MK.IO Beam for headends, server pair

Two servers running MK.IO Beam for headends can be configured as a server pair, which offers various redundancy options with the options being chosen depending on the desired system behaviour.

Chain redundancy

Chain redundancy provides simplified server-level redundancy.

Chain redundancy is appropriate for 1+1 server use cases where:

  • There is no benefit to “meshing” the Encoding Live services from one server to another, to provide additional/secondary redundant sources to each multiplexer within the server pair.

  • When inter-chassis network bandwidth is limited.

Mesh redundancy

Mesh redundancy provides optimal service-level combined with server-level redundancy.

Mesh redundancy is appropriate for 1+1 server cases where:

  • Service-level redundancy is required/beneficial. For example, with SDI sources where a single SDI feed could be lost/damaged and switching just one service is required.

  • The inter-network infrastructure can carry all traffic between the server pair providing redundant sources, i.e. there is adequate network bandwidth.

With mesh redundancy it is necessary to use the externally visible interfaces for all service outputs which are to be meshed between single server partners.

Mesh source redundancy between Live Encoding services and Multiplexer services is achieved by offering the Live Encoding sources of one server as an additional set of sources to the other.

The above diagram shows that both Multiplexers within the pair are outputting (aka Active/Active). Active/Standby is also supported.

Single serverReception