Adding Zixi Pull Targets

ZEN Master enables you to configure targets to Pull a channel from a Broadcaster cluster. For resources managed by ZEN Master, the connection configuration is done automatically by ZEN Master. For unmanaged resources you will need to configure the connection manually.

There is an option to create a Dynamic Pull Target. This enables you to connect multiple Receivers (or Zixi-enabled decoders) to the same Target. Each Reciever is monitored separately in ZEN Master and is shown as a Child Target on the Target page. This provides a MeetMe room type of capability for streaming live events to different organizations on an event by event basis.

The following procedure describes how to add a Zixi Pull Target in ZEN Master. In addition, an explanation of each of the configuration parameters is given in the table below.

To add a new Pull Target:

1. In the main navigation, click Targets.
2. Click + Add.
   The Create New Target window is displayed.
   
3. Click on Zixi.
   The Create New Zixi Target window is displayed.
   
   
   
   
4. In the Info section, in the Name field, enter a logical name for the Pull Target.
5. In the Tags field, select one or more of the predefined Tags from the drop-down list.
   Tags are used for access control. By selecting a Tag you are relating this target to that Tag. Tags are associated with certain roles (through the Users & Roles screen), and roles, in turn, are associated with users and user groups. If you would like to create a new Tag, see Creating a Tag.

6. In the Events Configuration Profile field, select from the dropdown list the profile that you would like to apply to this Target. By default, the Default profile is applied.

   Events Profiles consist of a series of rules that determine precisely how various types of Events are logged and what results they trigger.

7. The Target's location is used to represent it in the proper position in the Map display (see Maps). By default, the location is determined automatically based on the Target's IP. If you would like to manually set the location of the Target (Optional), use the following procedure:
   1. Click on the Edit icon next to the Location field.
      A search box is shown below the Location field.
   2. Enter identifying info for the location (e.g. street address, zip code, coordinates).
      Search results are displayed below the search box as you type.
   3. Click on the desired location.
      The selected location populates the Location field.
8. In the Type section, verify that Pull is selected (default).

9. In the Mode section, select the desired mode. Options are: Single or Dynamic.

   Dynamic Targets enable you to connect multiple Receivers or other Zixi-enabled devices to the same Target.

10. Under Channel Type, verify that ZEN Master Channel is selected (default).

11. In the Channel field, select from the drop-down list the channel that will be sent to the target. (Optional field)

    The Target will only become functional once a Channel has been assigned to it. However, you can configure the Target settings and then add a Channel to the Target after the initial configuration.

12. In the Source Preference field, select one of the following options:

    • Any Source – the Target will establish a connection to any available source in the Channel. Upon any disconnects with the current source, the Target will reconnect to another available source in the Channel.
    • Primary Sources Only – the Target will establish and maintain connection to a source designated as Primary in the Channel. Upon loss of connection to that source, the Target will establish a connection to another available Primary source in the Channel.
    • Backup Sources Only – the Target will establish and maintain connection to a source designated as Backup in the Channel. Upon loss of connection to that source, the Target will establish connection to another available Backup source in the Channel.
    • Prefer Primary Sources – when this setting is selected, if there is a primary source and a backup source with the same status, ZEN Master will prefer the primary source. However, for example, if the backup source has an OK status and the primary source has a Frozen Video detected error, the backup source will be selected.  
    • Prefer Backup Sources – when this setting is selected, if there is a primary source and a backup source with the same status, ZEN Master will prefer the backup source. However, for example, if the primary source has an OK status and the backup source has a Frozen Video detected error, the backup source will be selected. 

    • Specific Source – select one of the specific sources listed. The Target will only establish a connection to the selected source and will not try to connect to any other source in the Channel.

      If it is not possible to select "Prefer Primary Sources" or "Prefer Backup Sources". This means you cannot have a Target failover from a Primary to a Backup source in the Channel unless "Any Source" is selected.

13. In the Device section select the device type of the Pull Target. Options are:
    
    • Other – a Zixi-enabled device that is not managed in ZEN Master. You will need to manually configure the connection to the device.
    • Receiver – a Zixi Receiver that is managed in ZEN Master. ZEN will automatically configure the Receiver to pull the channel.

    • Broadcaster - a Zixi Broadcaster that is managed in ZEN Master. ZEN will automatically configure the Receiver to pull the channel.

    • ZEC - a ZEC that is managed in ZEN Master. ZEN ZEN will automatically configure the ZEC to pull the Channel.

      This selection as well as the following step are relevant only for Single mode. For Dynamic Targets, you will need to connect each Receiver or Zixi-enabled device manually, using the procedure described in Connecting an Unmanaged Pull Target.

14. Enter the required information for the selected device type as follows: 
    • For device type Other –
      1. In the Receiver Name/ID field, enter the Receiver or Broadcaster name (for a Zixi Receiver/Broadcaster) or Device ID (for other Zixi-enabled device such as IRD or decoder).
      2. To connect the Zixi-enabled device to ZEN Master follow the procedure described in Connecting an Unmanaged Pull Target.
    • For device type Receiver–
      1. In the Receiver field, select from the drop-down list a Receiver that is managed by ZEN Master.

      2. In the Receiver Output field, select one or more of the Receiver's outputs. (Optional field)

         If you would like to remove the selected Broadcaster Output, click on the 'X' in the Receiver Output textbox.

      3. In the Input NICs field, if you would like to specify which NICs are used, then select the IPs of one or more NICs from the drop-down list. By default, Any is selected.

         Multiple NICs are only supported in Active/Active Failover mode.

    • For device type Broadcaster–
      1. In the Broadcaster field, select from the drop-down list a Broadcaster that is managed by ZEN Master.

      2. In the Broadcaster Output field, select one or more of the Broadcaster's outputs. (Optional field)

         If you would like to remove the selected Broadcaster Output, click on the 'X' in the Broadcaster Output textbox.

      3. In the Input NICs field, if you would like to specify which NICs are used, then select the IPs of one or more NICs from the drop-down list. By default, Any is selected.

         Multiple NICs are only supported in Active/Active Failover mode.

    • For device type ZEC –
      1. In the ZEC field, select from the drop-down list a ZEC that is managed by ZEN Master.

      2. In the ZEC Output field, select one or more of the ZEC's outputs. (Optional field)

         If you would like to remove the selected ZEC Output, click on the ‘X’ in the ZEC Output textbox.

      3. In the Input NICs field, if you would like to specify which NICs are used, then select the IPs of one or more NICs from the drop-down list. By default, Any is selected

         Multiple NICs are only supported in Active/Active Failover mode.

15. In the Password field, enter a password for accessing the Channel OR click Random to generate a random password. (Optional field)
16. In the Latency field, enter the latency in milliseconds OR leave empty to use remote configuration (default).
17. If you would like to apply a PID Mapping profile to this Target, then in the PID Mapping Profile field, select the desired profile from the dropdown list. For more information, see PID Mapping Profiles.
18. In the Encryption section, if you would like to encrypt the stream, select one of the encryption methods. Options are: Disabled (default), AES 128, AES 192 or AES 256.
19. If Encryption was selected, in the Encryption Key field, enter an encryption key that will be used to encrypt the connection OR click Random to generate a random encryption key.

20. Select Prefer Private Broadcaster IP if you would like ZEN to configure connections to to use private broadcaster IPs when available. The default behavior when this is not selected is to prefer use of public IPs.

21. In the Failover Mode section, select the desired mode, options are:
    • Alternative Hosts – the receiver pulls a single Source at a time and reconnects when an error occurs. (Default)

    • Stream Switch - the receiver pulls both Sources together. On v12.2+ Receivers this creates a hitless failover stream. On earlier Receivers it creates two inputs for a single output.

      Active/Active mode is only available for outputs that are configured as Hitless Failover.

22. In the Initial State section, select the Disabled checkbox if you would like to disable this Target upon initial configuration.

23. Select the Muted checkbox if you would like to disable error/recovery notifications for this Target upon initial configuration.

    You can Enable/Unmute the Target at any time.

24. If you would like to configure Advanced settings, click on Advanced.
    The Advanced settings are shown.
    
25. In the Failover Latency [ms] field, enter the desired latency. Default: 5000

26. If you would like to use the Target name as the Stream ID, select the Use Name as Stream ID checkbox.

    The default behavior is that ZEN Master automatically generates the Stream ID. In general, leaving the default behavior is recommended.

27. If you would like to track usage for this Target, enter your Billing Code details, see Billing Codes. (Supported for Broadcasters v14.8+)
28. Click Save.

Zixi Pull Target Configuration Parameters Table

• Connecting an Unmanaged Pull Target