This product is specifically designed for developers working on hardware and software within the broadcast and ProAV sectors. The MEP100 will be showcased at the NAB Show 2024, where Macnica aims to demonstrate its capabilities in media processing, stream protection, and bandwidth optimization within a 4K/HD networking ecosystem. Visitors can find Macnica at booth C1726.

Optimized Performance with FPGA Hardware Acceleration

The MEP100 SmartNIC card incorporates an FPGA hardware acceleration engine, positioning it as a superior option over software-based solutions for uncompressed media transport across ST 2110 IP networks. This innovation allows for the direct transfer of video, audio, and data between the host CPU, GPU memory, and the SmartNIC card, bypassing CPU utilization within the operating system. The MEP100 supports a comprehensive ST 2110 stack, which is enhanced with applications such as PTP timing for synchronization, network path redundancy, and soon, on-board JPEG-XS compression for efficient, low-latency media transport.

Ensuring Low Latency and High Efficiency

Thanks to its FPGA-based architecture, the MEP100 guarantees minimal latency and maximizes network bandwidth efficiency for the transport of uncompressed ST 2110 media. It also provides robust stream protection via the SMPTE ST 2202-7 hitless merge specification, ensuring reliable network path redundancy and maintaining signal integrity upon delivery.

Designed for High-demand Applications

Constructed using Altera Agilex 7 FPGAs, the MEP100 is built to handle applications requiring high bandwidth and computational power. It comes with Macnica’s M2S SDK, a versatile media streaming software development kit compatible with all major network hardware. This SDK offers developers an intuitive API for media data transmission on various PC and software platforms, making the MEP100 a valuable tool for IPMX product development as well.

Andrew Starks, Director of Product Development at Macnica, stated that the MEP100 provides a distinct and advanced stream processing solution for developers focusing on ST 2110 projects. He highlighted its professional features that are optimized for live broadcasts, large-scale production environments, and other high-end applications, making it an ideal SmartNIC solution for those looking to market their own hardware products or integrate a reliable media transport solution into PC workstations for broadcast or ProAV settings.

News source: https://www.macnicatech.com/