Grass Valley iTX System v.2.6 - Manual (Page 22)

About the iTX system
About the iTX system
System architecture
For those who are familiar with previous versions of iTX, we summarise below the main
differences between the system architectures of iTX v1 and iTX v2.
Whereas iTX v1 operates within our previous (G 3 ) Framework, iTX v2 is designed to operate on
our latest iTX platform. There are two significant differences between the two system
architectures:
• The ability in iTX v2 to use Microsoft Windows Discovery Service for service and client
connections. This makes it possible for iTX v2 to work using either of two service-
connection models: Locator-based or Discovery-based.
• The merging of functionality into fewer services in iTX v2.
We explain the differences in more detail below.
Service-connection model and system domains in iTX v1
iTX v1 uses the Locator model for the connecting of services and clients. In this model, the
Locator Service gives services and clients the connection details they need to interact with each
other; it also manages failover to back-up services. The Locator Service defines the iTX domain
in which the various system components (services and iTX Desktops) operate.
Service-connection models and system domains in iTX v2
iTX v2 can use either the Locator model or the Discovery model for service and client
connections. Failover of services is generally managed by the services themselves. An iTX
domain is formed by services and clients that have a common domain name – this is set for the
machines on which they run.
In the Locator model, the iTX Locator Service provides the service connection details.
In the Discovery model, an alternative method for connecting services and clients is available
through the Microsoft Windows Discovery Service. Each service and client broadcasts its
presence to all other services and clients in its domain; it keeps its own list of domain members
and the connection details it needs to be able to interact with them.
The Discovery model requires special configuration of the IT network and is best suited to
single-domain systems.
For multi-domain systems, especially those spread over a large network, we recommend you
use a Locator Service in each domain to share service-connection information with each other.
In such a system, there is less network traffic between domains than there is in a system that
uses the Discovery model. Such a set-up is necessary if any of the domains is an iTX v1 domain,
since iTX v1 does not support the Discovery model.
March 2015 System Administrator Guide Page 22 of 404