operation. If one aspect needs fixing, the entire program has to be updated. Some take months to materialise. Smaller pieces of software are needed: compact, powerful specialists dedicated to a single processing job. In this specific scenario, the power of a processing task is derived from the collaboration of several granular apps. Although functionally the same as routing video streams to a processing blade, the standard server approach allows operators to use the same hardware to instantly configure a multiviewer, and to later spin up an up/down/cross conversion or stream transcoding routine – or indeed to use all of them simultaneously. If we agree bare-metal servers are best placed to do the compute heavy lifting for any task we throw at them, and if we assume that containerised apps are in pole position for an agile workflow, then spinning up additional resources – more multiviewer heads, stream transcoders, etc – remains possible while the server has compute power to spare. When this is no longer the case, more servers can be installed – again
with only finite compute power. For more flexibility, one can leverage the ability to run processes within a remote data centre or on a public cloud service. Where the server hardware is hosted should only be dictated by the amount of data that needs to be transported and processed, by the acceptable latency and, of course, the user’s preferences. COMMERCIAL FLEXIBILITY Depending on how you plan your server infrastructure, three usage models can be leveraged with Lawo’s HOME Apps. Permanent availability is an option where staple processing capability is acquired with perpetual licences. This is similar to purchasing dedicated hardware, except that the processing is performed by apps running on standard servers. Lawo Flex is a subscription licence for processing resources with a high degree of elasticity, with frequent temporary capacity top-ups where needed. This covers all existing and future HOME Apps indiscriminately.
SMALLER PIECES OF SOFTWARE ARE NEEDED: COMPACT, POWERFUL SPECIALISTS
Hybrid permanent and flex licensing offers a mix of perpetual licences for cruise-speed usage and Lawo Flex licensing for temporary-capacity top-ups at peak times. Usage models that involve occasional top-ups are handled via a digital wallet in HOME, which can be replenished quickly. The budget it contains has a minimum validity of one month. HOME OF THE BRAVE HOME Apps are orchestrated in a broad sense: the HOME platform manages stream flows, services, applications and processing capacity in a lightning-fast and intuitive way. Enjoy your new-found elasticity!
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