Each processing blade supports a number of options that are unlocked using a series of software licenses.

Licensing Model

For each option, customers can choose from one of three licensing models:

  • Perpetual licenses (for permanent availability). 
  • Lawo Flex credits (that are subscription-based).
  • A mixture of licenses + credits (for baseline functionality + subscription-based top ups).

When the blade's licensing is configured, the system uses all available perpetual licenses first and then allows top-ups using credits. This allows customers to increase the functionality on either a permanent or temporary basis (e.g. for the duration of a production).

The flexibility this offers is best explained using an example such as .edge_gateway. Each .edge_gateway includes 1 x processing blade, 1 x rear I/O plate and 1 x perpetual license (for 16 x SDI). The additional SDI interfacing (on the rear I/O plate) can be unlocked in one of three ways:

  • Add more .edge_sdi perpetual licenses (up to 2 per blade),
  • Use credits (from a Lawo Flex subscription),
  • Add 1 x .edge_sdi perpetual license + top-up with credits.

How to configure the licensing is described later. For now, it is useful to know the following information.

Perpetual Licenses

  • Perpetual licenses are available for each licensed option and are stored locally on the blade.
  • Once configured, the licenses are permanent, making them ideal for baseline functionality.
  • All perpetual licenses are locked to a specific processing blade (using the serial number provided by the customer).
  • Perpetual licenses cannot easily be moved to another blade. If a blade fails and you need to fit a replacement, then this will require a separate license file (that uses the serial number of the replacement blade).

Lawo Flex Credits

  • Lawo Flex credits can be used to unlock any licensed resource on any qualifying device that is managed by HOME. 
  • This means that they are "locked" to the HOME system (rather than a blade), and can be used to license other resources (if the blade's licensed options are no longer required).
  • Lawo Flex credits are purchased on a subscription basis and expire on a given date.
  • To ensure that the credits remain valid, the blade's system clock must be synchronized to the licensing service running on HOME (as described below).

Lawo Flex Conditions

Important: To use Lawo Flex credits, the blade's system clock must be synchronized to the licensing service running on HOME. This can be achieved either by synchronizing the blade to an NTP server or extracting Time of Day from PTP arriving from the network.

To sync to an NTP server,....

To use PTP, the blade must be configured to operate as a PTP slave (as described in .edge - Synchronization). You can then turn on the Allow PTP clock to set System Clock option (in the Synchronization → PTP advanced parameters) to extract Time of Day from the PTP clock signal.

If the blade's system clock is not correctly synchronized, then it cannot access HOME's credits (and the Subscription License fields cannot be configured). If an option is licensed using credits and synchronization is lost, then the option will continue to function until the next restart of the blade. 

Licensed Options

The licensed options are divided into two categories: for core functions and add-ons.

  • The core function licenses generally work at a 'blade' level. They enable blade-wide functionality such as 100GbE operation, additional SDI interfacing and the audio matrix shuffler.
  • The add-on licenses generally work at a per input/output level. They enable functionality for a particular I/O such as video gearboxing, input frame synchronization, video proxy generation and color correction.

Core Functions (per blade):

  • 100GbE operation
  • Additional SDI Interfacing
  • Audio Matrix Shuffler

Add-on Functions (per I/O):

  • Video Gearboxing
  • Input Frame Synchronization
  • Video Proxy Generation
  • Color Correction

It is important to consider the operating mode of each blade before ordering your licenses (as not all licensed options are supported by all FPGA modes). 

The table below shows which licensed options are supported by each FPGA mode, and the maximum number of (perpetual) licenses per blade. 

Remember that each licensed option can also be unlocked using an equivalent amount of credits, providing that the system meets the Lawo Flex conditions.

License

Base / Option

Max per blade

25G Gateway SPS
+ Audio Matrix
+ Color Corrector

100G Gateway SPS
+ Audio Matrix
+ Color Corrector

100G Gateway SPS
+ Audio Matrix
+ 25G Proxy

100G Gateway SPS
+ Color Corrector
+ 25G Proxy

100G Proxy (SPS*)

.edge_sdi_inc

Base

1

Y

Y – no 25GbE

Y

Y

Y – no 25GbE

.edge_100G

Opt

1


Required

Required

Required

Required

.edge_sdi

Opt

2

Y

Y

Y

Y


.edge_audio_matrix_shuffler

Opt

1

Y

Y

Y



.edge_gbox

Opt

12

Y

Y

Y

Y


.edge_fsync

Opt

32

Y

Y

Y

Y


.edge_proxy

Opt

32



Y

Y


.edge_color_correction

Opt

32

Y

Y


Y


*In the current release, the 100G Proxy mode supports up to 32 SPS (redundant) streams. A non-redundant version of this mode, supporting up to 64 non-SPS streams, is planned for a future release.

The rest of this topic describes each of the licensed options in more detail.

100G Operation

The .edge_100g software license supports 100GbE operation. It is required for any of the 100G Gateway or 100G Proxy operating modes.

This feature enables the 100GbE media network ports for 3G and UHD signal handling.

Please note: If a 100G license is not available, then the blade runs in 25G (only) and the 100G media network ports are inactive. 

Licensing Requirements:

  • 1 x .edge_100g license is required (per blade) or an equivalent amount of credits.

SDI Interfacing

The .edge_sdi software license supports an additional 16 x SDI interfaces (per blade).

Each .edge_gateway processing blade includes a single .edge_sdi_inc license (for 16 x SDI). The .edge_SDI license can be used to expand the number of active SDIs (for 32 or 48 x SDI).

Licensing Requirements:

  • 1 x .edge_sdi_inc license is included (per blade). This is a perpetual license.
  • Up to 2 x .edge_sdi licenses can be added (per blade). This can be achieved using perpetual license(s) and/or credits.

Audio Matrix Shuffler

The .edge_audio_matrix_shuffler software license supports the audio matrix option, otherwise known as the Audio Router. The audio matrix provides a capability of 8192 x 4096 (mono) crosspoints, and works independently of the SDI audio shufflers (that are a standard feature of the blade).

To use this feature, the processing blade must be set to one of the "+ Audio Matrix" operating modes. If not, you will find that there is no Audio Router to configure even if a valid license is found.

Licensing Requirements:

  • 1 x .edge_audio_matrix_shuffler license is required (per blade) or an equivalent amount of credits.

Video Gearboxing

The .edge_gbox software license enables 3G UHD gearboxing for a quad-link 3G-SDI signal (input or output).

This feature allows you to connect 4 x 3G-SDI inputs or outputs to transport a 12G signal (also known as quad-link 3G-SDI).

Licensing Requirements:

  • 1 x .edge_gbox license is required for each input or output instance.
  • The 4 x 3G-SDI signals must connect to one of the 12G-capable rear I/O blocks: 1-4, 5-8, 9-12, etc.
  • Up to 12 x .edge_gbox licenses are possible (per blade).

The licensing requirements can be achieved using perpetual license(s) and/or credits.

Additional Notes:

  • The .edge_gbox license supports SDQS (Square Division Quad Split), 2SI, and 4 x super slow motion. Includes VPID insertion on the output interface (2-sample interleave, SMPTE ST352 payload identification).
  • The .edge_gbox license also includes the UHD Link Rotate feature: Automatic reshuffling of a four-wire 3G-SDI link whose cables were connected in the wrong order (based on 2-sample interleave signal identifiers).
  • This license is not required for a single-link 12G signal.

Input Frame Synchronization

The .edge_fsync software license enables input frame synchronization for a single SDI input.

This feature allows the user to adjust the timing of an SDI input as follows:

  • Video: 1 frame adjustable delay in line OR pixel granularity + one subsequent frame sync (= maximum delay of 2 frames).
  • Audio: up to 250 seconds applied to all channels of the SDI audio essence.

Licensing Requirements:

  • For SD and HD, you will need 1 x .edge_fsync license for each SDI input.
  • For UHD (single-link 12G-SDI or quad-link 3G-SDI), you will need 4 x .edge_fsync licenses for each 12G instance.
  • Up to 32 x .edge_fsync licenses are possible (per blade).

The licensing requirements can be achieved using perpetual license(s) and/or credits.

Video Proxy Generator(s)

The .edge_proxy software license enables a proxy generator for a single SDI input.

This feature can be used to generate smaller video proxies, from an SDI input, for streaming to the IP network. The proxies use less network bandwidth than the original signal and so are ideal for bandwidth-critical applications. For example, to feed downscaled versions of UHD video to multiviewers and other destinations (via IP).

To use this feature, the processing blade must be licensed for 100G operation and be set to one of the 100G + 25G Proxy operating modes.

Licensing Requirements:

  • 1 x .edge_100g license is required (per blade).
  • Once the 100G license is enabled:
    • For SD/HD/3G, you will need 1 x .edge_proxy license for each SDI input.
    • For UHD (single-link 12G-SDI or quad-link 3G-SDI), you will need 4 x .edge_proxy licenses for each 12G instance.
    • Up to 32 x .edge_proxy licenses are possible (per blade).

The licensing requirements can be achieved using perpetual license(s) and/or credits.

Color Correction

The .edge_color_correction software license enables color correction for a single SDI input.

This feature allows the user to apply color correction in both RGB and YUV; some ProcAmp controls are also available. The color correction is performed upstream of any proxy generation, and only legal colors/values are passed.

Please note: HDR conversion is not supported.

To use this feature, the processing blade must be set to one of the "+ Color Corrector" operating modes. If not, you will find that the Color Controls are missing (from the Advanced parameters) even if a color correction license for the SDI input is found.

Licensing Requirements:

  • For SD and HD, you will need 1 x .edge_color_correction license for each SDI input.
  • For UHD (single-link 12G-SDI or quad-link 3G-SDI), you will need 4 x .edge_color_correction licenses for each 12G instance.
  • Up to 32 x .edge_color_correction licenses are possible (per blade).

The licensing requirements can be achieved using perpetual license(s) and/or credits.

Ordering Information

The perpetual licenses can be ordered either individually (as described above) or as part of a bundle (described here).

If you wish to use credits, then you will need a Lawo Flex account with at least one active subscription. For more information about setting up an account and using the licensing portal, please see the "Lawo Flex User Manual".