ultra-cheap route for the PC it makes sense. 

[CoryBee]

They aren't always super cheap, most of the time yea, all depends on what the customer want to run and how much he is willing to pay.

Stay frosty 

[CoryBee]

I can symlink the hi folder to the external harddrive, the only problem is converting the .hi files to a .txt or .html
See my software forum post Here : http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,134218.0.html

I will take a look and see what I can do for you

[icecube45]

I can symlink the hi folder to the external harddrive, the only problem is converting the .hi files to a .txt or .html
See my software forum post Here : http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,134218.0.html

I will take a look and see what I can do for you

Thanks!
If you help me, your name shall go on my cab!

[PL1]

I will take a look and see what I can do for you

Thanks!
If you help me, your name shall go on my cab!

Order a custom serial plate from him.   



Just be sure to fix his messed up default electrical values.   


Scott

[icecube45]

I will take a look and see what I can do for you

Thanks!
If you help me, your name shall go on my cab!

Order a custom serial plate from him.   



Just be sure to fix his messed up default electrical values.   >:
Scott

Bookmarking this

[CoryBee]

Damn you scott!

Also I took those values from the original creator of the template from KLOV......so yea......

[PL1]

I only mentioned it because not everyone knows that Watts = Volts x Amps  and that we use 60 Hz power here in the U.S.   


Scott

[Minwah]

I don't have network/internet access on my cabinets. There is absolutely no need.

[CoryBee]

I don't have network/internet access on my cabinets. There is absolutely no need.

Amen

 

[Cynicaster]

It’s definitely handy to have internet connectivity on the cabinet.  For example, I play in the high score club over at AtariAge, where a new game is played every week, and pictures of scores need to be posted.  It’d be nice to just grab a screen shot and send it right from the cabinet, but ultimately I’ve found that internet connectivity on the machine is just more of a headache than it’s worth. 

Somebody asked “why would you use an XP machine?” and my answer to that is “why wouldn’t I?”  if it plays everything I want to play at full speed. 

As a nice middle ground, I have a second wireless network in my house that is just a router not connected to the internet.  I can use that to transfer files to and from my cabinet, while still keeping it isolated from the internet. 

Still, since my main PC is just a few paces across my basement from my cabinet, I think the best solution would be to just use a USB stick to transfer stuff back and forth, but unfortunately I didn’t bother to include an easily accessible USB port on my cabinet. 

[DeLuSioNal29]

As a nice middle ground, I have a second wireless network in my house that is just a router not connected to the internet.  I can use that to transfer files to and from my cabinet, while still keeping it isolated from the internet.

That's a great compromise.  On my arcade machine I stream iTunes from my other computer.  Doing the above will still allow the wifi network to be used, but just not with the internet.  It also will still allow me to control my Arcade machine's Jukebox/iTunes through my iPhone on the same network.  Brilliant.

Anyone know how to accomplish this with one router though?  Do I go into the router settings and block the MAC address of the arcade machine from the internet?  Or is this done on the arcade machine itself?

DeLuSioNaL29

[Fursphere]

As a nice middle ground, I have a second wireless network in my house that is just a router not connected to the internet.  I can use that to transfer files to and from my cabinet, while still keeping it isolated from the internet.

That's a great compromise.  On my arcade machine I stream iTunes from my other computer.  Doing the above will still allow the wifi network to be used, but just not with the internet.  It also will still allow me to control my Arcade machine's Jukebox/iTunes through my iPhone on the same network.  Brilliant.

Anyone know how to accomplish this with one router though?  Do I go into the router settings and block the MAC address of the arcade machine from the internet?  Or is this done on the arcade machine itself?

DeLuSioNaL29

Like you said, either block that IP address from getting out on your router, or create a static route statement (cmd prompt - ROUTE command) to black hole every internet request.  This is a little complicated...  so be warned. 

You could also remove the DNS servers from your NIC - it'll still be *able* to talk to the internet, but it won't be able to *find* anything. 

[CoryBee]

That's a great compromise.  On my arcade machine I stream iTunes from my other computer.  Doing the above will still allow the wifi network to be used, but just not with the internet.  It also will still allow me to control my Arcade machine's Jukebox/iTunes through my iPhone on the same network.  Brilliant.
Anyone know how to accomplish this with one router though?  Do I go into the router settings and block the MAC address of the arcade machine from the internet?  Or is this done on the arcade machine itself?

I just showed this 

If you really wish to have easy access to your Arcade Machine via a wireless connection I suggest you do this.

Install your wireless card

Open up its adapter properties and change the default gateway to something like 10.10.10.10 or anything non existent. This will disable internet access but still allow you to connect to the local network.

Install TightVNC on this computer and the computer you will update it from

Do all updates and control through this control computer. You can transfer files you downloaded on your regular system through VNC and still maintain the integrity of your Arcade Machine.

[Cynicaster]

As a nice middle ground, I have a second wireless network in my house that is just a router not connected to the internet.  I can use that to transfer files to and from my cabinet, while still keeping it isolated from the internet.

That's a great compromise.  On my arcade machine I stream iTunes from my other computer.  Doing the above will still allow the wifi network to be used, but just not with the internet.  It also will still allow me to control my Arcade machine's Jukebox/iTunes through my iPhone on the same network.  Brilliant.

That last point is one of my favorite aspects of the setup.  I have a nice library of tunes on the HD of my MAME machine, and I really like to play music through the cabinet's speakers as I play (mixing with the game sounds), because it creates a very immersive experience.   Doing what you said, I can use my iPad to control the music (via the Remote app) without having to switch windows or pull out the dreaded keyboard drawer.