Penn State Dance Marathon (Thon) Multicast
Thon Multicasting Documentation
Configuration and Specifications
A multicast is the simultaneous delivery of information to many destinations using an efficient routing scheme to deliver the feed. Staff in ET collaborated with other groups at the University to make the live video feed of the 46-hour dance marathon available to all Penn State campuses throughout the Commonwealth, including the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, and to Internet users across the globe via Windows Media and QuickTime streams.
Using the configuration pictured in the diagram of Thon multicast connectivity (below), ET was able to provide continuous coverage of the event. A diagram of the equipment setup in the southeast corner of the Bryce Jordan Center (BJC) is also available. Those who are interested in the Thon multicast or who are interested multicasting an event, are invited to contact ET for more information. Also, the Integrated Backbone request form from TNS was required for videocasting. Please refer to the Thon initiative page for additional contacts and details.
Diagram of Thon multicast connectivity, from the event to the Internet.
Equipment list:
- Integrated Backbone
- 3Com 3C17205 Ethernet switch with GigE single mode fiber uplink
- Vbrick _model 9110-6200-0102 MPEG-2_ encoder
- Cameras
- Video Bridge via ITS/TNS Video Routing Switcher
- Streaming servers (Quicktime, Windows)
- Switcher (e.g. Panasonic AV-HS300G), procured by THON Webcast Captain Drew Rohaly
Configuration information:
- Vbrick network information:
- Network: 128.118.104/30
- IP Address: 128.118.104.6
- Gateway: 128.118.104.5
- Multicast Address: 233.15.159.30:4444
- SAP: PSU Dance Marathon
- More information about the Vbrick configuration is available in the Vbrick presentation.
Metrics--who saw the Thon multicast?
THON was multicasted to the BJC, all Penn State campuses, and even streamed over the Internet. Thousands of people all over the world were able to see Thon live without attending the event. According to data gathered by Penn State Public Broadcasting, 10,772 visitors received the Windows Media Stream to view the event a total of 48,198 times. QuickTime visitors totaled 1,215 and these visitors viewed the stream a total of 1,421 times. If you would like more information about the QuickTime and Windows Media streams, please view the metrics (.rtf).
Thon in virtual worlds?
The Thon video feed via the QuickTime stream was also incorporated in a Second Life (an Internet-based, virtual world with user-controlled-motional avatars) application through the work of a Penn State College of Arts and Architecture graduate student Shannon Ritter, Brett Bixler of ITS' Teaching and Learning with Technologies (TLT), and Rob Martin, a network and information systems manager in the College of Arts and Architecture. Anecdotally, donations to Thon of 140,000 SL "Linden Dollars" (roughly equivalent to US $550) were generated via the Second Life "Piggy Banks." For more information about the Second Life application of the Thon QuickTime stream, please contact Brett Bixler or Rob Martin.
More information and getting involved
If you are interested in working with the Thon Technology Committee to multicast this event, please visit the Thon Web site. If you would like to learn more about streaming video or multicast of your Penn State event, please contact Dave Beyerle and Chris Hubing. Early contact with the facility where your event will be held is key to ensuring that multicasting equipment can be setup and properly configured in advance of the event.