vis|ability Hardware Requirements
Hardware Specifications for Display Node and System Manager
Overview
The vis|ability software run on open, commerical off the shelf computers. This article outlines the minimum and recommended specifications required to successfully deploy and operate the vis|ability software platform for these components:
- System Manager
- Display Node
Proper sizing ensures stable performance, scalability, and a smooth commissioning process.
System Manager
The System Manager serves as the core of the vis|ability environment, handling orchestration, user access, and system control.
| Category |
Minimum |
Enterprise |
|---|---|---|
| Typical Use | Small teams with modest display requirements (number of endpoints) | Medium to large teams with multi-wall or multi-site deployments |
| Operating System | Windows Server 2019+ | Windows Server 2019+ |
| Chipset | Intel i7 14th Gen (or equivalent) | Intel Xeon Silver 4xxx Series (or higher) |
| CPU | 12 cores | 24 cores |
| RAM | 32GB DDR4 | 64GB DDR5 |
| Storage | 512GB free (SSD recommended) | 512GB free (SSD required) |
| Network | 2 × 1Gbps NICs | 2 × 1Gbps NICs (10Gbps optional) |
System Manager Key Considerations
- The System Manager should be deployed on dedicated hardware or a properly resourced VM, as opposed to running concurrently on the Display Node computer.
- SSD storage is strongly recommended to ensure responsiveness
- Larger environments benefit from:
- Multi-site or high-traffic environments may require 10Gbps networking
Display Node
Display Nodes are responsible for rendering and displaying content across video walls and operator displays. Specifications vary based on the number of outputs and rendering requirements.
| Category | Basic | Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Application Scope | Single video wall. Up to 16 HD displays. Light-duty usage (web dashboards, limited IP video streams) |
Multimedia video walls. Up to 48 HD displays (with external scaling). Multiple independent Display walls. Direct capture + IP decoding. |
| CPU | Intel Core i7 (12th Gen or newer). Small Form Factor (SFF). Integrated graphics | Intel Core i9 (current generation)Discrete graphics required. Supports capture + IP decoding |
| Memory | 16GB DDR4 | 32GB DDR5 |
| Graphics Output | Intel 700 series integrated graphics or better | AMD W7600 / NVIDIA RTX A4000Supports multiple GPUs |
| Video Wall Support | Up to 4 × 4K outputs (single wall) or 16 HD outputs | Up to 12 × 4K outputs or up to 48 HD outputs |
| Graphics Input (Capture) | Not supported | Matrox IPX (Capture/Decode/Encode). Matrox C4K supported |
| Storage | 256GB minimumSSD recommended | SSD requiredRAID 1 or RAID 5 recommended |
| RAID | Not required | Recommended |
| Network | Single Gigabit NIC | Gigabit NIC (multiple NICs recommended for segmentation) |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Pro x64 (LTSC) | Windows 11 Pro x64 (LTSC) |
Display Node Key Considerations
Output Scaling
- Higher output counts may require:
- External scaling hardware (e.g., QuadHead, Datapath)
- Or multiple GPUs within a single system
Capture & IP Video
- Direct capture (HDMI, SDI, etc.) requires:
- Matrox IPX or equivalent capture hardware
- Available PCIe slots in the system
- Input capacity is limited by:
- Number of PCIe slots
- Installed capture cards
GPU & System Design
- Multi-GPU systems must account for:
- PCIe lane availability
- Physical slot spacing
- Power supply capacity
Network Considerations
- Standard deployments should consider:
- Separate NICs for control vs video traffic
- Higher bandwidth (10Gbps) where large volumes of IP video are used