VIRTUALIZATION STACK
How it works
Aperi uses service-oriented architecture (SOA) software design, allowing virtualized media functions to be dynamically piped between one another for aggregate workflows (e.g. Live Remote Production). Microservers (SDMPs) and their virtualized functions can be ‘strung together’ within a single A1105 or between multiple racks using IP.
Media Function Virtualization (MFV) from Aperi
Through IP-based media function virtualization (MFV), FPGA technology and off-the-shelf hardware, Aperi provides truly native live IP video infrastructure.
The Virtualization Stack
SOFTWARE DEFINED
Aperi offers instant deployment by starting and stopping software applications using lightweight virtual machines. There’s no need to adapt or change the underlying common off-the-shelf compute and switch platform.
REAL TIME
The platform provides the speed, agility and security needed to address today’s changing media consumption with the extremely low latency and high quality needed for live production.
NATIVE IP
Rather than static, high-cost traditional video hardware, you pay only for what you need, when you need it, and resources can be redirected easily.
Your Benefits
ELASTICITY AND SPEED
Spin new channels and workflows up or down as needed to capture viewers in a matter of minutes, not months. New function and format innovations are delivered at the speed of software, thanks to the generic and open server-switch platform and an active app developer community.
COST SAVINGS
A pay-per-use model based on as-needed licensing allows the smartest use of resources and eliminates up-front investment. No costly, risk-heavy hardware or infrastructure adds.
FUTURE READY
Thanks to IP’s format-agnostic design, you can reach consumers wherever they are—on mobile devices and tablets—with a platform that accommodates 4K, remote production and more.
Software defined
Aperi’s software approach is based on data center best practices and SOA (Service Oriented Architecture):
Reliable • Flexibile • Secure • Easy Resource Control
Aperi Virtualization Stack
As in any virtualized infrastructure, Aperi’s supervisor is the endpoint for spinning up and down virtualized resources on a microserver. Aperi exposes its infrastructure-API via a simple and highly integrable RESTful API. Gone are the days of writing highly complex and proprietary drivers. With this battle-tested approach, operators can fully automate tasks in house with little effort, or enjoy the rapid integration of new Aperi virtualized media functionality in the orchestration/management system of choice.
Virtualized Functions as Apps
Aperi apps deliver on the promise of media function virtualization and a new level of agility without compromise. The platform allows for resource pools of function-agnostic hardware to be fully redefined via apps. And since Aperi’s platform is IP native, it can be dropped into any IP infrastructure for workflows of any complexity.
Aperi A1101 Compute Switch
The Aperi A1101, 1-slot, third rack-wide, 1RU Compute Switch platform comprises of 1G/2.5G/10GbE switching silicon and one accelerated, pluggable microserver (Aperi’s SDMP-4S) slot providing unparalleled flexibility and integration of low latency switching and high-performance computing. Up to three of the chassis can be mounted in a 1RU 19” space using an optional rack mounting kit.
Aperi A1105 Ethernet Switch/Compute
The Aperi A1105 1RU Switch/Compute platform comprises of 10/40 GbE, industry-leading wire-speed switching silicon and five accelerated, pluggable microservers providing unparalleled density and integration of low-latency switching and high performance computing.
Aperi Modular Micro Server
Aperi’s SDMP-4S (Software Defined Media Platform) is a modular microserver designed to run software applications (apps) that require large compute processing resources and very low latency.
The Building Blocks
Aperi uses these elemental building blocks to provide the highest reliability, performance, and ease of use.
The Aperi HAL+JSON HTTP RESTful API provides the highest level of consistency and API experience to developers. This API is auto-generated at run time to expose the current app state. The WebSocket change notification channel can be initiated to provide a constant real-time stream of app state changes (such as counters, events, status, etc.)
Aperi apps are dynamically deployed to Aperi’s compute engine from the Aperi App Store when needed. Aperi Virtualization Stack manages the many apps that may be cached on a single microserver. Apps releases are versioned, and many versions of the same apps are available in a microserver cache to facilitate an instant rollback or upgrade.
The Aperi app Store is a general repository for apps. All of the apps in Aperi app store are certified and verified by Aperi and the master authoritative copy of the Aperi App store is produced and maintained by Aperi. The app store mechanism is implemented in such a way that it can run in a private, protected network environment of the customer/service provider. Each microserver can be pointed to one or more physical instances of an app store so that selected Aperi apps are automatically downloaded to it.
The Aperi ADK (App Development Kit) is a set of software tools and services targeted to third-party app development for the Aperi platform. The tools provide platform services for rights management, authentication and packaging. An Aperi cloud service provides access to the Aperi microserver environment, removing the need for expensive hardware design and verification cycles. Only the Aperi certified and verified apps are admitted on the Aperi App Store while Aperi microservers recognize and run only verified Aperi apps. Aperi provides generous revenue sharing options for qualified third-party Apps.
Incorporating a high-speed and rapidly configurable hardware data plane fed with dual redundant 10 GbE network interfaces and a control plane networked with dual redundant GbE interfaces, the microserver is optimized to process the most taxing algorithms. Four SFP Plus cages can be populated to provide for a wide range of optical and electrical I/O including Ethernet rates to 10 GbE, 12 Gbps SDI video to 4K.
Aperi’s A1105 hosts a 10/40 GbE L2/L3 switch with 6×1 GbE, 8×10 GbE, redundant 10 GbE and 1 GbE to each microserver slot, and 2×10/40 GbE uplink ports. All ports are fully configurable to accommodate in-band management, out-of-band management, or any possible permutation of standard IP protocols. To name just a few: Quality-of-Service functionality like traffic prioritization, access control, multi-cast including full 4K VLAN and link aggregation. Many Layer-3 protocols and management capabilities are also supported.
