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Disguise User Guide
⚠️ If you use IP-VFC cards, we recommend updating to r29.0 or later. This will also require a firmware update which you can perform using the IP-VFC firmware updater tool on the Resources page under the VFC Firmware Update tab.

IP-VFC System Configuration

The IP-VFC can be used in 2 main ways, either with an SDI SFP attached to output 12G SDI signals directly or to output ST 2110 video signals over a network. Instructions for how to configure the card in each mode are shown below.

We recommend using the IP-VFC card with the following configurations:

System configuration in SDI mode

Section titled “System configuration in SDI mode”

IP-VFC system configuration

System configuration in ST 2110 mode

Section titled “System configuration in ST 2110 mode”

IP-VFC system configuration

The ST 2110 mode configuration provides a plug and play solution for IP-VFC. Please note that we recommend and validate our ST 2110 workflows with Disguise Fabric network switches. If you are unable to use a Fabric switch or otherwise want to use a different network switch, please be aware this will require you to manually configure the switch correctly. If you want to use a different network switch, please let us know by reaching out to support@disguise.one so we can help ensure a successful project delivery.

Forward Error Correction (FEC) is disabled on the IP-VFC. Please ensure that the ports that the IP-VFC is connected to on the network switch are set to NO FEC in order to work with the IP-VFC.

We also strongly recommend the use of multimode OM4 fiber cables instead of DAC cables with an ST 2110 system using IP-VFC as we have identified variable performance when using DAC cables.

Third-party compatible devices

Section titled “Third-party compatible devices”

LED processor

Section titled “LED processor”

There are now a number of LED processors on the market that support ST 2110 video inputs, which have worked in ST 2110 video systems alongside Disguise. As of July 2024, these include:

  • Colorlight Z8 - optional ST 2110 input card support 25GbE input via the SFP28 module for video input at up to 4K DCI 60fps 4:4:4 12-bit. The input card also includes a second 25GbE input for seamless protection switching as per the SMPTE 2022-7 spec. Learn more about the Z8 processor here
  • Megapixel Helios - optional 100GbE input card supports up to 4 streams at both 4:4:4 and 4:2:2 up to 12-bit. The Megapixel Helios must also be updated to v22.11 or later. Learn more about the Megapixel Helios and 100GbE input here.
  • 7th Sense Juggler - I/O cards support either 25GbE or 100GbE input via the SFP28 and QSFP28 modules for video inputs at up to 4K DCI 60fps 4:4:4 12-bit. Learn more about the Juggler here.

New LED processors will likely be available by the end of 2024, such as Brompton’s SQ200 processor which will support up to 4 streams of 4K video at both 4:4:4 and 4:2:2 up to 12-bit via a 100Gb input. The Encore3 image processor from Barco also supports ST 2110 video inputs.

Genlock in ST 2110 Mode

Section titled “Genlock in ST 2110 Mode”

IP-VFC can genlock in ST 2110 mode in 2 ways:

  1. PTP (Precision Time Protocol) is used for synchronisation in signal-over-IP carried over the network cable to the card and can be configured in your network using a PTP master. You can find more information about PTP here and here.
  2. External Source is the normal method for genlocking a signal when connected to the BNC connector on the back of the server. Internally, the genlock signal is routed to the IP-VFC card within the backplate and then fed to the GPU from there.