Quality control on cloud playback platform

CUSTOMER'S TASK

Quality control of cloud and on-premise endpoints during development, implementation and operation of the cloud playback platform.

REQUIREMENTS

• Support of BYOD on virtualized or cloud-based installations with consistent quality control useful for both full-cloud and hybrid-cloud applications
• Support of end-user managed installations (without an intermediary) for ad hoc placements throughout infrastructure (cloud and on-premise)
• Lightweight (or portable) program effective as a troubleshooting tool during POC tests and as a full-time monitoring system for operators
• Detailed engineering-level PCR and jitter metrics
• Support of a variety of transport stream formats packetized as UDP, RTP, TCP
• Edge monitoring for contribution as well as probe distribution end-points in HLS and MPEG-DASH
• Ability to provide feedback for video and audio decoding characteristics as QoE data
• Ability to review aggregated logs from multiple probes, regardless of their location
• Flexible, pay-per-usage cost model

ELECARD SOLUTION

Installation of Boro probes on cloud and on-premise endpoints.

RESULT

• Clear view of stream qualities in all operating zones
• Fast deployment and easy operation due to intuitive user interface
• Improved quality of provided services
• Easy collaboration with partners thanks to remote access to probes and data sharing
• Efficient fault area localization using consolidated view
• Cost saving due to flexible licensing
• Reducing overhead and operational costs thanks to use-case optimization
• Faster reaction to faults and less human errors

SOLUTION IMPLEMENTATION

Boro probes were installed both on Windows and Linux virtual machines, as well as various workstations on-premise. The system is used to monitor channels in SRT, RTP, HLS formats. Each probe has been optimized for raising alarms pertinent to a particular location, and in a particular format. Following the initial POC tests, Boro is used to monitor activities in the cloud and gain full end-to-end QoS confidence for related terrestrial endpoints (with varying distribution formats).

Feedback

"Boro was the best fit delivering on our technical requirements. With a minimal amount of training, we were able to deploy and activate probes typically within minutes.

The biggest benefit of this solution is the intuitive user interface, and the immediate practicality it provides with the minimal amount of training needed to operate. It is a very powerful lightweight tool in a software package, that could be further optimized per use-case by shutting off unnecessary functions further reducing overhead and operational costs. We found the pricing model to be very fair given the totality of features offered.  And with pricing tied to service counts rather than number of instances, eliminated any stress factors around costly one-off deployments in critical areas.

Elecard support provided the guidance to combine and tag services at different locations. This meant that our operators would use a consolidated view of the service bouquet delineated by probes, rather than seeing the same bouquet across each individual probe. This greatly improved the bottom line to pinpoint trouble areas providing faster reaction times and lessening any consequence of human errors.

I have to commend the Elecard team for a mature solution that helped us overcome the various unknowns with such a challenging and demanding project. We see Boro as a go-to resource as we expand our service offerings and partnerships on virtual platforms. The support team was responsive and knowledgeable giving suggestions and solutions addressing all of our concerns throughout the process."

Andrew Kim, Broadcast Engineering Manager, Globecast Americas