Kaleidescape System Server and Component Limits

Server components

Server components in a system both provide the storage for your downloaded movies and host the various databases that drive the information presented on the onscreen display. Therefore, the health of the servers is directly tied to the performance and responsiveness of a Kaleidescape system.
The recommended maximum number of server components (of all types: Terra Prime, Terra, Strato, Strato S, and Alto) in a single system is four. A system with too many server components grouped can exhibit the following symptoms:

• sluggish OSD response (e.g. opening and closing movie detail sheets or changing places)
• extended delays in starting movie playback
• slower movie downloads

These symptoms will be exacerbated as the size of the movie library grows.

A Kaleidescape system with too many servers will display a warning at the top of all browser interface pages that the recommended system size has been exceeded and performance may suffer. If no performance concerns are observed, then no immediate actions need to be taken. However, it is worth noting that such a system may begin to develop slower performance in the future as the movie library grows.

To improve system performance, the number of servers in a system may be reduced by consolidating multiple smaller servers into one or more larger servers and by replacing any all-in-one players (Strato, Strato S, or Alto) with discrete Terra movie servers and Strato C players. For optimal performance, Kaleidescape recommends that a larger system be designed such that all of its storage is in the Terra movie servers, because the Terra platform is a more robust storage platform designed for higher performance concurrent workloads. Terra movie servers can support more simultaneous download and playback of content and can support more concurrent playback streams. A system that stores its movies on the internal storage of a Strato player is only suitable for installations where one or two movies will be played at the same time in the household.

Player components

Kaleidescape systems limit the number of concurrent playback streams based on the type of servers that make up the system. The number of guaranteed concurrent playbacks is limited by the least performant server in the system. Refer to the table below for details. It is recommended that the number of players grouped with the system not exceed this concurrent playback limit.

While it is safe to install as many players as is required for any system without regard to the above limits, if this limit is exceeded and multiple zones are being used simultaneously, there may be cases where a zone is not able to begin playback until another zone has stopped playing. Respecting this limit will ensure that all playback zones will be always usable. A system’s playback capacity can be improved by replacing the least capable server with a more capable server.

When adding components to the system, the number of concurrent playbacks that the system is capable of performing will be displayed in the “Add Component” pane of the kOS browser interface at the bottom of the Components page.

When the number of players grouped with the system exceeds the lowest concurrent playback stream limit for the system, kOS will instead display a warning in this location.

This warning is displayed based on the least performant server in the system. In the example image above, the system has 4 servers. Two of the servers are Terra Prime (HDD) movie servers which can serve up to ten concurrent playbacks. The other two servers, however, are Strato movie players with storage which are only capable of serving up to two concurrent playbacks. While it is still possible to group additional players to this system, the following warning would be displayed in the Add Components popup window:

Kaleidescape recommends that a larger system be designed such that all of its storage is in the Terra movie servers (i.e., using only Strato C and/or Strato V players), because Terra can support more simultaneous concurrent playback streams. A system that stores its movies on the internal storage of a Strato player is only suitable for installations where one or two movies will be played at the same time in the household.

Strato V

Strato V players cannot be grouped directly with other Strato V players; they require a server to group. Without a server, the player operates in standalone mode as a separate, unique system. A Strato V can be grouped with a Terra or Terra Prime movie server. When you do so, the Strato V player will switch to grouped mode which disables its internal storage drive. Any content stored on that drive will need to be redownloaded to the Terra server.

Note that to group a Strato V with an existing system, that system must have at least one Terra or Terra Prime movie server in it (including compact models) and the server must be online. Strato V cannot be grouped with a system comprised solely of Strato/Strato S or Alto movie players. Additionally, a Strato V grouped with a mixed system – one containing both a Terra and a Strato as its servers – will become inoperable if the Terra is taken offline and will remain so until either the Terra server is back online or the Strato V is reset to operate in standalone mode.

There are no limitations on the number of Strato V players that can be grouped with a Terra Prime movie server. However, it is recommended that the number of players in the system be limited to the servers’ maximum guaranteed concurrent playback as specified in the table above.