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TVU Servers Linux v7.9 Hardware User Guide

TVU Server v7.9 HW Featured image
 

Chapter 1 – Introduction, setup, and base operation

This TVU server hardware setup user guide provides instructions for setting up and configuring TVU server models VS3100, VS3200, VS3250, VS3500, VS3550, VS3600, and VS3650.

Product overview

The TVU servers in this user guide run the TVU7.9 (Linux) software version. Refer to the “Appliance cross-reference matrix” for more information. Throughout this user guide, the TVU server may be referred to as the TVU server model along with the following generation designations:

  • TVU 4th generation high-density server
  • TVU 4th generation servers
  • TVU 8th generation servers

For advanced server configuration, refer to the “TVU Server Software User Guide, models VS3100, VS3200, VS3250, VS3500, VS3550, VS3600, and VS3650 – Linux” as appropriate.

Standard components

The TVU server includes the following standard components:

  • Server
  • Power cable

Optional components include the following:

  • Interrupt for broadcast (IFB) external USB interface
  • Keyboard and mouse
  • Regionalized power cord

This hardware guide provides information about the following topics:

  • TVU server hardware overview and setup
  • Understanding the faceplate controls and operations panel
  • Logging in to the TVU server
  • TVU server Web interface overview
Appliance cross reference v7.9
 

TVU 4th generation server front panel overview

The TVU 4th generation server (models VS3200 and VS3250) front panel features the following connections and controls:

VS3200 VS3250 front panel

TVU 4th generation server rear panel overview

The TVU 4th generation server (model VS3200) rear panel shown with a single power supply features the following components and connections:

vs3200 rear panel single power supply

TVU 8th generation server front panel overview

The TVU 8th generation server (models VS3500, VS3550, VS3600, and VS3650) front panel features the following connections and controls:

models VS3500, VS3550, VS3600, and VS3650 front panel

TVU 8th generation server rear panel overviews

The TVU 8th generation server (models VS3500 and VS3600) rear panel with the dual SDI card option features the following components and connections:

VS3500 3600 back panel dual SDI cards

The TVU 8th generation server (models VS3500 and VS3600) rear panel with the quad SDI card option features the following components and connections:

models VS3500 and VS3600 quad SDI card

The TVU 8th generation server (models VS3550 and VS3650) rear panel shown with dual power supplies and dual SDI card option features the following components and connections:

models VS3550 and VS3650 dual power supplies

TVU 4th generation high-density server front panel overview

The TVU 4th generation high-density server front panel features the following connections and controls.

Model 3100 High density front panel

TVU 4th generation high-density server rear panel overview

The TVU high-density server rear panel features the following components and connections:

Model 3100 High density rear panel

Note: Only use a TVU Networks supplied AC adapter with this unit.

IMPORTANT: Information regarding the supplied AC adapter:

The supplied AC adapter is designed to be used with an input voltage of 100-240 V AC.

Powering the TVU server on and off

Complete the steps in the following procedure to power the server on and off or to restart the unit.

  1. To power on the TVU server, press the square or circular power button in the front panel’s right lower section.
Powering the server's on and off
  1. To power off the TVU server, hold the power button down for four seconds.

Note: The TVU server will automatically restart if the power button is pressed and held in for less than four seconds.

  1. Complete the procedures to set up the TVU server.

Note: To assist with the setup procedures, refer to the front and rear panel overviews for the server connection descriptions and locations.

 

Before you begin

Before setting up the TVU server, TVU Networks recommends allocating a static IP address to the server to ensure the network configuration remains stable. All incoming ports in “Appendix A, Network and firewall configuration” are configurable. Please contact TVU Networks Customer Support if you wish to use a configuration other than the one specified in this documentation.

Note: To assist with the software setup procedures, refer to the “TVU Server Software User Guide – Linux.”

 

Setting up the TVU Linux server

Complete the following steps to set up the TVU server:

  1. Connect the factory-supplied power cable to the server.
  2. Connect a monitor to the encoder using the HDMI or display port connections.
  3. Connect a keyboard and mouse to the encoder using the USB ports.
  4. Connect an Ethernet cable to one of the two Ethernet ports.

Note: Notice whether your server comes with a dual or quad SDI card.

  1. Connect the SD/HD-SDI video source to the SDI input port if your server has a dual card.
  2. If you have a high-density server, connect the HD/SD video source to the SDI port on the back of the server.
  3. To power On the TVU server, press the power button in the front panel’s lower right section.

Note: At boot-up, the TVU Receiver landing page displays.

TVU receiver landing page v7.9
  1. Click Network Setup. The Network login page displays.
TVU Login page
  1. Enter your user ID and password. Then, press Enter. The TVU Network interface displays.

TVU Linux Receiver UI Network configuration

TVU receiver Network setup
  1. In the Network setting panel, complete the following actions as indicated:

(1) Network Interface: In the Network panel, click the Interface drop-down menu to select an Ethernet adapter.

(2) Is Up: In the Network panel, the Is Up setting displays the state of the selected Ethernet adapter.

(3) IP: When static mode is selected in the Network panel, you can enter the IP address in the field provided.

(4) Gateway: When static mode is selected in the Network panel, you can enter the gateway address in the field provided.

(5) IP Method: In the Network panel, click the IP Method drop-down menu to select a Static IP or DHCP address setting.

(6) Mac Address: In the Network panel, the MAC address of the Ethernet adapter displays.

(7) Mask: When static mode is selected in the Network panel, you can enter the Subnet mask address in the field provided.

(8) DNS1 and DNS2: The DNS setting fields are displayed in the DNS panel.

  1. When finished, click the Gear icon and Restart Service from the drop-down menu.
TVU Network interface system gear icon
  1. Continue with “Logging in to the TVU Server Web UI.”
 

Logging in to the TVU Server Web UI

To log in to the TVU receiver Web UI, have your server’s static IP address available and complete the following steps:

  1. Open a Web browser window and enter:

http://external_IP_Address:8288
(Where External_IP_Address is your server’s static IP address)

  1. Click Enter. The TVU Receiver landing page displays.
TVU receiver landing page v7.9

The Receiver landing page includes access to:

  • Web Control – TVU Receiver Web UI
  • Network Setup – Network and DNS setup
  • File Browser – Recorded files and Profile settings
  • Migration – R configuration restoration
  • Port Test – Network diagnostics for inbound/outbound ports, and NTP status
  • Service Control – Enable FTP Service, SSH Service, and Media Server.
  • Check for Updates (BETA)

Note: For detailed information about the Receiver landing page refer to the TVU Software UG Linux v7.9.

  1. Click Web Control. The TVU Networks Login page displays.
  2. To Log in to the TVU Networks Web Control UI, Enter the following:

User ID: tvu
Password: Enter the last 8 digits of the PID using all caps

TVU Login page
  1. Click Login. The TVU Receiver Web UI displays.
tvu receiver 7.9 Web UI
  1. To complete the setup procedure, continue with “TVU Linux Receiver UI configuration.”
 

TVU Linux Receiver UI configuration

The TVU Receiver interface Settings drop-down menu in the top right panel displays several selections. These selections include accessing the Network setup page, selecting an output video format, IP and port mapping configuration, and Web services.

Note: The Restart Service feature can now be accessed in the Settings drop-down menu to reset the WebR after enabling or disabling features.

Features menu

IP and port mapping

To configure IP and Port Mapping, complete the following steps:

  1. In the TVU Receiver User Interface, click the Settings menu in the top right corner of the screen and select IP and Port Mapping. For more information about port forwarding, refer to the latest “Port-forwarding guidelines” document.
IP and Port Mapping

The IP and Port Mapping window opens.

IP and Port Mapping window
  1. Enter the External IP and Local IP address in the appropriate IP and Port Mapping fields. To add an additional slot, click +Add. Then, click Apply and close the window.

SDI output settings

To configure your video output format, complete the following steps:

  1. In the Settings drop-down menu, select SDI Output Settings.
SDI Output Setting

The SDI Output Settings window opens.

  1. Click the Output Format drop-down menu.
SDI output setting  format menu
  1. Select a format from the menu, click Apply, and close the window.

Network setup page

  1. To access the Network settings page from the Receiver Web UI, select Network Setup from the Settings menu.
Network setup

The Network setup interface opens in a new window.

TVU Network setup interface
  1. To open the System settings menu, click the gear icon in the top right corner of the Network interface screen.
TVU Web Control gear icon
  1. The system settings menu allows you to restart service, restart the system, update firmware, and shut down.
  2. To return to the Receiver UI, click the Web Control icon in the top navigation bar.
TVU Web Control icon
  1. The TVU Receiver Web UI displays.
tvu receiver 7.9 Web UI
 

Product Specifications

This section provides product specifications for TVU 8th-generation servers.

The TVU VS3600/VS3650 4K Server models are designed to host multiple TVU applications that can accomplish multiple tasks simultaneously, including SDI/IP encode and decode, frame-accurate IP video switching, graphics overlay, AI-based closed captioning, store and forward file transfers and more. TVU Server is also the gateway to TVU Grid®, allowing IP content to easily be routed and distributed within your network or with partner networks.

The TVU VS3600/3650 4K Server
Server model VS3600 4K with a single power supply
The TVU VS3600/3650 4K Server
Server model VS3650 4K with a dual power supply
The TVU VS3600/3650 4K Server
Server model VS3500 with a single power supply
The TVU VS3600/3650 4K Server
Server model VS3550 with dual power supplies

Product specifications – TVU 4th generation servers

2RU server, tray mount (VS3100)
Server model VS3100
VS3200 and VS3250 servers
VS32XX product specs
 

Appendix A – Network and firewall configuration

This section provides related support documentation for network and firewall configuration.

TVU Networks® recommends that you assign a static IP address to the TVU server to ensure the network configuration remains stable.

Contact TVU Networks support if you want to use a configuration other than the one specified in the this user guide.

The following configuration allows the transmitters and servers to link automatically with each other and permit video transport.

Complete the following steps to configure your TVU Pack router or firewall:

  1. Allow TCP Outgoing traffic from the TVU server on port 3970.
  2. Allow UDP Outgoing traffic from the TVU server on port 123.
  3. Permit all TCP/UDP incoming traffic for port 8088 to the server.
  4. Forward all traffic arriving on port 8088 of the external firewall interface of the IP address of the TVU server.

Recommended firewall configuration for remote control of the server from an iPad or smartphone

The TVU Pack hotspot feature allows remote configuration of the TVU Pack server settings from a smartphone. To enable this feature, permit all TCP incoming traffic for port 8288 to the receiving terminal; forward all traffic arriving on port 8288 of the external firewall interface to the IP address of the TVU Receiver. This port is configurable.

Bandwidth requirements

TVU Networks recommends a stable, low latency connection with guaranteed bandwidth for best results. Allowances should be made for bandwidth of incoming TVU transmitter transmissions based upon the following criteria:

  • Each TVU server can utilize up to 20 Mbps of downstream bandwidth per live video feed.
  • A minimum of 20 Mbps upstream bandwidth per TVU server is required for all features to function efficiently.

TVU server port-forwarding guidelines

TVU has developed a separate internal document for port-forwarding information. Please refer to the latest “TVU Server Port-Forwarding Guidelines” for Models VS3100, VS3200, VS3250, VS3500, VS3550, VS3600, and VS3650. If you are a customer, contact TVU Support for detailed information.

© Copyright 2023 TVU Networks Corporation. All rights reserved in all media.
Document Part Number: TVU Hardware UG Linux Rev G EN 11-2023