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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”

Network switches

Section titled “Network switches”

There are an increasing number of SMPTE ST 2110 compatible network switches which have worked in ST 2110 video systems alongside Disguise. As of May 2025, these include:

  • Arista DCS-7060CX-32S - up to 32x 100GbE QSFP28 ports and 2x SFP+ ports
  • Mellanox MSN2100-CB2F - up to 16x QSFP28 ports
  • Mellanox MSN4600-CS2FC - up to 64x QSFP28 ports

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.