GQAM Modulator Software Version
4.5.10 Release Note
Overview
Introduction
This document describes the new features and benefits of upgrading a Model
D9479 Gigabit Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (GQAM) Modulator to GQAM
software version 4.5.10. This document also includes a description of the change
requests (CRs) implemented in this release.
Audience
This document is intended for system operators or field service engineers who are
responsible for installing the GQAM software onto the GQAM.
Scope
This release note provides an executive overview of GQAM software version
4.5.10. If you have questions about this release or require more detailed
information, call Cisco® Services at 1-866-787-3866.
Document Version
This is the first formal release of this document.
Introducing GQAM Software Version 4.5.10
Introducing GQAM Software Version 4.5.10
GQAM software version 4.5.10 is designed to be installed on a GQAM. After the
software is installed and the modulator is active, it provides additional support for
sites that deploy video-on-demand (VOD), anything-on-demand (xOD), and other
interactive broadcast services.
Note: For a complete description of a GQAM, refer to the following documents:
¾ Dual SFP Gigabit QAM Modulator Installation and Operation Guide (part number
78-4014102-01)
¾ Gigabit QAM Modulator Model D9479 Hardware Installation and Operation Guide
(part number 78-745431-01)
System Release Compatibility and Prerequisites
GQAM software version 4.5.10 can be installed on a Digital Broadband Delivery
System (DBDS) that is running one of the following system releases (SR) and Digital
Network Control System (DNCS) application versions:
¾ SR 2.7/3.7/4.2 and associated Service Packs
¾ SR 2.7.1/3.7.1/4.2.1
¾ SR 2.8/3.8/4.3
¾ SR 5.0.0.22p6 and associated patches
¾ SR 5.1 and associated Service Packs
For a complete configuration listing, or to upgrade your system, contact Cisco
Services at 1-866-787-3866.
Software
GQAM 4.5.10 includes the following software code:
¾ GQAM Host Boot code 4.5.10
¾ GQAM Host Application code 4.5.10
¾ GQAM Input Boot code 4.5.10
¾ GQAM Input App code 4.5.10
¾ GQAM Output Boot code 4.5.10
¾ GQAM Output App code 4.5.10
¾ GQAM RF 2.6
Follow these instructions to download the update software. If you encounter any
issues, contact your account representative for assistance.
2
78-4041209-01 Rev A
Introducing GQAM Software Version 4.5.10
1
2
3
4
5
From a web browser, navigate to Cisco.com.
Select Support.
Select Downloads.
In the Find field, type GQAM 4.5.10.
From the Find results, click the file you want to download and follow the
prompts to download the software.
Hardware
GQAM 4.5.10 supports only the Model D9479 GQAM (both the single GigE Port and
dual GigE Port models).
Operational Consideration
There is a limitation in the dual port GQAM that prevents it from supporting both
GigE ports and the ASI ports simultaneously. If you are utilizing any of the ASI
ports, the second GigE port is automatically disabled. If you want to use both GigE
ports, the ASI ports must be empty and contain no sessions. You must tear down
any sessions on the ASI ports. Once you enable the second GigE port, you will not be
able to add sessions on the ASI ports.
78-4041209-01 Rev A
3
What's New?
What's New?
This section provides a description of the enhancements implemented in GQAM
software version 4.5.10.
DTA Support
GQAM 4.5.10 provides additional support for DTA devices. These devices are
capable of decoding SCP sessions and can be upgraded to decode SCC sessions. An
SCC session can be flagged as SD or HD. This does not refer to standard definition
or high definition programming but rather to the amount of security in the
encryption process. HD supports a higher level of security, but a session set as HD
cannot be decrypted by non-HD DTAs. The non-HD DTAs can be upgraded to
support SCC SD decryption.
The default configuration for a GQAM is SCP for DTAs. However, if SCC operation
is required, a SetDTAMode rpc must be issued to set the mode of operation (either
SCP or SCC). This should be the first configuration command sent to the GQAM
from the DTACS.
PSIP/EAS Aggregation Support
The GQAM now supports PSIP (Program System Information Protocol) and EAS
(Emergency Alert System) aggregation for customer DTAs and QAM tunerequipped TVs. PSIP data is a requirement of the digital broadcast stream that
includes channel information for the EPG (Electronic Program Guide) option.
The Cisco GQAM is a re-multiplexing product. The GQAM takes input from up to
four Multi-Program Transport Stream (MPTS) streams on the four ASI inputs, as
well as multiple MPTS or Single-Program Transport Stream (SPTS) streams via the
gigabit ethernet input. These streams are re-multiplexed into up to sixteen MPTS
streams on the sixteen QAM outputs.
This re-multiplexing necessitates a remapping of program numbers, as well as
individual elementary stream Packet IDs (PIDs), from the input in order to avoid
possible PID collisions on the output. Adding, dropping, and combining individual
programs from multiple input transport streams onto multiple output transport
streams means that PSIP data for a given input transport stream must also be broken
up, modified, and recombined in order to be correct for the new output transport
stream. Multicasting of a single stream onto multiple output channels further
complicates this, as some PSIP data will need to be replicated on multiple output
channels. PSIP data for input programs that are not present in any output stream
must be discarded.
4
78-4041209-01 Rev A
What's New?
Craft Command mpeg_autosync
A new craft command called mpeg_autosync was added as a way to mitigate the
slight performance decrease at very high input bandwidths that resulted from the
implementation of CSCud64796. This command can be issued with the following
parameters:
Parameter
Meaning
0
Disable autosync. Forces the GQAM to ignore RTP bits in the header. This
results in slightly increased performance, but it does not permit the GQAM to
work correctly if RTP bits are present in the GigE input packets.
1
Enable autosync (default). This setting causes the GQAM to be tolerant of IP
packets with or without RTP bits present in the header.
No
parameter
Check the current autosync status.
We recommend leaving the default setting of 1 unless you are experiencing input
errors on the input GigE feeds when input bandwidth is approaching theoretical
maximum. In this case, you may try a setting of 0; however, be aware that in this
setting, the GQAM will no longer tolerate IP frames with RTP bits present.
78-4041209-01 Rev A
5
What's Fixed?
What's Fixed?
This section provides a description of the fixes implemented in GQAM software
version 4.5.10.
6
CR ID #
Title
CSCtx95977
Macroblocking with GQAM code 4.4.7 and Virtual IP enabled.
CSCtz09990
SCP is putting the incorrect CRC on ACMs.
CSCty52199
GQAM will stop flowing data if it sees an input PAT with no programs on a
TSR.
CSCty23238
querydtamode displays incorrect mode name.
CSCtz18299
GQAM WUI causes exception.
CSCub02408
GQAM 4.5.6 odd PID encrypted/clear mismatch.
CSCtw78644
GQAM4.5.3 Web UI access single login design can be bypassed.
CSCub02688
The GQAM will do a session reset on a single source multicast.
CSCub87628
GQAM failing to re-establish RPC communication after reboot.
CSCud27323
GQAM 4.5.8 populates incorrect SMDGs
CSCud64796
GQAM 4.5.10 corrects a loss of input signal alarms on VOD GQAMs since
upgrade to GQAM 4.5.8
CSCud27671
GQAM 4.5.10 corrects a GQAM soft reset when port 1 in WUI is clicked
CSCuc63737
GQAM 4.5.10 addresses a loss of video caused in GQAM 4.5.8 by an
improperly formatted dta_info ls command
78-4041209-01 Rev A
Known Issues
Known Issues
Introduction
This section provides a list of known system issues identified during testing of
GQAM software version 4.5.10. Resolutions to these issues are currently under
investigation or in development.
For More Information
The list in this section is not intended to be comprehensive. If you have questions
about a particular change request, contact your account representative.
78-4041209-01 Rev A
7
CA Descriptor and VOD Sessions
CA Descriptor and VOD Sessions
Overview
Versions of GQAM software prior to software version 2.5 inserted the PowerKEY®
Conditional Access (CA) descriptor into the Program Map Table (PMT) for
unencrypted on-demand content. If the Digital Home Communication Terminal
(DHCT) operating system (OS) found the CA descriptor in the PMT, the OS started
the PowerKEY decryptor.
The PowerKEY scheduler within the DHCT then prioritized entitlement control
messages (ECMs) by waiting until an ECM was processed before allowing any other
CA messages or requests to be processed.
Background
During this waiting period, when no ECMs were delivered, non-ECM requests (for
example, a request for a Multi-Room DVR session) remained in the queue and were
not processed until the PowerKEY decryptor was stopped. Therefore, no
Multi-Room DVR sessions could be established while the Multi-Room DVR server
was streaming unencrypted VOD.
Solution
GQAM software version 4.5.10 carries forward the modification from GQAM
software version 1.0.6 to insert the CA descriptor only for encrypted sessions,
including those that will be encrypted after interactive session key (ISK) setup.
Consequently, the OS now correctly detects the encryption status of the stream.
Detecting the encryption status enables sessions (including VOD and Multi-Room
DVR sessions) to be established correctly on a Multi-Room server.
8
78-4041209-01 Rev A
For Information
For Information
If You Have Questions
If you have technical questions, call Cisco Services for assistance. Follow the menu
options to speak with a service engineer.
78-4041209-01 Rev A
9
Cisco Systems, Inc.
5030 Sugarloaf Parkway, Box 465447
Lawrenceville, GA 30042
678 277-1120
800 722-2009
www.cisco.com
Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the
U.S. and other countries. To view a list of Cisco trademarks, go to this URL:
www.cisco.com/go/trademarks.
Third party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.
The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other
company. (1110R)
Product and service availability are subject to change without notice.
© 2013 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
March 2013 Printed in USA
Part Number 78-4041209-01 Rev A