Zixi features hitless failover for inputs, enabling undisrupted streaming when switching from one source to another. The hitless failover feature is based on the SMPTE 2022-7 standard, which specifies “seamless” or hitless failover between binary-identical streams with synchronized RTP headers. Zixi's patent-pending hitless failover technology works by comparing the transport stream payload, without relying on sequences being synchronized. Zixi then applies a proprietary sequencing algorithm to identify missing parts and fill-in missing packets.

The Hitless Failover feature is supported in the inputs of Zixi Feeder, Broadcaster, and Receiver.

The hitless failover configuration involves grouping two inputs in a "Failover Group". If the two inputs are identical (i.e. two or more binary-identical streams with synchronized RTP headers), when one of them is disrupted or interrupted completely, Zixi Broadcaster will seamlessly use the packets of the other input without any disruptions.

Note

If the streams are not identical, the failover process will not be seamless and may take up to a second.

A Failover Group can comprise two or more inputs. In a group of three or more, you can define one or more streams as a "Backup". In this case the system will always try to recover packets from "Primary" streams first and only if there are no available primary streams, it will use the backup streams. When one of the primary streams becomes available, the system will automatically jump to the primary stream.

While the Broadcaster GUI only enables configuration of primary streams at a single priority level, through the Zixi Broadcaster API it is possible to assign different priorities as follows:

Priority 0 – means backup. It will be used only if all other streams are unavailable.
Priority greater than 0 - means primary.

The Failover Group has its own Stream ID, just like an Input Stream, and will appear in the Inputs list. Although the topology above shows only one Zixi Broadcaster, it is also possible to have multiple targets (e.g. two or more Zixi Broadcasters), each with its own Failover Group of inputs to enable a more complete system-level redundancy.

To configure a Failover Group, follow the instructions in the Creating a Failover Group section.

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