GRASS VALLEY APEX -, Installation And Service Manual

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30 APEX — Installation and Service Manual
Section 1 — Introduction
The Apex Digital Audio Router is designed to provide the highest density
and most reliable audio router available for large-scale infrastructures
,
offering adaptability, reliability, and serviceability while using less power
and less space than comparable systems.
Scaling up to 2048 x 2048 is achieved via a unique Time Division Multi-
plexing (TDM) switching architecture, which offers the simplest expansion
path available for both studio and mobile users using only a handful of
interconnection cables and without the need for expensive distribution
amplifiers.
The system supports simultaneous synchronous and asynchronous signals
from 30 to 100 kHz.
The Apex system offers a similar physical flexibility. The chassis can be
stacked vertically or horizontally. Chassis interconnect cables are four
meters (13 ft.) long.
Note The InfiniBand cables cannot be longer than four meters (13 feet).
To ensure even, uninterrupted cooling, the Apex system uses forced air
cooling. Additionally, the Apex system design curbs overall power utiliza-
tion by minimizing circuit board and component counts. For example, the
I/O boards feature a configurable design that minimizes components and
power requirements. This significantly reduces the load on the cooling
system, increasing the overall reliability of the system.
The Apex Digital Audio Router also offers maximum serviceability. Its
passive rear panel allows all modules to be hot swapped from the front of
the chassis—even power supplies and fans. This approach allows you to
keep the router online during upgrades and to avoid going behind the
equipment rack to perform any service-oriented tasks.
For increased reliability, Thomson Grass Valley recommends the installa-
tion of redundant control boards, matrix boards, and power supplies.