IP network infrastructures demand a new approach to monitoring and diagnosis

As media production adopts IP network infrastructures, diagnosing and resolving faults in an ST 2110 IP network requires moving to network-centric solutions. Quality control methods from the days of analog and serial digital (SDI) video are no longer feasible. For all the complexity and cost to maintain the cabling and large matrices of baseband video networks, quality control was as straightforward as attaching measurement tools at critical points in the signal path and having sharp eyed broadcast engineers monitor the video and scopes in real-time.

More Feeds, More Flexibility Bring New Challenges

Today, media production requires more contribution feeds and includes more mission critical transmissions than ever. Those feeds are often bound to service level agreements (SLAs) that directly affect revenue and expenses. Failing to detect and correct even a single error can be expensive. Asking engineers to stare at monitor walls and to then use waveform monitors alone is no longer sufficient; and mandating that those engineers never miss an SLA commitment is extremely stressful and nearly impossible.

If increased volume and SLAs weren’t enough of a challenge, IP networks are orders of magnitude more difficult to monitor and diagnose due to being non-deterministic. Each data packet can take a different path from source to destination, so packets’ precise arrival times cannot be predicted. Thus, a completely new approach to signal monitoring and diagnosis is necessary.

With so much data traveling unpredictably, effective monitoring is impossible without narrowing the focus to the specific issues of concern within the stream or the network. Telestream makes such visibility practical with the Inspect 2110 solution. Using software-based probes, Inspect 2110 can proactively monitor many critical feeds for errors that are sometimes undetectable to human eyes and ears. By using a streamlined, “monitoring by exception” approach, engineers and operators are relieved of the tedium of manually searching for errors. Inspect 2110 is scalable and meets the needs of even the largest media networks.

Handling Exceptions

Once an issue is detected, the Inspect 2110’s easy “traffic light”-style user interface updates the stream image’s surrounding frame from green to red – whether the problem is in video, audio, or the ancillary data stream. The operator mouses over the stream in the UI to read details. Further, detailed analysis can then be performed by launching a PRISM waveform monitor from the same screen with a single button. Within seconds of identifying an issue, the engineer is alerted and addressing problems instead of staring at a monitor wall and possibly missing the issue altogether.

PTP Graph and PIT Histogram

The combination of large-scale monitoring with Inspect 2110 and the in-depth analysis afforded by PRISM within a single unified interface makes configuration easier. Systems Engineers appreciate the clean integration with the rest of their IP media infrastructure as well through NMOS compatibility and an “API-first” design. In the event technical support is needed, assistance is a phone call away.

It’s About Results

Improved speed and efficiency in resolving problems allows the facility to meet its SLA requirements and protects the bottom line. Engineer utilization improves as the team focuses on solving problems rather than looking for them.

Inspect 2110 can be configured to monitor things that can be barely seen or can’t be seen at all watching a monitor wall and instruments. PTP timing stability, synchronization errors, SDP file checking, swapped audio channels, and redundant stream validation can all be monitored by Inspect 2110 – all in the background, all 24/7.

To learn more about Inspect 2110 and monitoring by exception visit the Telestream webpage here.

To learn more about the PRISM Media Analysis Platform and the whole Waveform Monitor family click here.

Ready to talk to Telestream and see it in action? Contact Telestream today.

Steven Bilow is Senior Product Marketing Manager, Telestream