Page Comparison

Zixi's To add network bonding feature enables you to divide a stream into several network channels by utilizing multiple NICs and links and then subsequently reuniting them at the Zixi Broadcaster side. For example, a 5 Mbps stream can be streamed using two links, one 2 Mbps link that uses a mobile network and another 3 Mbps Wifi network. The stream is automatically bonded at the Zixi Broadcaster side without any special configuration (as long as the Push input is defined and the two NICs are setup in the machine running the Zixi Broadcaster). Network Bonding can be used for load balancing between multiple links in the following configurations:

• Zixi Feeder with Multiple NICs to a single Zixi Broadcaster NIC - the stream is divided at the Zixi Feeder end and then bonded at the Zixi Broadcaster end. 
• Zixi Feeder with Multiple NICs to multiple Zixi Broadcaster NICs - the stream is divided at the Zixi Feeder end, sent to multiple IP addresses (each Zixi Broadcaster NIC has a separate IP address), and then bonded at the Zixi Broadcaster end.  
• Zixi Feeder with single NIC to Multiple Zixi Broadcaster NICs - the stream is sent to multiple IP addresses (each Zixi Broadcaster NIC has a separate IP address), and then bonded at the Zixi Broadcaster end. 

Using Network Bonding for Hitless Failover

The network bonding feature can be used to ensure high availability of the stream. The feature ensures hit-less failover between multiple networks and network cards (i.e. network and hardware protection). As part of the configuration of the network bonding feature it is possible to set a NIC (which may be connected to a separate network) as a "Backup". In this case the backup link will only be utilized if the stream has used all other available capacity. For example, a stream can be configured to be transferred on a WiFi network as the main link and a mobile network as a backup. If the WiFi link is compromised (either completely unavailable or limited bandwidth), the stream will be transferred, in full or partially through the backup mobile link and then bonded at the Zixi Broadcaster end, enabling uninterrupted streaming and high availability.  

  to a Feeder Output:

1. On the Outputs page of Zixi Feeder, click Image Added   on the upper- right end corner of the screen. 
   The New Output window is displayed:
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2. Enter the unique Name that you want to configure on the Feeder.
3. Select Push to Broadcaster as the Type of output.

4. In the Properties section, enter the parameters as described in the Creating a Push to Broadcaster Output procedure. 

5. Select Bonded Link. 
   The bonded link section is displayed:
   Image Added 
6. In the boded link section, click the + button.  
   The Bonded Link Destination dialog opens:
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7. In the Host field, type the IP address of the destination Zixi Broadcaster. 
8. In the Port field, type the destination port number of the Zixi Broadcaster to which you want to stream. Default: 2088    
9. In the NIC field, select the NIC in the Zixi Feeder that you want to use to stream. 
10. In the Bitrate Limit field, do one of the following:
    • if you want to limit the bitrate that will be used in this link, enter the limit value in Kbps. 
    • if you DO NOT want to limit the bitrate, leave the default value - "0".   
11. In the Backup field, do one of the following:
    • If you want to use this link only if there is not enough bandwidth in the other links, select the Backup checkbox. 
    • If you want to use this link in parallel to other links, DO NOT select the Backup checkbox. 
12. Click OK.
13. Repeat the steps above to add additional links. 
14. Click OK to save the Feeder Output.