ACE-3901 cost-effectively integrates existing infrastructure with IP systems, while the XIP-3911-GRID extends the flexibility and scalability of edge compute workflows in hybrid environments.
The Grass Valley ACE-3901 12G Modular Agile Computing Engine and the XIP-3911-GRID firmware are new developments in the company's line of XIP Modular Processing hardware. Helping to evolve Grass Valley’s Densité Modular Frame Platform, they supply high levels of processing power and density for media companies migrating from SDI to IP workflows.
IP Gateway Density
The ACE-3901 is a high-density IP gateway system with an IP input/output density that makes up to 400Gb IP bandwidth available per module, and up to 256 12G-SDI or 384 3G-SDI gateways within a single 4RU Densité frame. This substantial increase in density and reduction in cost per channel is significant for media companies that need to continue realising a return on their existing SDI infrastructure investment, while taking advantage of the flexibility and scalability of an IP system.
The ACE (Agile Computing Engine) platform centres on the GV Media Universe, integrating modular devices as distributed edge processing units within a larger system. This setup allows a hybrid approach, combining modular hardware, commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) computing and software. The result is flexible, agile and customisable to meet specific requirements with the ability to control and configure the system from anywhere.
ACE can also operate as a standalone gateway and processing device, with a comprehensive set of APIs and third-party control options for integration with existing systems.
SDI I/O Capacity for GV AMPP Workflows
The XIP-3911-GRID firmware addresses a problem associated with SaaS applications running on COTS servers which, limited by their PCI expansion slots, often restrict SDI inputs/outputs to 12 or fewer signals. Grass Valley’s innovations with AMPP Grid in the last year have, in fact, extended the processing capabilities of a single server.
AMPP Grid architecture supports workflows that span multiple connected servers, maintaining quality and very low latency, and handling the servers as nodes comprising one large GV AMPP node. AMPP's asynchronous, scalable approach to media processing makes this configuration possible, simplifying management and assigning resources to productions on demand.
Nevertheless, those servers are still limited by their design. The XIP-3911-GRID solves this by serving as an SDI gateway interface directly to AMPP GRID using FPGA modular hardware. As a result, a single 1RU server can handle up to 128 AMPP GRID signals, increasing the I/O density of on-premises edge compute workflows with minimal footprint and creating an opportunity to to optimise the infrastructure.
Lee Buchanan, VP of Networking at Grass Valley said, “Throughout the ongoing transition from SDI to IP, a significant volume of the SDI equipment in use cannot be immediately replaced. The ACE-3901 is a cost-effective way to integrate existing infrastructure with IP systems, while the XIP-3911-GRID extends the flexibility and scalability of edge compute workflows in hybrid environments. www.grassvalley.com
