Example Deployment
From OptIPortal
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OptIPortal Example
An OptIPortal will consist of the following components:
- Tiled Wall - used for data presentation and collaboration
- HD VTC Sending/Receiving Station
- 1Gb to 10Gb persistent network connection to the OptIPuter network
Example
Network requirements: 1Gb to 10Gb research level connectivity to the OptIPuter network for collaboration on shared data sets and to allow for clean HD video conferencing.
3x4 (3 row by 4 column) OptIPortal, with 30" LCD tiles driven by 6 cluster nodes (each driving two tiles each) and the head-node. The build also require framing, the following example uses framing from 80/20.
A 24 port 1Gb switch with the potential of adding a 1 to 10Gb uplink. This switch will be used primarily for internal node communication.
A separate PC to be used for receiving and sending of HD video signal.
Hardware
- Nodes and Tiles (7-nodes + 13-tiles = $30K): Dell 390: Core2Duo 1.8GHz, 4GB RAM, 500GB disk, nVidia 8600 GTS 512MB graphics card additional 1Gb NIC. Dell 3007 30" LCDs.
- Framing for tiles (80/20 $2K) - order described in: 30-inch Parts List Spreadsheet
- Network Switch ($1K): SMC TigerSwitch 1000 28-port Managed Switch with Two Optional 10Gb Uplinks
- HD Video Hardware ($15K)
- Video:
- Camera: Panasonic DVCproHD (AG-HVX200 - DVCproHD Pricing $4.5K)
- Display: Sharp Model: Aquos LC-45GX8U ($1.5K)
- Misc: DVI to HDMI cable (connect PC nVidia GeForce 7900 GTX DVI ouput to Sharp break-up box. Only way to obtain HD from Sharp TV)
- Streaming server/receiver:
- Convert firewire packets into ethernet packets: 1 x Qvidium box (QVidiumHD 1394 IP Gateway: QVidiumHD Pricing $4K)
- PC to receive, decompress and render audio and video stream (Dell 390 w/nVidia 8600 $1.8K):
- Intel quad core CPU @ 2.66 GHz (to avoid bottleneck in the decoding) or better.
- nVidia GeForce 7900 GTX graphics card (to avoid bottleneck in the decoding and rendering) or better.
- 1 GB of RAM or more.
- If you want to record the input stream: a fast SATA2 10000 rpm hard disk
- Intel PRO/1000 MT Dual Port Server network card (NIC) (motherboard NIC is usually not very good quality and can cause packets drop).
- Good audio board (embedded motherboard sound chip is OK).
- Audio Input:
- Noise cancelation microphone, ClearOne Model: ACCUMIC PC
- Mono un-balance to balance : Whirlwind Model: pcDI Direct Box
- Split mono balance to two-channel balance: Pro-Co Sound Model: MS-3
- Misc: 3 x XLR to XLR mono patch cables (will work out lengths with Javier)
- Audio Output:
- Speakers: 2 x Powered Monitor Speaker Yamaha, Model: HS 50M
- Audio mixer & convert stereo RCA to 1/4" phone plug: PEAVEY ELECTRONICS CORPORATION Model: PV6
- Misc:
- Connect mixer to speakers: 2 x 1/4" to 1/4" mono patch cable (length depends on the setting).
- Connect audio output to mixer input: 1 x 3.5mm stereo plug to RCA plug x 2 Y-Cable.
- Lighting:
- A pair of Videossence light fixtures (stand mount)
- Video:
System Requirements
System Software
The OptIPortal is built with Rocks, all software is provided via the Rocks installation - the specific OptIPortal components are obtained via the Viz Roll.
Downloads
Download the Kernel Roll and Viz Roll Here
Note: download the kernel and viz roll iso's, boot from the kernel roll cd and follow the instructions in the documentation
Documentation
Rocks Installation Guide
Rocks Viz Roll Installation Guide
Middleware
This is the software that sits on top of Rocks that allows you to display images and/or video on one or more tiles.
Chromium
Available as part of the Viz Roll - see Rocks Viz Roll Installation Guide
Covise
CGLX
SAGE
SAGE Site Note: we are currently awaiting the release of SAGE 3.x
General Hardware Discussion
Below is a general discussion of hardware that has been deployed using the base system software underlying the OptIPortal.
System Hardware
Since Rocks is the software environment upon which the OptIPortal is based, the hardware requirements for the OptIPortal are essentially those for Rocks. Most of the deployments of OptIPortals have been done on commodity hardware, running Intel or AMD processors. Configurations are possible in which each computer in the cluster can drive one, two or more displays depending on the performance and capabilities of the chose graphics interface. OptIPortals can be optimized for specific functionality in terms of processor speed, network bandwidth, storage capacity and memory availability.
OptIPortals whose primary application include streaming media and interactive collaboration are generally built on bandwidth balanced platforms, in which each display has general access to 50% or more of a Gigabit network interface throughput. Such systems are usually multi-core but need not consist of the fastest processors available. Each core generally has a Gigabit of memory available. The goal here is for a balanced bisection between communications speed and processor bandwidth. Computers in these systems computers generally drive 1-2 displays each.
OptIPortals that are maximized for pixel space (large display walls in excess of 30 displays or hundreds of megapixels) are usually driven by fewer computers (that is, each computer may drive 4 or more displays). As such, the computers are generally based on higher speed multi-core processors with 2 Gigabyte or more of memory each and ideally 10GigE network interfaces.
Network Hardware
A 1Gb switch is the minimum requirement for inter-nodal communication. We have used a variety of commodity switches for the cluster communication, including Cisco, Force10, SMC and NetGear.
OptIPuter Network
If you wish to connect to the OptIPuter network, be certain to verify network connectivity with your Network Engineer. You will need additional ports on your inter-nodal switch to accomodate the OptIPuter connectivity - depending upon which switch you have purchased, you may choose to use a second switch for this purpose. Please direct any questions to mailto:optiportal@calit2.net.
Graphical Hardware
Displays
Most displays suitable for computing environments will operate, however, if you will be displaying high definition imaging, it is best to use a relatively modern LCD display for your displays. We have typically used 24" and 30" LCDs.
Graphics Cards
Be sure to choose a graphics card that can drive your displays at the desired resolution. You will have to balance heat and power requirements for the systems you have selected (and for the location where the OptIPortal will reside). Proper heat balancing is essential to the longevity of the systems driving the displays. Recent deployments have used nVidia projects, examples include: Quadro NVS 285 series (low), GeForce 8800 (mid) and Quadro FX 5600 (high). Choose the model that best meets your applicatoin needs (and that doesn't exceed your hardware specifications).
Framing
The vendor we have used mosted often for OptIPortal framing is a company named 80/20. Below are two spreadsheets that can be used to generate a parts list for two example OptIPortals, one based on 24" Dell LCDs and the other on 30" Dell LCDs.
How to Assemble the Frame
24-inch Parts List Spreadsheet
30-inch Parts List Spreadsheet
Framing Supply Contacts
- Mike Fanolla
- F & L Industrial Solutions, Inc.
- (858) 271-6732
- fandlindsol@sbcglobal.net
HD Video Conferencing
Note: the list below is just one option - the option below will provide very high quallity results, however, alternate solutions are available that can be used in a stand-alone fashion - such as using commercial products like LifeSize.
HD Video Conferencing is achieved by setting up separate sending and receiving machines and then pushing the output to the OptIPortals using an API to communicate to the respective middleware, currently this would be CGLX or SAGE. Our current recommendation is to use a Qvidiuim box attached to the PC to do the HD streaming to another Qvideum setup at a remote location.
HD Video Conferencing Hardware
- Video:
- Camera: Panasonic DVCproHD
- Display: Sharp Model: Aquos LC-45GX8U
- Misc: DVI to HDMI cable (connect PC nVidia GeForce 7900 GTX DVI ouput to Sharp break-up box. Only way to obtain HD from Sharp TV)
- Streaming server/receiver:
- Convert firewire packets into ethernet packets: 1 x Qvidium box
- PC to receive, decompress and render audio and video stream:
- Intel quad core CPU @ 2.66 GHz (to avoid bottleneck in the decoding) or better.
- nVidia GeForce 7900 GTX graphics card (to avoid bottleneck in the decoding and rendering) or better.
- 1 GB of RAM or more.
- If you want to record the input stream: a fast SATA2 10000 rpm hard disk
- Intel PRO/1000 MT Dual Port Server network card (NIC) (motherboard NIC is usually not very good quality and can cause packets drop).
- Good audio board (embedded motherboard sound chip is OK).
- Audio Input:
- Noise cancelation microphone, ClearOne Model: ACCUMIC PC
- Mono un-balance to balance : Whirlwind Model: pcDI Direct Box
- Split mono balance to two-channel balance: Pro-Co Sound Model: MS-3
- Misc: 3 x XLR to XLR mono patch cables (will work out lengths with Javier)
- Audio Output:
- Speakers: 2 x Powered Monitor Speaker Yamaha, Model: HS 50M
- Audio mixer & convert stereo RCA to 1/4" phone plug: PEAVEY ELECTRONICS CORPORATION Model: PV6
- Misc:
- Connect mixer to speakers: 2 x 1/4" to 1/4" mono patch cable (length depends on the setting).
- Connect audio output to mixer input: 1 x 3.5mm stereo plug to RCA plug x 2 Y-Cable.
- Lighting:
- A pair of Videossence light fixtures (stand mount)
