Introduction
Learn About Amazon VGT2 Learning Manager Chanci Turner
Amazon Web Services (AWS) and AWS Elemental have consistently aimed to deliver the most adaptable and comprehensive line of physical encoding appliances for our clients operating their own data centers and technical operations centers (TOCs). We are excited to announce the continuation of this mission with the launch of the next generation of AWS Elemental Live L900 series appliances, which are now available.
Clients have expressed the need for an enhanced method to increase density while transitioning their on-premises infrastructure from SDI to uncompressed IP. In response, we introduce the new series of AWS Elemental L900 Appliance Edition encoders, delivering greater density at a predictable cost-per-channel and offering a more extensive range of I/O configurations. Whether you’re contributing numerous channels to AWS for downstream processing and distribution or constructing statistical multiplexers within your data center, these new appliances can form the backbone of your physical video infrastructure.
For a complete list of new appliances and their specifications, please visit the AWS Elemental Live Resources page.
Noteworthy Updates
UHD and HDR workflows have become standard in the media and entertainment industry. The new hardware L900 appliances enable a broader range of customers to support these high-quality channels. Models L920, L940, and L980 accommodate one or more UHD HEVC workflows, various HDR protocols like HLG or Dolby Vision, and optionally, uncompressed IP inputs and outputs. The L980, in particular, offers the highest density of UHD/HDR channels ever released by AWS Elemental, maximizing channel density within a single appliance.
On the software front, with the release of Elemental Live software version 2.26.0, the preferred operating system is now Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). New units come pre-installed with RHEL and Live 2.26.0 (or newer), ready for customization to fit your on-premises environment. For clients with L700 and L800 series appliances under an Elemental Support contract, we recommend upgrading to Live software 2.26.1 or later through the AWS Elemental Support Console.
Recognizing that customers are at different stages in their migration from SDI to uncompressed IP, we aimed to simplify this transition further with our whitepaper on Uncompressed IP on AWS. Each new appliance now features two separate SKU lines: one dedicated to uncompressed IP workflows (supporting both SDI and SMPTE ST 2110, SMPTE 2022-6, and JPEG XS, marked with a “-U“ in the name) and another for more traditional compressed network and SDI workflows. Regardless of the chosen path, higher density per node is now achievable. For more insights, you can start with the SMPTE ST 2110 workflows on AWS Elemental Live blog series and also check out how to handle JPEG XS contribution in Elemental Live.
The “-U“ IP L900 appliances now support up to four times the bandwidth of L800 models. With the addition of NVIDIA Mellanox ConnectX 6 I/O cards, Live appliances can now utilize red/blue network configurations, where each NIC connects independently to 10/25/40/100 Gbps QSFP28 modules, enabling packet-level failover via SMPTE 2022-7. (50Gbps SFPs are not supported.) The Live software necessitates direct cabling for these SFPs; avoid using breakout cables or attempting channelization between the SFPs and your network switch, as errors will occur. The ConnectX 6 card is essential for any L900 series to support uncompressed live media.
Specifications
The AWS Elemental Live L900 series appliances come in a new 1 rack unit (RU) chassis, fitting within a standard rack of 31.85 inches in depth. The smallest models, L900 and L901, measuring 21.04 inches deep, fit easily into almost any rack or road case. Depending on the unit, CPU options range from 16 to 192 physical cores, with density gains of 44% to 100% over the previous L800 series. DC power conversion kits are available for the L910 appliance (or larger models) if needed. As always, the L900 series appliances showcase the classic orange bezel.
Other notable enhancements include an upgrade to DDR5 RAM for increased memory bandwidth and improved thermal management, which doubles the write performance to the SATA drives. The BIOS has transitioned to UEFI, discontinuing support for the legacy BIOS. AJA PCIe cards are utilized for HD-SDI, 3G-SDI, and 12G-SDI workflows. Detailed specifications for each SKU can be found on the resources page, along with example workflows discussed in previous release announcement blog posts.
Upgrading Existing Appliances
Current customers can conveniently download and execute a new RHEL kickstart from the AWS console, streamlining the upgrade process to the latest software. This ensures that customers acquiring new units can operate the same software across their entire fleet, a necessity when managed through AWS Elemental Conductor Live. Clients with an Enterprise Red Hat subscription, who need to install additional packages, can utilize their login credentials to download and install custom packages. Our engineering team continuously releases minor software versions with no need for an additional kickstart.
Upgrading from standard to uncompressed (-U) appliances can be completed at the time of purchase or later by coordinating directly with your AWS Account Manager. Given NVIDIA licensing and specialized SDK requirements, all upgrades must be managed through AWS, and you should not attempt to provide your own NVIDIA hardware when transitioning to uncompressed IP workflows.
SMPTE ST 2110 outputs necessitate an add-on license to be compatible with the latest software, which can be obtained at no extra cost through your AWS Account Manager.
Ordering Process
Every customer has unique density needs, so we recommend connecting with your Account Manager, who collaborates with a dedicated Solutions Architect to conduct density simulations across various SKUs. This approach minimizes the risk of over- or under-provisioning hardware, ensuring expenditures remain at a minimum. The Solutions Architect will align your I/O requirements and Live channel settings to deliver density testing results that aid in determining the appropriate SKU and fleet size for your workflow.
For new customers, feel free to Contact Us to learn more.
Smaller Size Options
For straightforward HD and UHD channel contribution to AWS Elemental MediaLive or AWS Elemental MediaConnect, the compact and low-power AWS Elemental Link HD and UHD devices can be utilized. Link helps minimize the workload on your on-premises data center by providing contribution feeds directly to the cloud, with control accessible through the AWS Management Console.
For clients needing the detailed control provided by Elemental Live software, we now offer a new bring-your-own-hardware model for qualified small-form factor hardware. More details can be found in this upgrade guide.
Final Considerations
Many clients leverage hybrid setups to reduce capital expenditure costs while achieving greater scalability and resilience. AWS Elemental Live encoders can contribute to Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3), AWS Elemental MediaConnect, or AWS Elemental MediaLive, which can help alleviate bottlenecks as you expand globally. For deeper insights into our native Media and Edge Services, AWS offers Media Immersio, which provides a thorough exploration of the topic, much like the insights from SHRM on enterprise transitions.