Cisco Systems, Inc. - Special Call - NasdaqGS:CSCO

NasdaqGS:CSCO

Marco Gasperoni, the CTO, discussed how Cisco is enabling the transition of post-production applications to virtualization and clouds. He highlighted the importance of providing a suitable IT platform in terms of computing and storage capabilities that are flexible, high-performance, and scalable in different form factors, including blades, rack mounts, and modular systems, often powered by GPUs to provide the necessary acceleration resources for video applications.

Key Points:

1. Main Building Block:

   • The main building block of Cisco’s solution is the Unified Computing System (UCS).
   • Enhanced since 2009, it introduced the concept of hybrid computing, combining short and defined computing and interface computing.
   • Innovated over time with converged infrastructure, validating architectures with storage vendors like NetApp, EMC, IBM, and Pure Storage.
   • Entered the hyperconverged market in 2017 with HyperFlex, integrating networking, computing, storage, and management layers.

2. Market Position:

   • Cisco UCS is a leader in the computing market, second worldwide and first in America in terms of blade revenue.
   • Over 56,000 customers globally.
   • More than 4,200 HyperFlex customers within three years of entering the hyperconverged market.
   • Sold over 7 exabytes of storage since 2015.
   • Over 3,300 customers running Intersight, the cloud-based computing management system.

3. Unified Fabric:

   • UCS introduces a common fabric aggregating Ethernet, management, and fiber channel traffic from compute nodes to the node-bound network.
   • Full management of the configuration of computing nodes.
   • Concept of Internet-based computing, defining service profiles for computing characteristics and deploying them to various computing nodes.

4. Management Capability:

   • Cisco Intersight provides full lifecycle management of computing units, including provisioning, monitoring, and capacity planning.

5. HyperFlex:

   • HyperFlex is a hyperconvergence platform based on UCS convergence and the data platform.
   • Unique enterprise-grade storage functionality, including replication, compression, and deduplication.
   • Recognized for performance leadership.
   • Not only a hyperconvergence solution but also a cloud platform, managed by Intersight and integrated with workload optimization and management.

6. Virtualization of Post-Production and Media Applications:

   • Worked with major ISVs (Independent Software Vendors) and broadcast vendors to enable the transition to virtualization.
   • Examples include:
     • Editing:
       • Avid: VDI access to Media Composer and virtualized Media Central Suite.
       • Dalet: Virtualization of Media Asset Management and Workflow Management (Dalet Galaxy 5).
     • Radio Broadcasting:
       • RNE (Spanish Radio National): Evolution of radio production centers using UCS rack mount and blades with NetApp storage arrays.
     • Playout Market:
       • Collaboration with Imagine, Grass Valley, and Evertz for compressed and uncompressed playout workflows.
     • Encoding, Transcoding, Multiplexing:
       • Worked with Harmonic, MediaKind, ATEME, and Synamedia.
       • Reference with a Tier 1 U.S. mobile service operator running software-based encoding and transcoding applications on Cisco computing nodes for several thousand channels.
     • Graphics Applications:
       • Worked with Vizrt, ChyronHego, and Ross to implement virtualization of graphics applications.
     • Multinational Broadcaster:
       • Implemented a virtual private cloud to enable VDI access to corporate and broadcast applications and hosting of virtual applications (Adobe Premiere, Avid MediaCentral, Vizrt).

7. Transition to Cloud:

   • Many customers aim to leverage the scalability and flexibility of the cloud.
   • Importance of having the right tools for workflow optimization and management across on-premises and public cloud environments.
   • Tools to understand and control cloud costs and manage and monitor the performance of applications across multiple clouds.

Overall, Marco emphasized Cisco’s role in providing innovative solutions that enable the transition of media and entertainment workflows to virtualized and cloud environments, focusing on performance, scalability, and management capabilities.

Jacob Jeevanayagam, the Business Development Manager for Cisco, began by welcoming everyone to the Cisco Knowledge Network session, which was originally planned for the NAB 2020 in Vegas but was held virtually due to the prevailing circumstances. He expressed his hope that everyone was staying healthy and safe.

He introduced his colleagues who would be presenting during the session: David Desroches, Technical Solution Architect; Marco Gasperoni, CTO for Media and Entertainment in the EMEA region; and Robert Covington, Senior Systems Engineering Manager for Media and Entertainment in the Americas. Jacob encouraged attendees to post questions in the Q&A panel, promising to answer them during or after the session.

Jacob reflected on the evolution of media and entertainment, noting the shift from early television to the current landscape of on-demand content consumption, with a notable change in viewer behavior. He highlighted three broad industry trends:

1. Migration to IP: The ongoing transition from SDI to IP, facilitated by advancements like SMPTE 2110.
2. Virtualization: The movement from dedicated hardware to virtualized, containerized software on off-the-shelf x86 compute platforms.
3. Cloud Computing: The radical transformation of software development, consumption, and transition.

He discussed Cisco's collaborations with industry partners and participation in industry groups to innovate and provide relevant solutions during these transitions. Jacob then handed over the presentation to David Desroches to discuss Cisco's evolving media blueprint. After the presentations, Jacob wrapped up the session by highlighting unique funding opportunities for strengthening working capital, additional resources available on cisco.com/go/media, and the free Cisco Live event. He encouraged attendees to register for Cisco Live and thanked everyone for participating.

David Desroches, the Technical Solutions Architect of Media & Entertainment Americas at Cisco, discussed several topics during the special call:

1. Introduction to IP Fabric for Media (IPFM):

   • Benefits of IP in Media Workflows: IP provides flexibility compared to Serial Digital Interface (SDI) environments. It allows sharing of environments, running multiple things simultaneously, and bidirectional signal transmission.
   • IP Networks Agnosticism: IP networks are adaptable to new protocols and standards, offering a dynamic infrastructure.

2. Overview of IPFM:

   • Traditional vs. IP-Based Workflows: Traditional workflows use bespoke equipment and monolithic switches, which are task-specific and hard to scale. IPFM introduces a fabric architecture that scales horizontally, using spine and leaf nodes.
   • Scalable Fabric: IPFM uses Nexus 9K series switches capable of handling 2110 and Precision Time Protocol (PTP). It supports multi-tenancy and multi-site configurations.

3. Deployment Models:

   • Spine-Leaf Architecture: Provides scalability and redundancy.
   • Spine Leaf Hybrid: Offers a balance between scale and redundancy.
   • Single Modular Switch: Direct replacement for monolithic video routers.

4. Integration and Partnerships:

   • Broadcast Controller Integrations: Cisco works with broadcast controllers to manage connectivity through the network.
   • Endpoint Integration Partners: Cisco collaborates with various partners to integrate their streams into the fabric.

5. Features of IPFM:

   • NX-OS Operating System: Includes bandwidth-aware PIM for non-blocking multicast, PTP for synchronization, and support for multi-tenancy and multi-site.
   • DCNM (Data Center Network Manager): Centralized controller and GUI for real-time monitoring.

6. New Features:

   • Scalable Multicast NAT: Allows splitting source streams into multiple destinations with different attributes.
   • Flow Prioritization: Prioritizes streams during failures to ensure critical streams are transmitted first.

7. Security:

   • Device Authorization: White/blacklisting devices to prevent unauthorized access.
   • Flow Policing: Limits bandwidth usage to prevent erratic devices from overwhelming the network.
   • Analytics and Telemetry: Real-time monitoring for troubleshooting and anomaly detection.

8. General Security Discussion:

   • Threat Landscape: Emphasized the importance of security due to the increasing financial motivations of cyber attacks.
   • Cisco Security Portfolio: Highlighted investments in security technologies, including network security, user and endpoint security, and cloud workload security.
   • Talos: Mentioned Cisco’s threat research organization for detecting and responding to security threats.

9. Cisco SecureX:

   • Aggregation Platform: SecureX aggregates information from various security tools to provide actionable insights for security breaches.

David's presentation covered the technological aspects of IPFM, its deployment models, and how it integrates with broadcast controllers and endpoints. He also discussed the importance of security in media workflows and highlighted Cisco's security solutions.

Katie Lindner, the Program Manager, made the following statements during the Cisco Special Call:

1. Introduction and Audio Issue:

   • Noted that Marco Gasperoni’s audio connection was lost.
   • Suggested that someone else might be able to step in and continue the presentation.

2. Passing the Call to David Desroches:

   • Passed the call to David Desroches to continue the presentation in place of Marco Gasperoni.

3. Closing Remarks:

   • Thanked Jacob Jeevanayagam and all the attendees.
   • Mentioned that a short survey would appear when attendees closed their browser and encouraged them to provide feedback.
   • Wished everyone a great rest of their day.

Katie Lindner's role primarily involved managing the logistics of the call, including addressing technical issues and ensuring a smooth transition between speakers. She also thanked the attendees and requested feedback at the end of the call.

Robert Covington, the Senior Systems Engineering Manager at Cisco, discussed several key points related to networking for media, focusing on connectivity solutions and the media enterprise. Here’s a detailed summary of his presentation:

Connectivity Solutions:

1. Remote Production Use Cases:

   • Production in one location and post-production in another.
   • Incorporating the cloud into production workflows.
   • Providing connectivity between different entities and geographies securely and reliably.

2. Connectivity Across Multiple Transports:

   • Mobile-type transports (5G, LTE).
   • Leased circuits.
   • Public Internet.
   • Ensuring secure and reliable delivery of services over these media.

3. Workflows Supported:

   • Transporting media from production facilities to VFX houses.
   • Leveraging cloud applications for tasks like VDI for editing.
   • Workload mobility to expand capacity temporarily for projects.
   • Voice and collaboration for remote workers producing content from home.

4. Application Hosting:

   • Container environment on some platforms for hosting applications to process traffic traversing the network.

5. Manageability:

   • On-premises and cloud models.
   • Open APIs and programmability for third-party integration.
   • Automation of workflows.
   • Telemetry for efficient data collection and decision-making.

Cisco Solutions:

1. Nexus 9000 Portfolio:

   • Used in IPFM and other use cases.

2. Cisco 8000 Platform:

   • High-density, 100-gig, 400-gig platform.

3. Cisco SD-WAN and Cisco Meraki Solutions:

   • Leverage public Internet capabilities with added security and reliability.

4. Investment in Silicon:

   • Development of own ASICs for platforms.
   • Capabilities like multicast NAT, RTP, and PTP monitoring not available with merchant silicon.

Media Enterprise:

1. Optimizing Ancillary Functions:

   • Focus on IT back office, smart building solutions, and smart infrastructure to make content creation more efficient.

2. Collaboration:

   • Cisco WebEx for immersive and interactive remote interactions.
   • Importance of collaboration in the pandemic environment.

3. Internet of Things (IoT):

   • Smart infrastructure solutions to connect building systems for OpEx and CapEx reduction.

4. Core Networking:

   • Glue that ties all systems together.
   • Embraces intent-based networking (DNA/IBN) to simplify network management.

5. Intent-Based Networking:

   • Graphical user interface to define intent.
   • Controller to deploy intent across the network.
   • Example: Bob’s access policy applied universally regardless of location, device, or time of day.

6. Smart Building Concept:

   • Climate regulations in states like New York and California requiring businesses to reduce carbon footprint.
   • Centralizing functions and reducing parallel infrastructures (e.g., security cameras, HVAC, lighting) by using Ethernet and Wi-Fi.

Conclusion:

• Ecosystem Partners:
  • Enables intelligence in managing buildings, reducing power consumption and carbon footprint.
  • Improves comfort and productivity for building occupants.

Robert Covington’s presentation emphasized the importance of connectivity, collaboration, and smart infrastructure in the media and entertainment industry, highlighting Cisco’s comprehensive solutions and technologies.