Cisco PowerVu Network Center (Release 15.5) Data Sheet
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Transmit analog and digital video, audio, and data more securely to a large receiver population with the Cisco® PowerVu® Network Center. Cisco PowerVu Network Center is the core of the Cisco PowerVu product portfolio, which is designed to meet the digital content distribution needs of programmers, private networks, other network operators, and individual users. It’s a sophisticated, highly reliable, easy-to-use system that provides network management, improved security, decoder management, and advanced revenue protection.
Cisco PowerVu Network Center Release 15.5 comes with two application modules:
● An Integrated Receiver/Decoder (IRD) management focused module with a dedicated IRD database including web UI.
● A Network Management System (NMS) and Conditional Access System (CAS) focused module.
● New: PNC integrated Live Event Controller Application option.
Cisco continues to target the single server deployment model, allowing for installation of both applications on a Sun Server (T4-1 only) with now the option to install both applications on x86 platforms like the Cisco Unified Computing System™ (Cisco UCS®) server.
The new application split does allow for an extra deployment model that targets customers with many Cisco PVC systems who are looking for a Cisco supported centralized IRD management model. In that deployment model, the Cisco Unified Computing System™ (Cisco UCS®) server is introduced as the central server for the centralized IRD management software module. Please contact your Sales contact for extra information if you are interested in the new deployment model.
Network Management
Cisco PowerVu Network Center provides control of all Cisco PowerVu video, audio, data, and other ancillary Cisco PowerVu services of your uplink (Figure 1). It allows you to configure and control your Cisco PowerVu network devices, including Cisco PowerVu encoders, multiplexers, and advanced modulators.
Security
The Cisco PowerVu Network Center system gives the content owner full control over what transmitted content the Cisco PowerVu IRD user can access. Cisco PowerVu Conditional Access (CA) and encryption help ensure that your transmissions are highly secure and the Cisco PowerVu Network Center offers a reliable, commercial security system. An AES128 based encryption option is offered in combination with the PowerVu D9800 IRD.
Decoder Management
With the Cisco PowerVu Network Center Release 15.5, you can use the Cisco PowerVu Management Console to control where your information is being received (Figure 2). The Cisco PowerVu Network Center addresses all Cisco PowerVu receivers in the field. You have all of the information necessary to address Cisco PowerVu decoders for specific service authorization.
Cisco PowerVu Network Center 15.5 provides a PNC Event Management system which allows for centralized event management across multiple PNC systems. This for architectures with the Centralized IRD management server in place. The feature also brings a UI in the PNC Management console with enhanced views like calendar view, Event list view, Time Line view (new) with the ability to extend and change events on the fly from the UI. The system supports Multi-server IRD data management capabilities allowing the user to keep the IRD data records in sync between multiple servers in various locations. PNC 15.5 continues to bring UI usability enhancement in the PNC Management console to help with the day to day IRD operations.
Key Features and Benefits
● Standard-Definition (SD) and High-Definition (HD) MPEG encoder support (Cisco Modular Encoding Platform D9036)
● Advanced Video Coding (AVC) encoder support (Cisco Modular Encoding Platform D9036)
● PowerVu Encryption Support for HEVC encoded content (PNC13.5 and up)
● Support for Cisco DCM Unified Rate Control Statmux System
● Support for Cisco Digital Content Manager, including statmux controller
● Support for Cisco Virtual Digital Content Manager as multiplexer and scrambler.(PNC15 and up)
● Support for Cisco PowerVu D9190 Conditional Access Manager
● MPEG-2 and Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) compatibility
● Ability to send email alerts for user-defined system alarms
● Reliable automatic redundancy switching upon failure of devices
● Support for digital program insertion SCTE-35 messages
● Optional ad insertion tier support for targeted SCTE-35 delivery
● Control over all Cisco PowerVu decoder authorizations
● Broadcast flag to control unwanted content distribution
● Control of program receiver and Multiple Decryption Receiver (MDR) analog and digital decoder outputs
● Effective management of bandwidth allocation
● Expandable N:M encoder configuration with N <= 18 and N+M <= 36 (Cisco Modular Encoding Platform D9036)
● Advanced decoder searching capabilities
● User-friendly Web GUI for the IRD management functionality
● Advanced IRD support functionality in the new IRD management Web GUI
● Enhanced IRD records import and delete functionality in the IRD management Web GUI
● Added support for Newtec M6100 DVB-S2 modulator (PNC12 and up)
● Added support for ingest and streaming of IP based content on Cisco PowerVu Digital Content Manager (PNC12 and up)
● Enhanced support to up to 12 audios per virtual channel
● Automated backup and manual restore functions on Cisco PowerVu Network Center server with USB and Network backup media
● Cisco PowerVu MetroMux software (for remultiplexing of HEVC, MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 part 10 H.264 video, audio, and other services)
● Network management and decoder control integrated with conditional access and encryption in an all-in-one system
● Decoder database API
● Optional Data Replication Software for local server redundancy with enhanced multi server IRD data management capabilities for Site Disaster Recovery
● Visual IRD management
● Optional Cisco D9858, D9859 and D9800-MS Advanced Receiver Transcoder control
● Optional but newly integrated Cisco Live Event Controller
● Optional Simulcrypt support
● Optional uplink controlled IRD On Screen Display support
● Optional Satellite Disaster Recovery support
● Integrated Event Scheduling
● Automated MSK key rotation options (PNC13.5 and up)
● Support for flexible DCM card configurations if PNC only needs to manage encryption on the created transports; includes support for multitransport stream options out of the DCM (PNC 13.5 and up)
● Integrated support for D9800 IRD productline
Figure 3 illustrates the Cisco PowerVu distribution system.
Product Specifications
Table 1 lists specifications for the Cisco PowerVu Network Center Release 15.5.
Table 1. Product Specifications
| Functions | Features |
| System and network management | ● Industry standards: MPEG-2 DVB, AVC (H.264), and HEVC ● Commercial conditional access ● Scrambling: DES, DVB or Simulcrypt ● Automatic redundancy: N:M with N<=18 and N+M<=36 ● Number of signals: 4 (with traditional DCM MUX architecture) ● Encoder control (D9036) ● Multiplexer control: ASI and GbE interfaces ● Cisco PowerVu data support: synchronous and asynchronous ● Advanced modulator control ● Cisco PowerVu subtitling and Vertical Blanking Interval (VBI) support ● DVB subtitling and DVB WST support ● Digital Program Insertion (DPI) support ● Email alerts for alarms ● Data replication: optional ● Network Time Protocol synchronization |
| System control functions | ● Program and event scheduling ● Bandwidth management ● MetroMux software ● Password privilege system ● Diagnostic logs ● Transaction logs ● Automatic and manual database backups |
| Computer and remote access | ● Client/server architecture ● Server: Netra T4-1 and x86 compute platforms, Client interface: Windows 7 and up ● Multiuser remote access ● Remote access: LAN, satellite modem, ISDN or basic telephone service ● Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) interface for monitoring: optional |
| Decoder control functions | ● Decoder database: 250,000 ● Entitlement Control Message (ECM) and Entitlement Management Message (EMM) generation ● Tier assignment: 216 ● Blackout and spotlight codes ● Fingerprint trigger ● Broadcast flag (ATSC A/65B) ● Force tuning ● Homing channel ● Remote control outputs ● Service replacement: scheduled, CA, and cue-trigger based ● Decoder output controls ● Satellite code download to decoders ● Decoder lock-out of front panel ● Decoder group and search capability ● Visual IRD management, in-band control ● Live Event Controller (optional) |
Key Cisco PowerVu Network Center Options
Cisco Live Event Controller
The Cisco Live Event Controller (LEC) application is used by programmers and broadcasters to perform uplink-commanded, dynamic channel tuning for receivers. It provides the capability for programmers and broadcasters to manage the access rights of services based on event groups. Users define the event groups, which can be used as decoder search criteria. Decoders can be tuned to events with dynamic start and end times through a button push. This feature provides users with an extra level of flexibility in managing services.
The Cisco LEC option is now integrated in the PNC application and server.
The Cisco PowerVu Network Center monitors the LEC application. Network services and event group data are automatically coordinated between the Cisco PowerVu Network Center and LEC. Channel tuning events are imported through an easy-to-use web interface and are triggered based on time or through manual software based button triggers. Event control data can be targeted to different groups of receivers. Receivers with LEC support are tuned to a designated channel based on the event control data instructions.
Data Replication: Revenue Protection
Data replication allows the broadcaster or programmer to have a fully configured standby uplink network and Cisco PowerVu Network Center control system at an alternate site. The database for all decoder configurations is replicated on the two Cisco PowerVu Network Center systems, so that any major failure at the uplink network site can be overcome by switching to the alternate site. The replication of configuration information helps ensure database consistency and reduces delay in the restoration of services. The PNC 13 series introduced Multi-server IRD data management capabilities allowing the user to keep the IRD data records in sync between multiple servers in multiple alternate locations.
SNMP Agent: Alarm and Status Monitoring
The Cisco PowerVu Network Center can be monitored in third-party NMSs through the SNMP protocol. This allows broadcasters and programmers to add the Cisco PowerVu system to their existing NMS installation, simplifying fault discovery and resolution procedures.
Warm-Standby Server: Backup Cisco PowerVu Network Center That Stays Up to Date
For installations without duplicate uplink network sites, Cisco PowerVu system users can choose to install a backup Cisco PowerVu Network Center for their uplink network to guard against failure scenarios. This warm-standby server uses data replication technology to help ensure that the collocated secondary Cisco PowerVu Network Center has a duplicate image of the primary Cisco PowerVu Network Center configuration, including all system configuration and decoder authorization information. In the event of a failure of the primary Cisco platform, technical personnel can switch to the secondary Cisco PowerVu Network Center and avoid reconfiguring the system or missing previously scheduled events.
Ordering Information
Table 2 provides ordering information for the Cisco PowerVu Network Center.
Table 2. Ordering Information
| Description | Part Number |
| PowerVu Network Center upgrade to PNC 15 series for Sun Servers | LPNC-UPG-V15X-K9 & LPNC-UPGS-V15X-K9 |
| PowerVu Standard CA DES option (for primary SUN server PNC) | LPNC-LICP-DES |
| PowerVu Standard CA DES option (for standby SUN server PNC) | LPNC-LICS-DES |
| PowerVu Standard CA DVB option (for primary SUN server PNC) | LPNC-LICP-DVB |
| PowerVu Standard CA DVB option (for standby SUN server PNC) | LPNC-LICS-DVB |
| PowerVu Simulcrypt CA option (for primary SUN server PNC) | LPNC-LICP-SIMUL |
| PowerVu Simulcrypt CA option (for standby SUN server PNC) | LPNC-LICS-SIMUL |
| Simple profile DPI (for primary SUN server PNC) | LPNC-LICP-DPI |
| Simple profile DPI (for standby SUN server PNC) | LPNC-LICS-DPI |
| Data replication option (for primary SUN server PNC) | LPNC-LICP-DAREP |
| Data replication option (for standby SUN server PNC) | LPNC-LICS-DAREP |
| SNMP agent option (for primary SUN server PNC) | LPNC-LICP-SNMP |
| SNMP agent option (for standby SUN server PNC) | LPNC-LICS-SNMP |
| Metromux option (for primary SUN server PNC) | LPNC-LICP-MMUX |
| Metromux option (for standby SUN server PNC) | LPNC-LICS-MMUX |
| Live Event Controller option (for primary SUN server PNC) | LPNC-LICP-LEC |
| Live Event Controller option (for standby SUN server PNC) | LPNC-LICS-LEC |
| Transcoder control option (for primary SUN server PNC) | LPNC-LICP-TRCO |
| Transcoder control option (for standby SUN server PNC) | LPNC-LICS-TRCO |
| Ad insertion tier option (for primary SUN server PNC) | LPNC-LICP-ADINS |
| Ad insertion tier option (for standby SUN server PNC) | LPNC-LICS-ADINS |
| Satellite Disaster Recovery option (for primary SUN server PNC) | LPNC-LICP-SATDR |
| Satellite Disaster Recover option (for standby SUN server PNC) | LPNC-LICS-SATDR |
| vPNC x86 based system (vPNC) | Configured through R-VPNC-APPS |
| vPNC Platform license (one per instance) | L-VPNC-PLATFORM |
| vPNC V15.5 software | SW-VPNC-V155-K9 |
| vPNC PowerVu Base Encryption function | L-VPNC-LIC-PVU |
| vPNC PowerVu AES128 Encryption function | L-VPNC-LIC-AES128 |
| vPNC PowerVu Simulcrypt Encryption function | L-VPNC-LIC-SIMUL |
| vPNC Feature Package 1 (Metromux, DPI, SNMP) | L-VPNC-LIC-PKG1 |
| vPNC Feature Package 2 (DataRep/HA, Xcoder Ctrl, AdTier, OSD) | L-VPNC-LIC-PKG2 |
| vPNC Feature Package 3 (LEC, PNC Sat Dis Rec) | L-VPNC-LIC-PKG3 |
| Contact your Sales team for help with vPNC upgrades |
|
PNC-vPNC based servers must be installed and configured by Cisco customer support.
Service and Support
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For More Information
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