Implementing Axino RedundancyBy Stephan Martel, Project & Product Manager Grass Valley, a Belden Brand

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APPLICATION NOTE IMPLEMENTING AXINO REDUNDANCY

There are different redundancy schemes that can be implemented when using the Axino processor in-signal path. Each represents a balance between costs and reliability, but the scheme that best fits the needs merely depends on the infrastructure already in place. The Axino only supports 1+1 device redundancy (N+1 is not available) and optional IP ports are available to perform automatic failovers at the input and feed two IP networks at the output. The following sections present possible redundant installations.

Scheme 1: Independent Redundant Paths

In this scheme, two identical Axinos are required. The two devices have their own probing and processing licenses. There is no communication between the two units at all. The failover to the backup path must be achieved by a downstream device. In this mode, the user must configure the units separately. The main and backup networks are populated with loudness processed streams at all times.

MAIN network

MAIN networkGbE1 GbE2

BACKUP network

BACKUP networkGbE1 GbE2

Scheme characteristics

Linked units No

Port redundancy No

Shared licenses No

Stream failover No

Failover conditions None

Configuration• Turn off logs on backup device

• Manual configuration of backup via profile copy

Backup network Processed streams at all times

Main benefit Two identical redundant paths

Drawbacks Costly due to licenses

Ordering 2x any base systems + licenses

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APPLICATION NOTE IMPLEMENTING AXINO REDUNDANCY

Scheme 2a: Independent Redundant Networks — Shared Licenses

This scheme uses two Axinos that are connected to one another in order to share licenses. The connection can be done by directly by using an Ethernet cable between MNGT2 ports. The two units will share probing and processing licenses reducing the costs. However, only one device can probe and process at a time. As a result, the backup network contains unprocessed streams when the primary device is active. In other words, the backup device is in pass-through and the GbE2 port is simply a mirror of GbE1. When the primary unit dies, the backup unit acquires the licenses and can start probing and processing.

BACKUP network

BACKUP networkGbE1 GbE2

MAIN network

MAIN networkGbE1 GbE2

MNGT2

MNGT2

Scheme characteristics

Linked units Yes

Port redundancy No

Shared licenses Yes

Stream failover No

Failover conditions

• Primary unit heartbeat stops: - Defective hardware - MNGT2 Ethernet link broken - System crash

• All input streams on primary unit are missing

Configuration• Automatic backup device configuration

• Configure IP of backup on primary

Backup network Pass-through when primary is alive

Main benefit Cost-effective due to shared licenses

Drawbacks No all-time loudness processing on backup path

Ordering1x any base systems + licenses

1x AXINO-410 (backup device)

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APPLICATION NOTE IMPLEMENTING AXINO REDUNDANCY

Scheme 2b: Double Redundant Networks — Shared Licenses

This scheme uses two Axinos for each network for double redundancy. The Axinos on each network are connected to one another in order to share licenses. The connection can be done directly by using an Ethernet cable between MNGT2 ports. The two units will share probing and processing licenses reducing the costs. However, only one device can probe and process at a time. Because the backup and main networks both have Axino with licenses, both networks have processed streams at all times. This scheme is better than 2a but requires twice as many Axino units. If the primary unit stops working or if it loses all its input streams, the backup unit takes over.

Scheme characteristics

Linked units Yes

Port redundancy No

Shared licenses Yes

Stream failover No

Failover conditions

• Primary unit heartbeat stops: - Defective hardware - MNGT2 Ethernet link broken - System crash

• All input streams on primary unit are missing

Configuration• Automatic backup device configuration

• Configure IP of backup on primary

Backup network Pass-through when primary is alive

Main benefit Cost-effective due to shared licenses, Main and Backup networks are identical and protected

Drawbacks More units required

Ordering2x Any base systems + licenses

2x AXINO-410 (backup device)

MNGT2

MNGT2

MNGT2

GbE1

GbE1

GbE1

GbE1

GbE2

GbE2

GbE2

GbE2

MAIN network

BACKUP network

MAIN network

BACKUP network

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APPLICATION NOTE IMPLEMENTING AXINO REDUNDANCY

Scheme 3: Single Device with Port Redundancy

This scheme has no device redundancy and makes use of the device’s reliability. The Axino has redundant power supplies therefore a power failure is unlikely to affect the system. In this scenario, port redundancy is required in order to enable the input stream failover. The unit will automatically join the multicast on the GbE3 port if it disappears from the GbE1 port. At the output, the Axino will copy the processed stream to both GbE2 and GbE4, effectively sourcing both networks.

Scheme characteristics

Linked units N/A

Port redundancy Yes

Shared licenses N/A

Stream failover Built-In

Failover conditions Stream missing on GbE1 (each stream independent)

Configuration Turn port redundancy ON

Backup network Processed streams at all times

Main benefit Only 1 unit is required

Drawbacks Lack of backup device: single point of failure

Ordering 1x AXINO-410-SFP-xxxxx (SFP base system)

MAIN network

MAIN networkGbE1

GbE3GbE2GbE4

BACKUP network

BACKUP network

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Copyright © 2014 Grass Valley. All rights reserved. Specifications subject to change without notice.

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APPLICATION NOTE IMPLEMENTING AXINO REDUNDANCY

Scheme 4: Full Redundancy — Shared License

This is the ultimate redundancy scheme to cover any possible fault. The two systems share licenses to reduce costs. In this scheme, the pri-mary unit feeds both signal paths with an automatic stream failover at the input. If the primary unit becomes unresponsive, the backup unit will take over by sourcing both networks as well. When the primary unit is functional, the backup unit is in standby and its outputs are disabled. Only one device can output at any giving time.

Scheme characteristics

Linked units Yes

Port redundancy Yes

Shared licenses Yes

Stream failover Built-In

Failover conditions

• Stream missing on GbE1 (each stream independent) then switch to GbE3

• Primary unit heartbeat stops: - Defective hardware - MNGT2 Ethernet link broken - System crash

• All input streams on primary unit are missing

Configuration• Turn port redundancy ON

• Backup device automatically configured

Backup network Processed streams at all times

Main benefit No single point of failure

Drawbacks More complex

Ordering1x AXINO-410-SFP-xxxxxx (base system)

1x AXINO-410-SFP (backup device)

BACKUP network

MNGT2

MNGT2

BACKUP network

GbE1GbE3

GbE3GbE1

GbE2GbE4

GbE4GbE2

MAIN network

MAIN network