Jan Krusch (WDR)
As the broadcasting industry continues to evolve, the migration to ST 2110 IP-based infrastructures is becoming increasingly prominent. This transformation is just one step on the way to more software-centric infrastructures.
Networks designed for software-based production must become a standard commodity; and configuring and operating such networks is a key skill for modern broadcasters. To manage them cost effectively, it is inevitable that these high-performance networks should not only handle ST 2110 broadcast streams, but also other applications for broadcast production – a converged broadcast network.
Converged network
One of the most significant advantages of migrating to an IP-based infrastructure is the ability to bring multiple applications onto a single network, rather than maintaining separate networks for different functions – such as video production, editing, and distribution. The converged approach not only reduces costs but also simplifies network management and improves overall efficiency.
For example, take a video server – many media streams, high bandwidth file transfer and low- latency control traffic. Using the traditional approach, you need three networks; two will do the job also, if cost constraints come into play. Following the converged network approach, you can meet all those needs in different overlay networks using one underlay fabric. All of this isn’t new – every carrier and every data-centre operator proves the concept when keeping all applications and customers strictly separated from each other.
In order to achieve this, you need to have a well-planned approach and to use only automated configuration. The complexity can be handled through the use of Ansible, which is an open-source IT automation engine, and automated deployment chains. Once set up, operation becomes much more resilient than the command-line configuration used in the past.
Knowledgeable team
Transitioning to an ST 2110 IP-based infrastructure requires people well versed in both networking and media applications. This dual expertise is critical for ensuring the network operates smoothly and efficiently. The traditional silos of network and broadcast engineering need to be broken up, with teams collaborating closely to manage the converged network.
This also affects the way we are realizing projects. In the past we were accustomed to a facility-based approach; renewing a studio or galley meant everything from cameras and vision mixers down to tables and AC power. In the future, we will see an approach based more on technology layers, requiring continuous integration, testing and deployment. This is key for a culture of collaboration and agility, enabling teams to respond quickly to changes, issues and future needs.
At WDR, we are pursuing a converged network approach. We call it the “LiveIP base infrastructure”, with a focus on real-time ST 2110 applications, but with the integration of control and file-transfer traffic right from the beginning. We are using a network configuration based on roles described in Ansible playbooks.
Future projects will be tenants of this infrastructure rather than having to plan new networks with deviating designs. All of this is not solely a result of adopting ST 2110; the objective of fully software-based production facilities, like the concepts pursued in the EBU Dynamic Media Facilities group, demands converged networks.
This is an important step to realize broadcast functions in software and to migrate from dedicated hardware to virtualized platforms in your own data centre or the cloud.
This article was first published in the September 2024 issue of tech-i magazine.