Hitcast is a server based platform with distributed architecture. Hitcast Server can be considered a building block of a strong and reliable communication platform, able to control quality and security of any kind of communication active between clients.One hardware server with basic specifications is able to support up to 100 concurrent active audio/video feeds and unlimited connected users.Each connection between server and clients or servers to servers use one single TCP/IP socket that can be strongly encrypted using AES 256 algorithm.Multi server architecture guaranties lot of advantage:
- Load balancing: without external device or tools, client connects to the less loaded server.
- Fault tolerant: active meeting/conference is ready to be supported by every server in the architecture. In case of failure on one server client reconnect automatically to another available server and user can reenter in the meeting with a click.
- Bandwidth optimization: audio, video and data feeds from one client direct, across two servers, to two or more remote clients is sent once between the servers and replicated locally on the remote saving bandwidth on backbone or internet access channels.
- Secure support to nomadic users: connecting a server located on the intranet with one in a DMZ network, internal and external users can communicate and collaborate without limitation. Traffic between the internal and external server can easily be controlled (only one TCP/IP socket used) and encrypted.
Privacy and security
Hitcast provide a private communication and collaboration platform.Even in a public Hitcast server scenario, each company can have his own Hitcast domain.A Hitcast user can be contacted only by other Hitcast users configured and connected in the same domain.Under control of both domains managers, two domains can be federated to allow users to search each others in the server’s user directory, exchange connection request, and arrange an extra-domain meting/conference.Strong encryption guaranties communication security independently from the underlying network infrastructure:
- AES 256 encryption algorithm is used to secure the communication tunnel.
- Each time user logins a new couple of AES256 keys is exchanged using and enforced Diffie-Hellman keys exchange a algorithm.
Excellent Video and audio quality
Hitcast is compatible with any webcam and capture cards. This unique characteristic allow Hitcast Client to manage the video quality according with the network capability obtaining in the same time two goals:
- Avoid network excessive usage that can produce unpredictable behavior of Hitcast or any other corporate applications using the network
- Guarantee that all event participants can receive correctly audio video and content
Hitcast video quality can be controlled manually selecting the webcam resolution and frames per seconds and the encoding compression level, or all can be done automatically just selecting the maximum bandwidth used, in two different usage model:
- In a small meeting or in a conference, where the number of video feed running on the platform is limited the event organizer can choose the "per participant" bandwidth control model. The model allow to define the amount of bandwidth used by every attendees to send their video to the Hitcast server.
- In large meeting or in case of very low network infrastructure quality, the event organizer will choose the "per meeting" bandwidth control model. In model the bandwidth defined represent the maximum level of bandwidth used by the server to send all video feeds to a client.Thanks to advance video codec, an acceptable video quality can be obtained starting from 128 Kbps, a good from 256 Kbps, and an excellent form 512 Kbps. But Hitcast can support any needed quality up to Full HD 1080p.
Administration
Complete web based management console allows the platform administrator to easily configure and control every platform feature:
- Domains: a server can be divided in logical domains. Each domain aggregate users that need to communicate and collaborate together. Domains can be federated to support extra domain communication, under control of the platform mangers of both domains.
- Users’ configuration: users can be profiled to limit the allowed features or usage rights. Amount of bandwidth usable, possibility to schedule meeting and all other features are completely controllable.
- User groups: user can be grouped to simplify the research in the presence list or to represent the company organization. Low level group can’t contact users in higher level but can be contacted by them.
- Reporting and audit: every communication between two users runs through the server infrastructure. Management console allow a deep analysis of every user activities, usage summary, budged allocation and prepaid billing.
- Server monitoring and configuration.
- Client software distribution: new releases can be deployed automatically, per domain, granting that all users are using the same client version. Installation on remote pc is done automatically without user interaction.Console include detailed information about the underlying operating system and hardware platform, allowing the complete remote management.