MediaCAT

MediaCAT is the multimedia and services platform of the i2CAT foundation, it provides a base infrastructure, software and know-how that enables the digital clusters to have a solid base for the tasks of research and development.

The main services that the platform offers, work, develops and researches are:

• Infrastructure Services (network, data storage, automatic backups, ...)
• Multimedia Services (multi-conferencing, streaming, video editing, recording events, ...)
• Development tools and directory management, SVN, Wiki, eGroupware, Mantis, Mail, ...)
• Virtualization (Xen, Cloud Computing, Virtual Box, ...)
• System VoIP SIP phone.
• Technical support, share our know-how.

MediaCAT promotes Open Source Software, teamwork and to improve day by day.

MediaCAT offers a range of services to the digital clusters, projects, collaborators and employees of the foundation i2CAT, these services can be divided into the following types:

Management Tools

The objectives of this project are to improve internal communication between different i2CAT Foundation's  workgroups and to be a central point for storage and exchange knowledge and results, enabling centralize the know-how while avoiding duplication of effort in already solved problems, reducing time of solving problems.

Tools that the project offers:

• LDAP: The LDAP directory allows users and project management of the foundation i2CAT allowing fast information search and a centralized authentication system.
• Subversion: SVN is a version control system to facilitate the administration of the various versions of each software that is developed and made possible specializations of each.
• Mantis: Mantis is a system that lets you manage the cost and project tasks easily and simply.
• Wiki: A place for sharing knowledge and the code generated when creating new projects.

Media Services

Videoconferencing

The videoconferencing service that offers MediaCAT combines several techniques, multimedia protocols (Proxy, MCU cascading, SIP, H323) and the most advanced videoconferencing technology to offer all sorts of qualities in real time. From the low-quality video and unrelated to a specific software to high definition video conferencing at speeds above 1 Gbps.

SIP Telephony

MediaCAT offers phone service as a communications hub, whit enough capabilities for linking the most used multimedia communication protocols transparently to the user, regardless of the network and using open source software.

This service reduces the cost of communications, facilitates the internal communications when users are outside i2CAT and allows all employees access to a phone without having to install a new line.

Live streaming service or on demand

This service offers the ability to view content across the network. It is a very interesting service that allows companies to perform R & D projects, for example, to conduct field tests to receive this content in a mobile.

The audiovisual content on-demand service provides each user a separate flow of video content requested, without any dependence on temporary factors. The quality of video that can be offered is variable, ranging from 100 kbps to 10 Mbps depending on the user. Ideal for networks where the end user has no more bandwith.

In the technology of streaming, content can be viewed on demand, video is published and issued in a certain fixed time, an user requesting the display of content can only view the video at that is currently being delivered.

• Streaming on demand in HD quality
• Streaming on air of the TV3 international channel

Broadcasting live events

The platform and network have enought capabilities to transmit live video content at very high quality using Digital Video (DV) and HDV, with or without compression, because the backbone network is equipped with a 10 Gbps technology, enough to send large amounts of data per second.

Coding and Video Formats

Another service offered is the video encoding, broadcasting and compression in different qualities. This service allows testing of new generation codecs, as well as the possibility of interoperability with all models and manufacturers of audiovisual equipment.

Infrastructure Services

Storage Services

MediaCAT allows data storage on its servers to make automatic backups, accessible online through different protocols. This service also offers video conferencing and live recording for events for a later playback or streaming on demand.

Hosting Servers

MediaCAT offers hosting for project servers. These servers are hosted in a airconditioned room, have a GigaEthernet network and even TenGigabitEthernet in special cases, electric line connected to UPS (if necessary) and attention to infrastructure incidents 8 / 5.

Server virtualization - ServiCAT

ServiCAT is a project focused on server virtualization for improve the performance of the technology platform. This concept is not new but has recently been strengthened since their performance in work environments is more than satisfactory and provides many advantages. One of them is without doubt the savings on purchase of hardware. Also directly impacts the security, management and, of course, the scalability of any platform.

MediaCAT offers virtual servers using Xen open source software and a virtual server management's software own developed. This virtualization allows servers customized OS whit Windows, Debian or Ubuntu preinstalled or install a new one.

Technical Advice

MediaCAT provides technical advice in the fields than know, such as editing, video encoding and transmission, videoconferencing, network technologies, management services / servers and all those fields on the expertise of MediaCAT's employees.

Events and demonstrations support

The MediaCAT offers its expertise and material events for i2CAT events and demostrations.

Network Services

The MediaCAT also provides network services required for the proper functioning of the entire infrastructure of servers and users of the network.

Usage and promotion of Free Software

Following in the footsteps of the policies of the European Union and also of the many Spanish Public Administration, MediaCAT promotes and encourages the use of Opensource Software for develop innovative projects, daily use and administration the resources of the platform.

Network Technologies

MediaCAT used advanced networking technologies in order to connect with the rest of the world with available bandwidth up to 10Gbps full-duplex. This enable the transmission of multimedia data at super high definition uncompressed, fact that with preterit technologies was simply unimaginable.
The platform makes an extensive use of data communications through the national research network (RedIRIS) and international through the optical network of GÉANT2 and GLIF.
Also along with the rest of Clusters puts into service the latest technologies investigated by the founding i2CAT allowing the platform to be always up to date on the latest developments.

Network Topology

MediaCAT provides a advanced hardware to deliver multimedia and infrastructure services on the transport layer, creating a 1 Gbps network for connecting servers, personal and hardware to the rest of the world. And also allowing national and international connections up to 10 Gbps.