Table Of Contents
Release Notes for Cisco Media Experience Engine 3500 Release 3.0
Introduction
Browser Requirements
Installation and Upgrade Requirements
Supported Deployment Models
Licensed Features
Obtaining the Cisco MXE 3500 Release 3.0 April 5, 2010, Patch
Important Notes
Feature Support Matrix
File-to-File Transcoding
Live Streaming (IP Capture)
Caveats
Using the Bug Toolkit
Open Hardware Caveats
Open Software Caveats
Resolved Caveats
Troubleshooting
Documentation Updates
Quick Start Hardware Installation Guide for Cisco MXE 3500
Hardware Installation Guide for Cisco MXE 3500
Related Documentation
Providing Documentation Feedback
Obtaining Documentation and Submitting a Service Request
Release Notes for Cisco Media Experience Engine 3500 Release 3.0
Revised: May 7, 2010
This document provides information about features and caveats for Cisco Media Experience Engine 3500 (Cisco MXE 3500), Release 3.0.
•
Introduction
•Browser Requirements
•Installation and Upgrade Requirements
•Important Notes
•Feature Support Matrix
•Caveats
•Troubleshooting
•Documentation Updates
•Related Documentation
•Providing Documentation Feedback
•Obtaining Documentation and Submitting a Service Request
Introduction
Cisco MXE 3500 is an appliance that provides comprehensive transcoding services and integrates into the network to deliver the following media processing capabilities:
•Video content to be shared across the network to virtually any type of endpoint
•Innovative post production features that transform ordinary video content into studio quality output
•Collaboration with other applications delivered by Cisco's suite of media products
•Ingest of MPEG-2 Transport Streams (MPEG-2 video payload and AC3 or Layer II audio payload) and output of stream transcoded to WMV, Flash 8, or H.264 formats
•Extraction of an audio track from a video and performing speech-to-text transcription and graphic overlays (subtitles)
The Cisco MXE 3500 Resource Manager augments the capabilities of the Cisco MXE 3500 by intelligently load balancing job processing across multiple Cisco MXE 3500 devices and by delivering fault tolerance to deployment.
Browser Requirements
You must use one of following web browsers to access the Folder Attendant UI or Web UI:
•Firefox 3 or later. Firefox 3.5 is recommended.
•Internet Explorer 7 or later. Internet Explorer 8 is recommended.
Note When accessing Cisco MXE 3500 UIs, set your display resolution to 1280 x 1024 pixels for best results, or you may encounter issues with scrolling and display (CSCsu29805).
For information about the Cisco MXE 3500 components, see the User Guide for Cisco Media Experience Engine 3500.
Installation and Upgrade Requirements
The Cisco MXE 3500 is an appliance on which the Cisco MXE 3500 Release 3.0 software comes installed. This section includes the following topics:
•Supported Deployment Models
•Licensed Features
•Obtaining the Cisco MXE 3500 Release 3.0 April 5, 2010, Patch
Supported Deployment Models
You can deploy Cisco MXE 3500 in the following two configurations:
•Standalone Deployment—This deployment consists of one or more Cisco MXE 3500 devices running as individual devices, each with its own license, user interfaces, job profiles, and so on. This deployment supports one predefined administrative user. The following software product ID (PID) supports this deployment: MXE-3500-v3LIC-K9. See also the "Licensed Features" section.
•Resource Manager Deployment—This deployment consists of one or more Cisco MXE 3500 devices running as a single group with one set of user accounts, job profiles, licensed features, and user interfaces; additionally, this deployment includes the User Administration feature.
There are two types of Cisco MXE 3500 devices in a Resource Manager deployment: a single Cisco MXE 3500 Resource Manager and up to nine Cisco MXE 3500 Resource Nodes. The Resource Manager not only functions as a multidevice manager that load balances transcoding jobs across the Resource Nodes, but also functions as a Resource Node that performs transcoding jobs. The following software PIDs support this deployment:
–MXE-3500-RM-LIC (Cisco MXE 3500 Resource Manager License)
–MXE-3500-RN-LIC (Cisco MXE 3500 Resource Node License)
–MXE-3500-RM-LIC-U= (Cisco MXE 3500 Resource Manager License Upgrade)
–MXE-3500-RN-LIC-U= (Cisco MXE 3500 Resource Node License Upgrade)
See also the "Licensed Features" section.
Licensed Features
This release supports the following additionally licensed features:
–MXE-3500-STT-LIC (Speech-to-Text Feature)
Note Cisco MXE 3500 ships with a few general speaker profiles that are trained for common regional accents in the United States. You can obtain a speaker-independent profile on Cisco.com in the Video, Cable and Content Delivery > Media Experience Engines > Cisco MXE 3000 Series > Cisco MXE 3500 software download area.
–MXE-3500-GR-LIC (Graphics Overlay Feature)
–MXE-3500-LIVE-LIC (Live Streaming Feature)
For details about obtaining a license file to enable the software for your deployment, see the Deployment and Administration Guide for Cisco Media Experience Engine 3500. This guide also provides information about installing a license, configuring the Cisco MXE 3500, upgrading from a standalone to a Resource Manager deployment, and troubleshooting deployments. You can access the guide at the following URL:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps9892/prod_maintenance_guides_list.html
Note Before you request a software license on Cisco.com for your deployment, see the Deployment and Administration Guide for Cisco Media Experience Engine 3500 for licensing requirements.
Obtaining the Cisco MXE 3500 Release 3.0 April 5, 2010, Patch
This patch disables the "Add Silent Track" option and adds two preprocessor profiles to the DMP_4300_VO.mpeg.awp and DMP_4400_VO.h264.awp default profiles. This patch does not revise the software version, which remains Release 3.0.
Before You Begin
You must have an account on Cisco.com to access the software download website.
Procedure
Step 1 Go to http://www.cisco.com/cisco/web/download/index.html.
Step 2 In the Select a Software Product Category area, choose Video, Cable and Content Delivery.
Step 3 Choose Media Experience Engines > Cisco MXE 3000 Series > Cisco MXE 3500 > Media Experience Engine Patches.
Step 4 Click Latest Releases > 3 > 3.0.0. The link to the software is on the right side of the browser window.
Step 5 Click Download Now and save MXE3500-SW-UPG-PATCH-1.zip to a temporary media, such as a flash drive, or to a network server that you can access from the Cisco MXE 3500 when you install the patch.
Step 6 See the readme.txt file that is included inMXE3500-SW-UPG-PATCH-1.zip for installation instructions.
Important Notes
Standalone and Resource Manager Deployments
•Directories must be configured only as UNC paths to a network share for Cisco MXE 3500 Resource Manager deployments. Directory locations must be accessible to all Hosts.
•Directories can be configured as local paths or UNC paths for Cisco MXE 3500 standalone deployments. Directory locations must be accessible to all Hosts.
File Formats
•A maximum of 8 audio tracks is supported with QuickTime format.
•Re-wrapping is supported only for MPEG Encoder with an MPEG-PS input file (CSCsu08447).
Job Profiles
•Cisco MXE 3500 ships with preconfigured Job Profiles. A Job Profile is a template that defines how jobs are processed, and it contains the settings that are required to process jobs from beginning to end. Job Profiles are optimized for different types of input media, encoding output, and distribution, and they align with modern distribution devices, such as iPod, iTunes, and so on. See the "Standard Cisco MXE 3500 Job Profiles" section in the User Guide for Cisco Media Experience Engine 3500 to learn more about the preconfigured Job Profiles.
Caution We strongly recommend that you use the preconfigured Job Profiles and change settings only if you understand the consequences. Modifying preconfigured Job Profile settings or creating new Job Profiles with settings that media standards do not support can result in job processing failures or produce undesirable output.
User Interface
•The Live Capture feature using Capture Card hardware is not supported; related settings are nonfunctional (CSCsr96178).
•Tape jobs are not supported.
•Forensic Watermarking and Fingerprint features are not supported; therefore, related settings are nonfunctional.
•Configuration of Quicktime encoder setting is done through a direct access to the device, not through the Web UI. See the User Guide for Cisco Media Experience Engine 3500 for more information.
•The User Administration and Profile Spaces features are not available with Cisco MXE 3500 standalone deployment. The User Administration feature is available only with a Resource Manager deployment. See also the "Supported Deployment Models" section.
IP Capture
•The maximum supported resolution of input stream is 1080i, and only MPEG-2 encoding is supported for input payload. The maximum resolution of output stream is 720p.
•In a Resource Manager configuration, only one Cisco MXE 3500 device can stream the Windows Media Video output. See the Deployment and Administration Guide for Cisco Media Experience Engine 3500 for more information.
•We recommend that you configure an IP Capture job to use the Immediate mode. Otherwise, as the IP Capture job progresses, an intermediate file that continuously grows is created, filling up the disk storage and affecting the operation of the device.
•Take care when archiving the output of an IP Capture job on the local disk storage of the device or on an external storage device. As the IP Capture job progresses, an archive file that continuously grows is created, filling up the disk storage and affecting the operation of the device or external storage device.
Speech to Text
•You can obtain an additional speaker-independent speech profile on Cisco.com in the Video, Cable and Content Delivery > Cisco MXE 3500 software download area.
•We recommended that the audio input is via a direct microphone /lapel microphone connection (LINE IN) to the camcorder/recording device. It is imperative that the video recording is carried out with quiet surroundings (low ambient noise). See the Deployment and Administration Guide for Cisco Media Experience Engine 3500 on Cisco.com for more information.
Feature Support Matrix
This section includes the following topics:
•File-to-File Transcoding
•Live Streaming (IP Capture)
File-to-File Transcoding
Table 1 lists the maximum number of input files that can be transcoded simultaneously into output files on a single Cisco MXE 3500.
Table 1 Maximum Number of Files for File-to-File Transcoding on Cisco MXE 3500
Video Resolution
|
Maximum Number of Input Files
|
Input: 1080p
Output: 1080p
|
41
|
Input: 480p
Output: 480p
|
91
|
Live Streaming (IP Capture)
Table 2 describes maximum number of jobs that can be run simultaneously on a single Cisco MXE 3500.
.
Table 2 Maximum Number of Simultaneous Jobs for IP Capture on Cisco MXE 3500
Encoder
|
Video Resolution
|
Output
|
IP Webcast
Without Archive
|
IP Webcast
With Archive
|
File
|
|
WMV
|
Input: 1080i
Output: 720p
|
2
|
2
|
21
|
Input: 720p
Output: 720p
|
2
|
2
|
21
|
Input: 480i (NTSC)
Output: 480p
|
9
|
9
|
91
|
Flash 8
|
Input: 1080i
Output: 720p
|
Not Supported
|
Not Supported
|
Not Supported
|
Input: 720p
Output: 720p
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
Input: 480i (NTSC)
Output: 480p
|
9
|
9
|
9
|
H.264
|
Input: 1080i
Output: 720p
|
Not Supported
|
Not Supported
|
Not Supported
|
Input: 720p
Output: 720p
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
Input: 480i (NTSC)
Output: 480p
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
Real
|
Input: 1080i
Output: 720p
|
Not Available
|
Not Available
|
1
|
Input: 720p
Output: 720p
|
Not Available
|
Not Available
|
1
|
Input: 480i (NTSC)
Output: 480p
|
Not Available
|
Not Available
|
—
|
Flash 7
|
Input: 1080i
Output: 720p
|
Not supported
|
Not supported
|
12
|
Input: 720p
Output: 720p
|
Not supported
|
Not supported
|
12
|
Input: 480i (NTSC)
Output: 480p
|
Not supported
|
Not supported
|
12
|
Quicktime
|
Input: 1080i
Output: 720p
|
Not supported
|
Not supported
|
12
|
Input: 720p
Output: 720p
|
Not supported
|
Not supported
|
12
|
Input: 480i (NTSC)
Output: 480p
|
Not supported
|
Not supported
|
12
|
MPEG-2
|
Input: 1080i
Output: 720p
|
Not supported
|
Not supported
|
13
|
Input: 720p
Output: 720p
|
Not supported
|
Not supported
|
13
|
Input: 480i (NTSC)
Output: 480p
|
Not supported
|
Not supported
|
13
|
Caveats
This section includes the following topics:
•Using the Bug Toolkit
•Open Hardware Caveats
•Open Software Caveats
•Resolved Caveats
Using the Bug Toolkit
You can search for problems by using the Cisco Software Bug Toolkit. Known problems (bugs) are graded according to severity level.
Before You Begin
To access Bug Toolkit, you need the following:
•Internet connection
•Web browser
•Cisco.com user ID and password
Procedure
Step 1 To access the Bug Toolkit, go to http://tools.cisco.com/Support/BugToolKit/action.do?hdnAction=searchBugs.
Step 2 Sign in with your Cisco.com user ID and password.
Step 3 To look for information about a specific problem, enter the bug ID number in the Search for Bug ID field, then click Go.
Tip For information about how to search for bugs, create saved searches, create bug groups, and so on, click Help on the Bug Toolkit page.
Open Hardware Caveats
Table 4 lists the open hardware caveats for Cisco MXE 3500 and includes severity 1, severity 2, and severity 3 caveats.
Because defect status continually changes, this table provides a snapshot of the defects that were open at the time of the release. For an updated list of open defects, access the Bug Toolkit.
Table 3 Open Caveats for Cisco MXE 3500
Identifier
|
Severity
|
Component
|
Headline
|
CSCtf85351
|
3
|
mxe_hardware
|
Front panel orange LED keeps glowing due to having a single PSU
|
Open Software Caveats
Table 4 describes possible unexpected behavior by Cisco MXE 3500 , includes severity 1, severity 2, and severity 3 open caveats, and is sorted by severity and then by identifier in alphanumeric order.
Because defect status continually changes, this table provides a snapshot of the defects that were open at the time of the release. For an updated list of open defects, access the Bug Toolkit.
Table 4 Open Caveats for Cisco MXE 3500
Identifier
|
Severity
|
Component
|
Headline
|
CSCtc50123
|
3
|
mxe_3500_webui
|
Temp directory is not validated while creating and configuring a new Host
|
CSCtc50291
|
3
|
mxe_3500_webui
|
Keyboard tab key and up and down arrows keys do not work to navigate Web UI
|
CSCtc50307
|
3
|
mxe_3500_webui
|
Display resolution must be set at 1280 x 1024 when accessing from Firefox
|
CSCtc50309
|
3
|
mxe_3500_webui
|
Display resolution must be set at 1280 x 1024 when accessing from Internet Explorer 7
|
CSCtc50316
|
3
|
mxe_3500_webui
|
A profile can be deleted even if other existing job profiles are include it
|
CSCtc50692
|
3
|
mxe_3500_stt
|
STT jobs show time elapsed under "%completion" in Job Status
|
CSCtc50792
|
3
|
mxe_3500_webui
|
Host name is not validated while creating & configuring a new Host
|
CSCtc50811
|
3
|
mxe_3500_stt
|
Speaker profile location cannot be changed to a server or a network share
|
CSCtc50826
|
3
|
mxe_3500_webui
|
Job will succeed with bumper file option enabled without a bumper file
|
CSCtc50832
|
3
|
mxe_3500_webui
|
Real Audio encoder output sampling rate may be different from profile
|
CSCtc50842
|
3
|
mxe_3500_webui
|
Flash 7 encoding does not support HD resolution (720p or higher)
|
CSCtc50846
|
3
|
mxe_3500_webui
|
Incorrect output resolution may result in the output of DV PAL encoder
|
CSCtc62792
|
3
|
mxe_3500_ip_ingest
|
1080i MPEG-2 TS IP capture ingest fails for Flash and H.264 stream output
|
CSCtc82902
|
3
|
mxe_3500_webui
|
Transcoding fails for input video with WMA 10 audio
|
CSCtc85368
|
3
|
mxe_tools
|
Thumbnail is not captured for TIFF image format.
|
CSCtc85401
|
3
|
mxe_3500_webui
|
Unable to provide files located on network share for file transcoding
|
CSCte62913
|
3
|
mxe_3500_webui
|
SFTP is not supported
|
CSCte62937
|
3
|
mxe_3500_webui
|
Firefox users must manually enter NTSC/PAL GOP setting in MPEG profile
|
CSCte62976
|
3
|
mxe_3500_webui
|
H.264 audio multiplexing for AAC shows invalid options
|
CSCte64654
|
3
|
mxe_3500_ip_ingest
|
Only one node in a multinode (Resource Manager) configuration can stream out in WMV in IP capture
|
CSCte67440
|
3
|
mxe_3500_webui
|
Reports are generated properly but cannot be saved using Web UI
|
CSCte67716
|
3
|
mxe_3500_ip_ingest
|
IP capture of one stream simultaneously to WMV and Flash 8 does not work
|
CSCtf25130
|
3
|
mxe_3500_webui
|
Only one job can run at a time for profiles with external multiplexer
|
CSCtf85351
|
3
|
mxe_hardware
|
Front panel orange LED keeps glowing due to having a single PSU
|
CSCtg02310
|
3
|
mxe_3500_webui
|
DMP4400 profile generates incomplete output for mp4,avi,flv & wmv inputs
|
Resolved Caveats
This section lists caveats that are resolved in Cisco MXE 3500 but that might be open in earlier releases.
Unless otherwise noted, these caveats apply to all releases. Because defect status continually changes, be aware that the tables reflects a snapshot of the defects that were resolved at the time this report was compiled. For more information about an individual defect, click the associated identifier in the table to access the online record for that defect, including workarounds. For an updated view of open defects, access the Bug Toolkit.
Table 4 lists the caveats that he April 5, 2010, patch resolves. See the "Obtaining the Cisco MXE 3500 Release 3.0 April 5, 2010, Patch" section for more information.
Table 5 Resolved Caveats for Cisco MXE 3500
Identifier
|
Severity
|
Component
|
Headline
|
CSCtf82236:
|
3
|
mxe_3500_webui
|
MXE Flip and CTRS jobs fail when using the default FLIP and CTRS profiles
|
CSCtd79353
|
3
|
mxe_3500_webui
|
Jobs using DMP_4300_VO and DMP_4400_VO profiles fail
|
Troubleshooting
The following Cisco MXE 3500 documents provide troubleshooting information:
•The Deployment and Administration Guide for Cisco Media Experience Engine 3500 provides troubleshooting information for system-level issues.
•The User Guide for Cisco Media Experience Engine 3500 provides troubleshooting information for the Web UI.
•The Hardware Installation Guide for Cisco Media Experience Engine 3500 provides troubleshooting information for the hardware.
Documentation Updates
This section includes the following topics:
•Quick Start Hardware Installation Guide for Cisco MXE 3500
•Hardware Installation Guide for Cisco MXE 3500
Quick Start Hardware Installation Guide for Cisco MXE 3500
•The "Shipping Carton Contents" section in the printed version of this guide states that Cisco MXE 3500 ships with two software recovery DVDs. Only one software recovery DVD ships.
•The "Installing the Cisco MXE 3500" section now states "Do not remove" the DVD-RW drive and Hard drive (two) in the Front Panel Features table.
•Added the following caution to the "Installing the Cisco MXE 3500" section: We recommend that you use the supplied attachment hardware to rack-mount the system. Failure to use the correct hardware or to follow the correct procedures could result in damage to the system. For rack requirements an installation procedures, see the Hardware Installation Guide for Cisco MXE 3500.
Hardware Installation Guide for Cisco MXE 3500
•The "Overview" Chapter now states "Do not remove" the DVD-RW drive and Hard drive (two) in the Front Panel Features table.
•Added the following caution to the "Rack Requirements" section in the Installing the Cisco MXE 3500 chapter: We recommend that you use the supplied attachment hardware to rack-mount the system. Failure to use the correct hardware or to follow the correct procedures could result in damage to the system.
Related Documentation
For a list of available Cisco MXE 3500 documentation, see the Guide to Documentation for Cisco Media Experience Engine 3500 at the following URL:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/ps9892/products_documentation_roadmaps_list.html
Providing Documentation Feedback
To provide feedback on this Cisco MXE 3500 document, or to report an error or omission, you can use the online, Embedded Feedback form that appears on the left side of the screen at the following URL:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/video/mxe/3500/sw/3_x/release/note/mxe3500rn.html
Alternatively, you can send feedback to mxe-doc@cisco.com.
Obtaining Documentation and Submitting a Service Request
For information on obtaining documentation, submitting a service request, and gathering additional information, see the monthly What's New in Cisco Product Documentation, which also lists all new and revised Cisco technical documentation, at:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/general/whatsnew/whatsnew.html
Subscribe to the What's New in Cisco Product Documentation as an RSS feed and set content to be delivered directly to your desktop using a reader application. The RSS feeds are a free service. Cisco currently supports RSS Version 2.0.
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