Input Source Redundancy Modes

If a source has bad health, Multiplexer can choose to automatically switch to an alternative source or if the secondary has bad health, it can prevent an unnecessary redundancy switch. Monitoring the secondary has the advantage of having a report of the health of all sources so the automatic switch can use that information when it is necessary. However, it has the drawback of higher CPU and network bandwidth usage.

The behavior of the input source switch mechanism can be summarized into two modes:

1. Automatic switch behavior when the secondary sources are monitored:
   • If the active source input shows bad health, then a switch to another source reporting source with good health (green) occurs.
   • If the active source reports PID or PIDs missing and they are reported as critical, then a switch to another source reporting source with good health (green) occurs.
   • If the active source has missing PID or PIDs reported but only as warning, then no change occurs.
2. Automatic switch behavior when the secondary sources are not monitored:
   • If the active source input goes missing, then a switch to another source occurs.
   • If the active source has missing PID or PIDs reported and they are reported as critical then a switch to another source occurs.
   • If the active source has missing PID or PIDs reported but only as warnings, then no change occurs.

Note: If all sources are bad, the Multiplexer continues cycling through the sources until a source with good health (green) is available.

Input Source Health Monitoring View

The Input Redundancy Health view displays information on the health of an input source. This page is an overview redundant input sources, the input source health, the DVB services per source and you can manually switch between sources.

Displaying health information for an input source

The Input Redundancy health page can be used to monitor input sources and manually switch sources.

1. Edit the Multiplexing service from the Services page.

2. Select Input redundancy to display the input sources, and their redundancies and statuses.

   

3. Hover the mouse over the status for a source to display information.

   

Switching the active input source manually

A transport stream is running with primary and secondary inputs.

1. Display Services.

2. Edit the Multiplexing service to display the transport stream.

3. Select Input Redundancy to display the health page.

4. Click to switch to the other input source.

   

The previously inactive source becomes active.

Automatic Input Source Switch Health Monitoring

You can monitor the health for individual input components (PIDs) or input DVB services. You can configure a missing component or DVB service to contribute to the health of an input source and trigger a redundancy switch if necessary.

Monitoring input source health at the service level

1. Display Services.

2. Edit the Multiplexing service to display the transport stream.

3. Select the Transport Stream to display the Properties configuration.

4. Configure the Source Redundancy Mode parameter to Automatic with monitoring.

   

5. From the Output Stream tree, select the Service to display Output parameters.

6. Select Monitor health of all signalled Input components to activate the automatic health monitoring for this service.

7. Check the health of the input sources for this service:

   1. Stop the primary source supplying the Multiplexer.

   2. Click in the header menu to display the Input source health monitoring page.

   3. Hover the mouse over the input source statuses to get more details.

The input source is showing an unhealthy status. The missing PIDs from the service are now reported as critical issues and they are labelled Missing Mandatory Component. If the secondary source is healthy, the input source automatic switches to the healthy input.

Monitoring input source health at the component level

1. Display Services.

2. Edit the Multiplexing service to display the transport stream.

3. Select the Output component in the Transport Stream tree to display the Properties configuration.

   

4. In the Input tab, select Alarm if input component missing to enable.

5. In the Input tab, select Contributes for input health Monitoring.

6. Check that the automatic switch occurs when necessary:

   1. Stop the primary source for the PID.

   2. Click in the header menu to display the Input source health monitoring page.

   3. Hover the mouse over the input source statuses to get more details.

The active input source switches to the healthy input source.

Using the Input Content panel

To preview the inputs to the Multiplexer configuration being created, use the Input Content panel.

The Input Content panel is pre-loaded with any input in use by a configuration output services.

Adding a new input to the Input Content panel on a new configuration or an existing configuration

1. Click the add button next to the panel title banner.

   

2. Fill the fields.

   Note: The field validation similar to the output panel applies in this window. Invalid fields are highlighted in red and an error message shows.

   

3. Once all the required fields are filled and valid, click Add. The newly created input shows, collapsed, in the Input Content panel.

   

   The new input enters the Loading state until it has extracted all the information or up to a maximum of 30 seconds.

4. To expand the input, click the arrow to the left of the input entry. You can also expand the child service or the component entries to reveal all the information extracted.

   

5. To use the input as a source, go to the Properties panel and click the List of the existing sources drop-down box.

   

6. Click the input.

The input panel fields fill automatically. If there are multiple inputs that use this input as a source, it will also be set as a shared source.

Managing inputs in the Input Content panel

You can manipulate the inputs added to the Input Content panel manually or retrieved from the configuration:

• by using the buttons next to the Input Content panel title;
• by right-clicking on each input to reveal the context menu.

The buttons and options in the context menu are greyed out for any entry that is not a top-level input.

You can bring back the input details window:

• by selecting Edit Input;
• by clicking the pencil button.

You can change any of the original input details. Once saved, the changes automatically apply to any output source that uses this input.

If you select Refresh Input or click the cycle arrows button, the selected input enters the Loading stage again and extracts up-to-date information on the input.

Note: Once loaded, the input-extracted information does not refresh automatically.

You can delete inputs:

• by selecting Delete Input;
• by clicking the trash can button.

Note: The inputs that are in use cannot be deleted. If the input is in use, the Delete Input option and the trash can button are greyed out.

Note: The inputs in the Input Content panel that are not in use are not saved when you exit or refresh the configuration page.