Lawo launches HOME passes to boost scalability and agility

Lawo’s management platform for IP-based media infrastructures can now be upgraded to version 4.x. It comes with powerful new features and introduces a significant change designed to provide more flexibility: the former HOME core licenses will cease to exist. Instead, Lawo introduces the possibility to scale a HOME system exactly to the control needs of a specific install. The basis for this new scalability concept is called “HOME Passes”, i.e. new, device/app-specific licenses that will be required for all items users wish to control via the HOME management platform.

The HOME Pass system replaces all previous HOME core licenses. It does not affect other licenses on offer from Lawo, e.g. for HOME Apps, add-ons for hardware devices, etc.

Starting with HOME v4.x, every device – including third-party Lives@HOME devices and NMOS units – as well as every app in HOME’s inventory requires a HOME Pass in order to be accessible.

These passes are available as both perpetual and credit-based licenses under the Lawo FLEX scheme. Where needed, Flex-credit-funded HOME Passes can be swapped between devices in the inventory. Lawo devices and software purchased after the release of HOME v4.x come with an included perpetual HOME Pass for each item. For other devices, users are able to purchase HOME Passes as required, both perpetually and through a credit-based subscription.

Customers who purchased previous HOME licenses will receive an equivalent number of perpetual HOME Passes to remain compatible with HOME v4.x. Any additional former functional HOME licenses customers may have purchased separately will be converted to HOME Passes, too, as will licenses associated with NMOS Importer and NMOS Proxy instances.

“The real power of modern production environments lies in their elasticity – the freedom to scale up when demand spikes and scale back at other times,” said Axel Kern, Lawo’s Senior Director of Cloud and Infrastructure Solutions. “With HOME v4.0, that flexibility now comes to HOME through HOME Passes. Whether you’re running a one-off event or managing a large, dynamic infrastructure, HOME Passes activate only the devices and apps you need when you need them. When they are not in use, they can be switched off, instantly freeing up Lawo FLEX credits for whatever comes next.”

With the introduction of HOME Passes, Lawo is not only able to provide a much more attractive and customisable control offer to HOME users. It also simplifies its offer around a single item, which accurately reflects the scale of an install.