HOME - Core Licenses
VALID FOR HOME V1.X, V2.X
HOME is a management platform formed out of various software services, providing a broad and growing range of functionality. Not always does an install require the full range of functionality and scalability, be it for technical or economical reasons. To provide the best possible alignment of available functionality and customer requirements, HOME is offered in various licenses.
This topic describes the license landscape of HOME and the detailed options/functional spec.
The License Landscape of HOME
The licensing Landscape of HOME includes 5 separate Licenses.
5 HOME licenses are specified for production use in 24/7 online environments. These licenses are specified around two main factors:
- the number of concurrently controllable devices and mc² console instances.
- the host platform
Essential Licenses
The Gateserver License and the Bundle license define the low end of possibilities. Both licenses are single leg instances. They run on a single host engine and are not redundant! This is also the reason, why these licenses are not capable to control redundant mc² console instances.
- Gateserver license: This is a HOME instance running on the gateserver of the mc² as a single leg instance. By definition it is limited to control a maximum 20 devices and 2 consoles (non redundant). It is bound to the gateserver it runs on and cannot be upgraded to the next bigger license.
- Bundle license: This is the license to go with smaller .edge or HOME Apps bundles, where basic operability and cost efficiency are of the essence. It requires 1 DELL server to run on as single leg, non-redundant license. The license allows to control 50 devices and 3 mc² consoles (non-redundant) concurrently. It can be upgraded to the next bigger license, which is the Elementary Cluster.
Cluster Licenses
The 3 licenses "Elementary", "Standard", and "Facility" are specified as redundant cluster licenses, with a 3-leg host cluster as a basis.
- Elementary Cluster License: This license defines the entry into the redundant cluster segment. It is strongly recommended for smaller 24/7 environments, where availability and resilience is important. The license comes with the onboard ability to control 50 devices and 6 mc² consoles (or 3 redundant console setups), which can be extended on demand. An upgrade plan exists for Bundle licenses to Elementary licenses.
- Standard Cluster License: This is the next bigger 3-leg cluster license above the Elementary Cluster. It comes with the onboard ability to control 150 devices and 16 mc² consoles (or 8 redundant console setups), which can be extended on demand. An upgrade plan from the Elementary license exists.
- Facility Cluster License: The top end of the 3-leg cluster licenses is defined by the Facility cluster, which comes with the onboard ability to control 350 devices and 32 mc² consoles (or 16 redundant console setups). The limits can be extended on demand. An upgrade plan from the Standard license exists.
Datacenter License (not yet available)
- The Data Center license marks the top end of HOME installs and targets environments, where the host platform is provided through 3rd party or the customer and HOME resides on resources specifically reserved. This likely requires HOME to run in a Kubernetes setup, which differs from all other HOME licences. Setups in data center environments can scale highly dynamic and almost always to custom requirements, which is why we will offer this license through SLA only. Upgrade plans from Facility cluster licenses can be offered, but have to be negotiated on a per case basis. Individual provisioning is likely required in all cases and must be regarded.
The Data Center License based on an "SLA only" commercial offer should be the preferred offer to projects, where none of the other existing licenses fit.
HOME License Options (detailed view)
Each HOME license comes with onboard functionality, which defines the standard capabilities of each license. On top, each license can be enhanced with optional functionality to meet project requirements. The table below shows, which standard functionality and which options are available. The table also may show functionality, which is currently in development and available within a given timeframe. Licenses for optional functionality will be available through perpetual licenses and subscription credits.
(Legend below table)
HOME License | HOME | HOME | HOME | HOME | |
| Detailed Name | mc2 Gateserver License | Bundle License | Elementary Cluster License | Standard Cluster License | Facility Cluster License |
| Item Number | 799-2001-000 | 799-2020-000 | 799-2021-000 | 799-2022-000 | 799-2023-000 |
| Description | Single leg instance of HOME for live production purposes | 3-leg cluster instance, regular purchasable item | 3-leg cluster instance, regular purchasable item | 3-leg cluster instance, regular purchasable item | |
| Live capable version, mc2 gateserver only | Live capable Version, standalone install, ingredient of HOME Apps and .edge bundles. | ||||
| Previous License Name | mc2 Gateserver License | n/a | HOME mc2 Cluster (799-2002-000), HOME .Edge Cluster (799-2004-000) | HOME Base Cluster (799-2005-000) | HOME Enterprise Cluster (799-2006-000) |
System Setup | |||||
| Single Leg |  | - | - | - | |
| Redundant Cluster | - | | | | |
Physical Hosting | |||||
| Gate Server (Lawo HW) | | - | - | - | - |
| PC | - | - | - | - | - |
| VM | - | - | - | - | - |
| Server (Dell R3x0) | - | | | | |
Install Routine | |||||
| Pre-Installed | | | | | |
| Functional Specifications | |||||
| # of controllable Devices (any device type) | 20 | 50 | 50 | 150 | 350 |
| 1 additional controllable devices | - | - | οptional | οptional | οptional |
| 10 additional controllable devices | - | - | οptional | οptional | οptional |
| # of mananged mcx instances (# of redundant mixers) | 2 (0) | 3 (0) | 6 (3) | 16 (8) | 32 (16) |
| 1 additional pair of mcx instances = 1 redundant mixer | - | - | οptional | οptional | οptional |
| Operation | |||||
| 24/7 Live | (non redundant) | | | | |
| Support | |||||
| Support available through LAWO Hotline | | | | | |
| SLA covered | οptional | οptional | οptional | οptional | |
Functional Specifications
# of controllable devices
A HOME license is defined by the number of concurrently controllable devices. This includes Lawo and 3rd party devices (including NMOS devices), which contribute Senders and Receivers to HOME's routing page and which provide basic signal processing parameters alongside their resources. The number of controllable devices in a HOME license defines how many of these devices can be concurrently managed within HOME's inventory. This number increases with the license size. If the number of concurrently controllable devices has been reached, no further device of that type/class can be added and actively used. The license pool has to be increased, or an active device has to be deactivated.
A controllable device is visible in HOME's inventory. HOME can access the device's SorDs (Senders or Receivers) for stream routing purposes. In addition, HOME has access to basic signal processing parameters of that device, like channel mapping, format type, etc.
Please note: Some specific devices provide advanced parameters, which are not automatically accessible with the device consuming a controllable device license. Such devices require an additional device specific license to enable access to advanced device parameters.
Example: DirectOut Devices will consume a regular controllable device license. To access advanced parameters like Analog Gain, Mute, etc. a specific license is required on top. If this additional license is not available, the device can only be controlled for stream routing purposes.
# of managed mcx instances (# of redundant mixers)
The number of managed mcx instances defines how many mcx instances can be concurrently controlled in HOME. The number increases with the size of the HOME license. The mcx/xcs is the control system of the mc² console and could be understood as the glue between surface and core. Surface/Mixer + Core + xcs/mcs form 1 mc² console instance in HOME.
With cluster licenses of HOME, the total amount of managed mcx instances can be increased by adding an optional license for an additional pair of mcx instances.
Managing redundant consoles
To define a redundant console in HOME, two virtual mixer slices have to be paired, and two xcs/mcx instances have paired. To do so, these items have to be available in the inventory. A redundant console consumes 2 xcs/mcx licenses.
HOME plays a central role in the console redundancy management, providing functions like auto-failover. This is why redundant consoles can be managed by HOME cluster licenses only, to consistently maintain end-to-end redundancy.
The Gateserver license, as well as the bundle license, cannot manage redundant consoles.