Electra XT v03.11.02 LA - Release Notes
Date:  10 November 2022

Revision A

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

©2022 Harmonic, Inc.
 Electra XT v03.11.02 LA - Release Notes

 
Notice:
Copyright 2022 Harmonic Inc. All rights reserved. Harmonic, the Harmonic logo, [all other Harmonic products mentioned] are 
trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of Harmonic Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other
trademarks are the property of their respective owners. All product and application features and specifications are subject to
change at Harmonic’s sole discretion at any time and without notice.
 
Disclaimer:
Harmonic reserves the right to alter the product specifications and descriptions in this publication without prior notice. No part
of this publication shall be deemed to be part of any contract or warranty unless specifically incorporated by reference into
such contract or warranty. The information contained herein is merely descriptive in nature, and does not constitute a binding
offer for sale of the product described herein. Harmonic assumes no responsibility or liability arising from the use of the
products described herein, except as expressly agreed to in writing by Harmonic. The use and purchase of this product does
not convey a license under any patent rights, copyrights, trademark rights, or any intellectual property rights of Harmonic.
Nothing hereunder constitutes a representation or warranty that using any product in the manner described herein will not
infringe any patents of third parties.
 
Third-Party Product Trademarks:
Adobe® After Effects®, Photoshop®, Flash® Professional, Premiere® Avid® Media Composer® Jünger Audio™ Apple® 
QuickTime® Microsoft® Mediaroom® Microsoft® PlayReady® DOCSIS® 3.0 Start Over® TV Dolby is a registered trademark
of Dolby Laboratories. Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Plus, aacPlus, AC-3, and Dolby® E are trademarks of Dolby
Laboratories. Level Magic and Jünger are trademarks of Jünger Audio Studiotechnik GmbH. MPEG Audio technology
licensed from Fraunhofer IIS http://www.iis.fraunhofer.de/amm/ PitchBlue® is a registered trademark of Vigor Systems.
QuickTime and the QuickTime logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., used under license
therefrom.
 
Third-Party Copyright Notes:
Harmonic software uses version 3.15.4 of the FreeImage open source image library under FreeImage Public License (FIPL).
See http://freeimage.sourceforge.net for details. The product may include implementations of AAC and HE-AAC by
Fraunhofer IIS; and MPEG Audio technology licensed from Fraunhofer IIS. The software described in this publication may
use version 2.8 of FFmpeg open source package under Lesser General Public License (LGPL).

©2022 Harmonic, Inc.
 Electra XT v03.11.02 LA - Release Notes

Table of Contents
1. Release Identification .....................................................................................................................................5
2. Commercial Codification ................................................................................................................................6
2.1. Chassis................................................................................................................................................... 6
2.2. Software Release ................................................................................................................................... 6
2.3. Field upgradable Hardware Options....................................................................................................... 6
2.4. Video Decoding Licenses....................................................................................................................... 7
2.5. Video Encoding Licenses ....................................................................................................................... 7
2.6. Audio Decoding Licenses....................................................................................................................... 8
2.7. Audio Encoding Licenses ....................................................................................................................... 8
2.8. Scrambling License ................................................................................................................................ 9
2.9. Additional License .................................................................................................................................. 9
3. New Features ...............................................................................................................................................10
4. Resolved Issues ........................................................................................................................................... 11
5. Limitations ....................................................................................................................................................12
6. Version Compatibility....................................................................................................................................14
6.1. BIOS ..................................................................................................................................................... 14
6.2. Modules and Chassis ........................................................................................................................... 14
6.3. JAVA ..................................................................................................................................................... 14
7. Software Upgrade ........................................................................................................................................15
7.1. For Electra XT running versions 2.5x or 2.6x ....................................................................................... 15
7.1.1. Important Notice 1 ......................................................................................................................... 15
7.1.2. Important Notice 2 ......................................................................................................................... 15
7.1.3. Important Notice 3 ......................................................................................................................... 15
7.2. Upgrade procedure .............................................................................................................................. 15

©2022 Harmonic, Inc. Confidential 3

 Electra XT v03.11.02 LA - Release Notes

These notes cover important information regarding this software release including the following: 

• Electra XT v03.11.02 LA Release Identification

• Electra XT v03.11.02 LA Commercial Codification
• Electra XT v03.11.02 LA New Features
• Electra XT v03.11.02 LA Resolved Issues
• Electra XT v03.11.02 LA Limitations
• Electra XT v03.11.02 LA Version Compatibility
• Electra XT v03.11.02 LA Software Upgrade

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 Electra XT v03.11.02 LA - Release Notes

1. Release Identification
Full name of this version is Electra XT 03.11.02 build 001

This name is visible in the footer of the user interface.

File for upgrading a unit has the following characteristics:

▪ file name: ELECTRAXT_03.11.02.001.zip

▪ file size: 867 MB (910,015,175 bytes)

Note: Please consult important notices in Software Upgrade section

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 Electra XT v03.11.02 LA - Release Notes

2. Commercial Codification

2.1. Chassis
Commercial Reference Name Description

ELC-XT-2U-2AC-G2 ELECTRA XT CHASSIS WITH AC Electra XT chassis. Xtream Transcoder 2RU with 8x GbE
PSU RJ45 and 4x 10GbE SFP+ for media stream input/output,
2x GbE RJ45 for management, dual 1500W AC PSU.
Ready to host up to nine A/V Processing modules.

ELC-XT-2U-2DC-G2 ELECTRA XT CHASSIS WITH DC Electra XT chassis. Xtream Transcoder 2RU with 8x GbE
PSU RJ45 and 4x 10GbE SFP+ for media stream input/output,
2x GbE RJ45 for management, dual 1500W DC PSU.
Ready to host up to nine A/V Processing modules.

2.2. Software Release

Commercial Reference Name Description

ELC-XT-SW-BASE-SKL ELECTRA XT SOFTWARE V03.1X Electra XT software. This option enables Electra XT
software allowing product configuration, control and
supervision.

2.3. Field upgradable Hardware Options

Commercial Reference Name Description

ELC-XT-OPT-AVP-SKL AUDIO VIDEO PROCESSING Electra XT hardware option. Audio/Video Processing module
(up to nine per Electra XT). Each module supports
broadcast/multiscreen transcoding for MPEG-2, MPEG-4 ,
HEVC and AVS+ (SD and HD) thanks to software license.

ELC-XT-OPT-SFP10SR SFP+ TRANSCEIVER Electra XT hardware option. 10GbE SFP+ SR transceiver.

Max range 400m.

ELC-XT-OPT-FAN FAN Electra XT spare. Fan. Hot-swappable.

ELC-XT-OPT-GIGE-4-RIGHT GIGE SWITCH INPUT OUTPUT Electra XT spare. Right Switch with 4x GbE RJ45 and 2x
10GbE SFP+ for media stream input/output, 1x GbE RJ45
for management. Compatible only with version 02.70 and
upper

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 Electra XT v03.11.02 LA - Release Notes

Commercial Reference Name Description

ELC-XT-OPT-GIGE-4-LEFT GIGE SWITCH INPUT OUTPUT Electra XT spare. Left Switch with 4x GbE RJ45 and 2x
10GbE SFP+ for media stream input/output, 1x GbE RJ45
for management.Compatible only with version 02.70 and
upper

ELC-XT-OPT-GIGE-4 GIGE SWITCH INPUT OUTPUT Electra XT spare. Undetermined Switch with 4x GbE RJ45
and 2x 10GbE SFP+ for media stream input/output, 1x GbE
RJ45 for management. Compatible with all versions.

ELC-XT-OPT-1AC-1500W 1500W AC PSU Electra XT spare. 1500W AC PSU. Hot-swappable.

ELC-XT-OPT-1DC-1500W 1500W DC PSU Electra XT spare. 1500W DC PSU. Hot-swappable.

2.4. Video Decoding Licenses

Commercial Reference Name Description

ELC-XT-LIC-DEC-HD HD DECODING Electra XT license. This option enables MPEG-2/MPEG-4/

AVS+ HD decoding. 4:2:0 format. One license is required per
video decoding.

ELC-XT-LIC-DEC-SD SD DECODING Electra XT license. This option enables MPEG-2/MPEG-4 SD

decoding. 4:2:0 format. One license is required per video
decoding.

2.5. Video Encoding Licenses 
Commercial Reference Name Description

ELC-XT-LIC-ENC-HD HD ENCODING Electra XT license. This option enables MPEG-2/MPEG-4

HD encoding. 4:2:0 format. One license is required per
video encoding.

ELC-XT-LIC-ENC-SD SD ENCODING Electra XT license. This option enables MPEG-2/MPEG-4

SD encoding. 4:2:0 format. One license is required per
video encoding.

ELC-XT-LIC-ENC-LR LOW RESOLUTION ENCODING Electra XT license. This option enables MPEG-4 low
resolution encoding (up to QVGA). 4:2:0 format. One
license is required per video encoding.

ELC-XT-LIC-ENC-HD-HEVC HEVC HD ENCODING Electra XT license. This option enables MPEG-2/MPEG-4/

HEVC HD encoding. 4:2:0 format. One license is required
per video encoding.

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 Electra XT v03.11.02 LA - Release Notes

Commercial Reference Name Description

ELC-XT-LIC-ENC-SD-HEVC HEVC SD ENCODING Electra XT license. This option enables MPEG-2/MPEG-4/

HEVC SD encoding. 4:2:0 format. One license is required
per video encoding.

ELC-XT-LIC-ENC-LR-HEVC HEVC LOW RESOLUTION Electra XT license. This option enables MPEG-4/HEVC
ENCODING low resolution encoding (up to QVGA). 4:2:0 format. One
license is required per video encoding.

ELC-XT-LIC-FLX INTERNAL FLEXTREAM Electra XT license. This option enables internal statistical
multiplexing. One license is required per video to be
managed in statistical multiplexing pool.

2.6. Audio Decoding Licenses

Commercial Reference Name Description

ELC-XT-LIC-DEC-AUD20 MPEG1 & AAC 2.0 DECODING Electra XT license. This option enables MPEG-1 LII and
AAC stereo decoding. One license is required per stereo
audio decoding.

ELC-XT-LIC-DEC-DD20 AC3 & EAC3 2.0 DECODING Electra XT license. This option enables Dolby Digital and
Dolby Digital Plus stereo decoding. One license is
required per stereo audio decoding.

ELC-XT-LIC-DEC-AAC51 AAC 5.1 DECODING Electra XT license. This option enables AAC 5.1 decoding.
One license is required per 5.1 audio decoding.

ELC-XT-LIC-DEC-DD51 AC3 & EAC3 5.1 DECODING Electra XT license. This option enables Dolby Digital and
Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 decoding. One license is required
per 5.1 audio decoding.

2.7. Audio Encoding Licenses

Commercial Reference Name Description

ELC-XT-LIC-ENC-AUD20 ELECTRA XT LICENSE: MPEG1 & AAC Electra XT license. This option enables MPEG-1 LII
2.0 ENCODING and AAC stereo encoding. One license is required per
stereo audio encoding.

ELC-XT-LIC-ENC-DD20 ELECTRA XT LICENSE: AC3 & EAC3 2.0 Electra XT license. This option enables Dolby Digital
ENCODING and Dolby Digital Plus stereo encoding. One license is
required per stereo audio encoding.

ELC-XT-LIC-ENC-AAC51 AAC 5.1 ENCODING Electra XT license. This option enables AAC 5.1
encoding. One license is required per 5.1 audio
encoding.

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 Electra XT v03.11.02 LA - Release Notes

Commercial Reference Name Description

ELC-XT-LIC-ENC-DD51 AC3 & EAC3 5.1 ENCODING Electra XT license. This option enables Dolby Digital
and Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 encoding. One license is
required per 5.1 audio encoding.

ELC-XT-LIC-ALC20 2.0 LOUDNESS CONTROL Electra XT license. This option enables automatic
loudness control on stereo audio. One license is
required per stereo audio.

ELC-XT-LIC-ALC51 5.1 LOUDNESS CONTROL Electra XT license. This option enables automatic
loudness control on 5.1 audio. One license is required
per 5.1 audio.

2.8. Scrambling License

Commercial Reference Name Description

ELC-XT-LIC-SCR-OTT OTT SCRAMBLING Electra XT license. This option enables OTT scrambling
output. AES-128 encryption. One license is required per
WebTV output (HLS, HSS, DASH).

2.9. Additional License

Commercial Reference Name Description

ELC-XT-AUDIO-NIELSEN-INS-ID3 NIELSEN WATERMARK Electra XT license. This option enables the extraction of
EXTRACTION Nielsen's watermark and insertion in ID3 tags. One
license is required per stereo or 5.1 audio.

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 Electra XT v03.11.02 LA - Release Notes

3. New Features

  

Key Rn Summary - Resolved

No issues found

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 Electra XT v03.11.02 LA - Release Notes

4. Resolved Issues
The following issues have been resolved.

Key Rn Summary - Resolved

EXT-25 [Subtitle - Nth Element]

78 Update PMT triggers alarm "Configuration inconsistency PID XXX already defined" on the second
subtitle if Nth Subtitle selected.

1 issue

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 Electra XT v03.11.02 LA - Release Notes

5. Limitations
The following known issues remain in this release.

Key Rn Summary - Known

EXT-2 [Simulation]
410 Interaction Simulation & start/stop jobs. Do not launch simulations when some start/stop jobs are on
going on the system. The simulation results can be impacted.

EXT-2 [Input TSoIP]

236 When using TSoIPv3 input, forcing manually Main or Backup input does not display information
alarm. The operation is done properly.

EXT-2 [Electra X2 - Electra XT equivalence]

137 When checking "switch to VBR during avail" option, there is no additional option allowing to force an
avail duration (option available in Electra X2)

EXT-2 [Hardware]
047 You must not insert a module integrated in version 2.70 and upper in a cluster with version 2.64
No alarm inconsistency version error can be raised in this case.
The effect is that there will be no video at the job running on the module.

EXT-1 [Live SD-HD trancodier workflow]

957 Electra XT does not use the specified value defined in the workflow to create Independent PCR PID if
a MPTS output is defined.

EXT-1 [TSoIP]
930 Memory leak when input switch between main and backup if streams are different.

EXT-1 [SCTE-20 passthru]

848 SCTE-20 Closed Captions are corrupted after frame rate reduction.

EXT-1 [Encoding - H.264 / H.265]

847 If configured encoding format is not supported the job may synchronize in loop without alarm.

EXT-1 [ALC]
683 Audio level is incorrect if ALC mode is A-weighted. since version

EXT-1 [ALC]
676 Target Audio level configured is not respected with EBU R128 mode. The real average audio output
level may be lower than the value configured.

EXT-1 [IGMPv3]
523 Limitation to 8 multicast subscriptions on the same multicast address with different IP sources. if limit
is exceeded, unexpected "TS sync loss" alarms are raised.

EXT-1 [Monitoring]
481 PSU missing and Fan error alarms are raised 5 minutes after detection of the issue, this, in order to
avoid flickering and false transient alarms.

EXT-1 [MSS]
463 Incompatibility with old Smooth Streaming players using PlayReady DRM (PIFF 1.1) .

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 Electra XT v03.11.02 LA - Release Notes

EXT-2 [Configuration]
79 It is possible to configure on a given NIC an untagged VLAN and tagged VLAN(s); but it does not
work. All the VLANs are tagged.

14 issues

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 Electra XT v03.11.02 LA - Release Notes

6. Version Compatibility

6.1. BIOS
Electra XT requires a specific BIOS version 1.01.0916DD5E on all the nodes of the system. 

Contact the support to check if your platform is compatible.

6.2. Modules and Chassis

v03.11.02 is compliant with the chassis/modules based on SkyLake processor.

• Chassis: ELC-XT-2U-2AC-G2 (chassis with AC Power Supplies) or ELC-XT-2U-2DC-G2 (chassis with DC

Power Supplies)
• Modules: ELX-XT-OPT-AVP-SKL

v03.11.02 is not compliant with the chassis/modules based on Haswell processor.

• Chassis: ELC-XT-2U-2AC (chassis with AC Power Supplies)

• Modules: ELX-XT-OPT-AVP-HSW

v03.11.02 is compliant with all the hardware switch version.

• New switches references : ELC-XT-OPT-GIGE-4-LEFT, ELC-XT-OPT-GIGE-4-RIGHT
These new switches references are compatible only with 02.70 and upper versions and shall not be 
installed on old version without Support intervention.
It is also not recommended to mix old and new references on the same platform. 
• Old switches reference : ELC-XT-OPT-GIGE-4.

Last version compliant with the chassis/modules based on Haswell processor is version 02.00.006.

6.3. JAVA
Electra XT requires JRE 7u51 or 8u45 to be installed on the target computer for using its supervision GUI. 

Compatibility with JRE v1.8 (u45) down to v1.7u51 was tested.

If you want to operate the product, you need to remain on JRE 8 and subscribe to Oracle offer to take benefit of
support 

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 Electra XT v03.11.02 LA - Release Notes

7. Software Upgrade

7.1. For Electra XT running versions 2.5x or 2.6x 

7.1.1. Important Notice 1

This release requires BIOS version 1.01.0916DD5E to be installed on all modules prior to upgrade.

Modules delivered few month ago could have an older BIOS version. 

Please contact customer support before upgrading the product to check BIOS version.

Any upgrade with an incorrect BIOS version can block the product.

7.1.2. Important Notice 2

Compared to version 2.5x or 2.6x, this release may affect density of Electra XT resulting in the ability to run less
transcoding jobs than with previous releases. 

Please ask for a simulation before upgrading a platform.

7.1.3. Important Notice 3

Once migrated to 2.70 version or higher, it is not possible to downgrade to 2.5x or 2.6x. 

7.2. Upgrade procedure

When upgrading from an old release (2.5x or 2.6x), this release is not installed according to standard upgrade
procedure.

Please contact support for the upgrade.

When upgrading from 2.7x.xx_LA_NO_COEF, please use 3.11.02_LA_NO_COEF, otherwise use 3.11.02_LA.

Following table indicates typical upgrade timings (Upgrade duration column).

It is not recommended to interrupt upgrade when started or to restart a node during upgrade process. 

Total upgrade can last 3h30 hours with a fully loaded chassis.

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 Electra XT v03.11.02 LA - Release Notes

Number Recovery Point generation Upgrade duration Downtime duration

of Modules
(Download process) (Activation process including nodes
reboot)

2 15 mins 25 mins 3 mins

3 17 mins 45 mins - 50 mins 3 mins

4 19 mins 1h 05 mins - 1h 15 mins 3 mins

5 21 mins 1h 25 mins - 1h 40 mins 3 mins

6 23 mins 1h 45 mins - 2h 10 mins 3 mins

7 25 mins 2h - 2h 35 mins 3 mins

8 27 mins 2h 30 mins - 3h 00 mins 3 mins

9 29 mins 2h45 - up to 3h 30 mins 3 mins

 Timings above have been measured with a previous version and may vary.
These timings depend on the bandwidth reserved for internal communication between modules. Values
are given for a 50Mbps bandwidth.

©2022 Harmonic, Inc. Confidential 16