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Bitstreams (NETINT)

NETINT Bitstreams is browser-based control for VPU-accelerated live streaming, available in the NetActuate Marketplace as a one-click appliance. It lets video operators build and run live encoding workflows on NETINT Quadra VPU (video processing unit) hardware from a web console, without hand-writing FFmpeg command lines. Bitstreams wraps FFmpeg in a web interface rather than replacing it, so the standards-based path stays intact underneath while the console handles templates, launch, and monitoring. This appliance is free to run on NetActuate and is grouped under the Media & Streaming category.

What It Does​

Bitstreams provides a web console to build, launch, and monitor VPU-accelerated encoding workflows. Common uses include:

  • VPU-accelerated live encoding in HEVC, H.264, AV1, and VP9
  • Building and running encoding templates from a browser instead of hand-written FFmpeg
  • Low-power, high-density live transcode on NETINT Quadra hardware
  • Watching live streams and per-card VPU telemetry from the dashboard

Deploying Bitstreams on a NetActuate VPU node places hardware encoding close to your sources and delivery.

Vendor and Project​

Bitstreams is a NETINT product, delivered as a NetActuate and NETINT partner offering. NetActuate and NETINT are VPU-cloud partners, and on the NetActuate platform Bitstreams self-licenses at no cost on first boot, so there is no license key to enter.

NetActuate supports the underlying infrastructure. Application-level support follows the partner SLA class.

Sizing​

vCPURAMDisk
Minimum48 GB40 GB
Recommended816 GB100 GB

This appliance requires a NETINT VPU-capable node. VPU hardware encoding is active when a NETINT Quadra VPU is attached to the node; the web UI and login come up on any node, with VPU features gated when no card is present.

Configuration Fields​

When you deploy, you provide these fields. They are written into the appliance at first boot. Secret fields are stored write-only in your account.

FieldRequiredDefaultNotes
Console admin userNoadminUsername for the Bitstreams web console. Change the default password on first login
Console admin passwordNogeneratedPassword for the web console. Generated if left blank and stored write-only in your secret list; never echoed back
Default encoding codecNohevcDefault output codec for new streams and templates. Options: hevc, h264, av1, vp9
Default input sourceNononeOptional default live input (multicast or unicast RTP URL). Leave blank to configure inputs in the console
Default output protocolNohlsDefault delivery protocol for new streams. Options: hls, rtp-multicast, rtp-unicast. HLS carries SCTE-35 ad-marker passthrough

Using the Appliance​

After the build completes:

  1. Open the web console at http://YOUR_VM_IP/ and sign in with the console admin credentials, then change the password immediately.
  2. On the NetActuate platform, Bitstreams auto-detects the environment and self-licenses at no cost on first boot, so there is no license key to enter.
  3. Create or pick an encoding template, point it at your RTP input, and start streaming HEVC, H.264, or AV1 on the attached Quadra VPU.
  4. Watch live streams and per-card VPU telemetry from the dashboard.

FAQ​

Is there a license fee? No. On NetActuate, Bitstreams self-licenses at no cost on first boot. You pay only for the NetActuate infrastructure and bandwidth.

Do I need VPU hardware? Yes. This appliance requires a NETINT VPU-capable node. The web UI comes up on any node, but hardware encoding is active only when a Quadra VPU is attached.

Which codecs can the VPU encode? Quadra VPUs encode H.264, HEVC, AV1, and VP9 in hardware.

Version and Changelog​

VersionStatusReleased
2.13.0Current (default)2026-07-10

Bitstreams Edge v2.13.0, built on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS.

Deploy​

Need Help?​

Contact support@netactuate.com or open a support ticket from the portal.