Documentation Center

Viz Engine Administrator Guide

Version 5.1 | Published November 09, 2023 ©

Matrox Watchdog Configuration

A watchdog is essentially a timer that allows a system to continue video pass-through when an application has crashed or there is a system failure. The X.mio has a built-in watchdog capability; however, the bypass only works for video (including optional embedded audio), while AES audio is not bypassed. The watchdog can be used as a Mechanical Bypass (copper-to-copper) or a Hardware Bypass (default).

Note: The watchdog feature is only available on the X.mio3 board.

This section contains the following topics and procedures:

Mechanical Bypass

A relay (input to output) that works in case of a power loss. To use mechanical bypass see To Enable Mechanical Bypass.

Hardware Bypass

Operates in a powered machine state (input to the board's output). In hardware bypass mode the incoming video and reference signals must be compliant to provide the correct watchdog functionality.

Tip: The hardware bypass introduces an h-phase on the output. The value of this phase depends on the video output format.

Transition from Watchdog to Video

When watchdog is deactivated (with video_loopthrough_mode=2) and a scene with DVE input is loaded, a few black frames are shown. The watchdog should be activated after the input channel is ready. To provide a glitch free transition from watchdog to video configure the watchdog’s deactivation delay by setting the delay in fields for the watchdog to wait before deactivation.

To Enable Mechanical Bypass

  1. Stop Viz Engine.

  2. Open the Viz Config file (for example: VizEngine-0.cfg).

  3. Locate SECTION MATROX_CONFIG.

  4. Enable the Matrox watchdog setting: Matrox0.WatchDogUseHardwareBypass = 0

  5. Save the file.

  6. Start Viz Engine.