Adding a Zixi-Feeder MediaConnect Source

You can add an input from a Zixi Feeder to an AWS MediaConnect Ingest Cluster to be managed as a source in ZEN. In this case, the Feeder is referred to as the Origin Feeder which streams to the Ingest Cluster. The streaming uses the Zixi protocol. Once the AWS MediaConnect Flow channel is configured, ZEN Master will automatically configure the component to push the stream to the relevant MediaConnect Flow.

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It is possible to apply Network Bonding to the stream. This divides the stream into several network channels using multiple NICs and subsequently reunites them at the Ingest Cluster. You can specify which NICs are used for Bonding or you can select Automatic to enable ZEN Master to divide the bandwidth evenly among all available NICs. 

You can select several inputs from a single Feeder to simultaneously create a new Source for each input.

The following procedure describes how to add a Zixi Feeder MediaConnect Source . In addition, an explanation of each of the configuration parameters is given in the table below.

To create a Zixi-Feeder MediaConnect Source:

1. In the main navigation, click Sources.

2. Click + Add.
   The Create New Source window is displayed.
   
   

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3. Under AWS Media, click on AWS MediaConnect.
   The Create New AWS Media Source window opens.
   
   

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4. In the Info section, in the Name field, type a logical name for the Source.

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 Source 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 Source. 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. In the Input section, under Protocol, select the Zixi radio button. 

8. In the Application section, select Feeder. For a Zixi Feeder that is managed by ZEN Master, ZEN Master automatically configures the Feeder to push the stream to MediaConnect.

9. In the Feeder field, select from the drop-down list one of the available Feeders.

10. In the Feeder Input field, select the input from the drop-down menu.

11. In the Bonding section, select the radio button for the desired bonding mode. Options are:

    1. None (default) – no bonding

    2. Manual – you specify which NICs are used for bonding

    3. Auto – all available NICs are used for bonding

• If you selected None for Bonding, then in the Feeder Output NIC field, you would need to specify which NIC is used. Then select the IP of that NIC from the drop-down list. By default, Any is selected.

• If you selected Manual for Bonding, then in the Feeder Output NIC field, use the following procedure to specify which NICs are used.
  Select two or more NICs by clicking the button for each of the desired NICs.
  
  

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Selected NICs are shown above the Filter box. (You can remove an NIC by clicking the button for that NIC).

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For each selected NIC, you can adjust the following parameters:

• In the Max Bitrate field, enter the maximum bitrate to be used on this NIC.

• If you want to use this NIC only when there isn’t sufficient bandwidth available on the other NICs, then select the Backup checkbox.
  
  

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12. In the Latency [ms] field, select the latency time for the stream (default 4000).

13. You are required by MediaConnect to enter a valid Whitelist CIDR block. The whitelist CIDR block is a range of IP addresses that should be allowed to contribute content to your source. These IP addresses must be in the form of a Classless Inter-Domain Routing block. For example, 10.0.0.0/16. Through source needs to be in the range covered by this CIDR block. Any IP address with this range is allowed to send content to this flow.

14. In the Initial State section, select the Muted checkbox if you would like to disable error/recovery notifications for this Source upon initial configuration. You can Unmute the Source at any time.
    
    

Parameter	Description
Info
Name	Specify a name for the AWS Media Source in ZEN Master.
Tags	Select one or more of the predefined Tags from the drop-down list. Tags are used for access control. By selecting an Tag, you are relating this Source 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.
Events Configuration Profile	Select from the dropdown list the profile that you would like to apply to this Source. By default, the Default profile is applied. Note: Events Profiles consist of a series of rules that determine precisely how various types of Events are logged and what results they trigger.
Input
Protocol	To create a Zixi Input AWS Media Source, verify that Zixi is selected (default).
Application	Select Feeder. For a Zixi Feeder that is managed by ZEN Master, ZEN Master automatically configures the Feeder to push the stream to MediaConnect.
Feeder	Select from the drop-down list the desired Feeder.
Feeder Input	Select from the drop-down list one of the Inputs that are available on the selected Feeder.
Bonding	Select the desired bonding mode. Options are: None (default) – no bonding Manual – you specify which NICs are used for bonding Auto – all available NICs are used for bonding
Feeder Output NIC/s (for None and Manual bonding)	If you would like to specify which NIC is used, then select the IP of that NIC from the drop-down list. By default, Any is selected. If you selected Manual for Bonding, then click the  button for each of the NICs that you would like to use.Selected NICs are shown above the Filter box. (You can remove a NIC by clicking the  button for that NIC). Open For each selected NIC, you can adjust the following parameters: In the Max Bitrate field, enter the maximum bitrate to be used on this NIC. If you want to use this NIC only when there isn’t sufficient bandwidth available on the other NICs, then select the Backup checkbox. If the Backup checkbox is not selected then this NIC is used in parallel with the other selected NICs.
Max Bitrate	Select from the drop-down list the maximum bitrate for this Source. Make sure that the value is greater than the max bitrate for the input. The default is set automatically based on the current bitrate of the input.
Latency [ms]	Specify the latency time for the stream (default 4000).
Whitelist CIDR Block	Specify the CIDR for the range of IPs that you would like to allow to contribute content to this Source. You are required by MediaConnect to enter a valid Whitelist CIDR block.
Initial State
Muted	Select this checkbox if you would like to disable error/recovery notifications for this Source upon initial configuration.