Cisco® Transcode Manager (CTM) expands the revenue potential of content delivered to any device. Whether setting up a workflow to deliver IP video to a set-top box, PC, or mobile device - as a progressive download or as adaptive bitrate (ABR) over HTTP - Cisco can help you maximize your return on investment (ROI). Cisco Transcode Manager can simplify your workflow and eliminate the bottlenecks, starting with ingestion, encoding, and encryption and ending with quality check, packaging, and delivery to storage and a Content Delivery Network (CDN).
When a video file is ready to be transcoded from one format to another, Cisco Transcode Manager Encode Node performs the job. First, the Encode Node decodes the incoming source file. It then makes new assets that are ready for playback on any television, PC, or mobile device. Advanced parameters tell the encoding engine which video, audio, and wrapper format to use, as well as what quality settings and profiles are desired. All the popular file codecs, including HTTP adaptive bitrate (ABR) formats, are supported.
The Encode Node is required for file-based transcoding with Cisco Transcode Manager. Adding Encode Nodes increases the capacity of the platform to simultaneously output files.
Features and Benefits
The Encode Node:
• Offers multiple output formats, including H.264, VC-1, MPEG-2, TS, and ABR
• Provides the highest quality mobile, web, standard-definition and high-definition encodes from file sources
• Is a licensed component of Cisco Transcode Manager; one is required per physical server
• Scales easily with no downtime
• Is fully licensed for all codecs and features
• Is not required for a Digital Rights Management (DRM)-only workflow
Platform Support and Compatibility
Cisco Transcode Manager is optimized for use on Cisco Unified Computing System™ (Cisco UCS™), such as on the B200 M2 blade server. This provides customers with a single system that encompasses:
• Network: Unified fabric
• Compute: Industry-standard x86
• Storage: Access options
• Virtualization optimized
• Unified management model
• Dynamic resource provisioning
• Efficient scale
• Lower cost with fewer servers, switches, adapters, and cables
• Lower power consumption
• Fewer points of management
Licensing
License requirements for Cisco Transcode Manager vary by node, as outlined in Table 1.
Table 1. License Requirements
Node
License Requirements
Client
Unlicensed, but required initially for setup and to operate CTM; can be bypassed by the CTM Server API
Server
Required for all installations: one license per server or blade
Encode
Required for transcoding
Analysis
Required for pre-encode analysis and decision logic
Cisco Services brings together the people, processes, tools, and partners to accelerate service providers' success by using their IP Next-Generation Network (IP NGN) architectural platforms. Cisco Services is focused on promoting business outcomes through network, services, and operational transformation. Through a collaborative approach and tailored engagements, Cisco Services can help accelerate time to market, mitigate risk, reduce cost through improving operational efficiencies, and help assure the user experience.
Cisco Services' approach and differentiation in services comes from a heritage of network capabilities and a wealth of experience in providing solutions to service providers in all sectors around the world. That is reflected in over 20 years' involvement in the market with services and solutions that are strategically aligned with those of the service provider. Cisco Services has also made a massive research and development commitment to the service provider community, developing innovative roadmaps and solutions to keep the sector ahead of the competition.
