IP-Based KVM: What Are The Benefits?

In a market where broadcasters, post houses and studios are striving to do more with less, operational efficiency and effectiveness and associated savings have never been so important, writes John Halksworth, Senior Product Manager, Adder Technology.

It is in these circumstances that technology can play a key role in optimising efficiencies. IP-based KVM (keyboard, video and mouse) is one such technology.

KVM is not a new technology and has been in use for decades. However, it is the use of IP as a transport network that is helping make control rooms more reliable, more versatile and more efficient. The broadcast environment has traditionally been an area dominated by bespoke, proprietary technology. IP-based high performance KVM breaks that mould and delivers a multitude of benefits to users including outside broadcast, the broadcast gallery and post production.

The main reason for this is its use of standard IP that is ubiquitous and is already present in existing IT infrastructures.

Removing the limitations
IP-based high performance KVM essentially breaks down the limitations of traditional hardware by bringing real-time, lossless, accurate video operation to broadcast organisations – more specifically, HD quality at 60 frames per second. This is accompanied with the ability to switch, extend and share machines (and content) without loss of quality or performance.

In the gallery
The broadcast control room is a highly pressurised environment where space is limited. KVM ensures that the physical machines can be relocated to another area entirely with fanless remote units. In this way, the gallery is more ergonomic with more space and comfort, as well as less heat and noise. There are also benefits for the machines themselves as they can be moved to a dedicated server room that is access and temperature controlled.

IP-based KVM is ideal as IP is reliable, resilient and cost-effective and already forms the basis of the control room's infrastructure. As a result, the investment has already been made and no significant capital investment is needed to take advantage of this technology.

There is a necessity within the control room to move effortlessly between shots and content to create a smooth flow. KVM solutions, such as switches and extenders, enable operators to quickly and accurately switch control between many different systems and workflows, from one desk. This enables multiple users to share the resources from disparate locations.

This not only helps the actual workflow and collaborative projects, but also ensures that the staff complement can be more effectively used, especially in situations such as late night news productions where fewer employees can perform the same number of functions compared to the daytime team. In addition, a huge variety of USB devices, including touch screens are often incorporated into the system to bring an added element of usability to operations.

IP-based KVM in post production
In the post production environment a quiet, comfortable and functional working space is needed regardless of the work users are doing. Technology supports the functionality of the post suite and KVM specifically enables the machines to be relocated to another room in the same way as it does in the control room. Again, editors and users are able to work in a room without noise and excess heat, while still having access to exactly what they need without any loss in quality or performance. It also allows users to seamlessly switch between different resources.

Post houses can rent out their facilities on a daily, weekly and monthly basis and need to configure the suites according to the requirements of the users. It is here that IP-based KVM yields even more benefits.

Editing suites can be easily configured with little effort, increasing the uptime of each room with no need for technical staff applying patches or making changes.

This is especially advantageous when clients bring in their own machines to the studio, as they can be quickly taken to the server room and integrated with the KVM solution, negating the need for connections, cables and technical support. Once the editing suite is free, the client simply sits down; clicks a button to switch configuration and their content and software are displayed on the screen.

The future of IP-based high performance KVM
Just as KVM is yielding significant benefits in other command and control applications in terms of reliability, flexibility and scalability, its increasing presence across broadcast is delivering the same advantages. This adoption and integration will further increase in the near future as the industry seeks new ways to be more efficient, new functionality arrives and the move away from relying on inflexible, proprietary technologies gains momentum.

The article is also available to read in BFV online.

(IT/JP)