VIDI NMS Performance Monitoring introduced in time for 2016 Olympics

The VIDI NMS is now used around the world in network operation centres to monitor and control live video networks at a high technical level. The new Performance Monitoring development has came along at the right time because the VIDI NMS has not only been used in France for soccer but also at the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil, where it’s set to provide network security and stability.

VIDI NMS is being used in Rio by a US telecommunications provider in order to broadcast television images of the games from Brazil to the USA. The supporting transport network is based on 10Gbe and OC 48 cabling. These connect the International Broadcasting Centre (IBC) in Rio de Janeiro with locations in New York, Stamford and Englewood.

Media Links MD8000 is used as media adaptation equipment. The bi-directional JPEG2000 compressed HD feeds are sent over these to different radio institutions that are participating in the broadcast and exchange of reporting.

The VIDI NMS is set to be used in the IBC in Rio and at additional locations in the US for switching and monitoring all nodes. The centrepiece, the NMS server, works from the IBC in Rio while other locations are connected using VIDI NMS clients. The synchronicity of the network control data is guaranteed to all locations.

Recently the new Performance Monitoring feature was added to NMS. “I am very pleased, because this is the realisation of something our customers have requested many times,” explained Patrick Geldmacher, head of the development project.

“It is like a ‘long-term EKG’ for the entire network. It supplies the VIDI engineers with additional information and makes it possible to draw conclusions about slowly developing or temporary network problems. It also automates compliance with agreed service levels and makes it easy to document them, which will make our customers especially happy,” added Geldmacher.

The system knows every network component and every bit and byte of the data flow practically on a first-name basis, which makes it possible to always have a complete overview of the current network conditions. What was the condition of component X and Y half an hour ago? The tracking data makes it possible to get a retrospective general overview of the entire network system.

Complex data structures are presented clearly so that evaluations can be made quickly and precisely. Export of recorded data is provided for subsequent processing in reports like SLA reports, monthly service reports, or customised reports.