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Starting with PIXERA 25.2, you can now use a single server to act as a backup for either a Manager or Client machine. Before this feature, you would typically need a dedicated server to back up your Manager and another dedicated server to back up your Client.
However, while this new feature makes it possible to perform this workflow with just one backup server, you should already be extremely comfortable with Manager/Client workflows, Multi-User workflows, and Backup scenarios before attempting this, as it is only recommended for advanced users, and combines all three of these methodologies.
Methodology
Hybrid Mode combines the concepts of Manager Backup and Client Backup scenarios into a single workflow.
Remember, PIXERA is not just a media server software but a suite of softwares, including PIXERA, Presence, RX, and Control. Behind PIXERA's powerful GUI is PIXERA's powerful Render Engine (RX). Whether you are launching PIXERA or Presence, each of these softwares access the PIXERA Render Engine as a background process to offer you stunning visuals and sophisticated programming.
What that usually means is, either PIXERA is accessing the Render Engine OR Presence is. Now, within Hybrid Mode, PIXERA and Presence can run simultaneously on a single machine so that the PIXERA instance can access RX via Presence - like a Manager/Client workflow, just localized.
System Setup
Before we can set up our Backup scenarios properly, we first need a system in place in which to build off of. For this scenario we will use 3 servers - a Manager, a Client, and a Hybrid server to back up either the Manager or Client in the case of failure.
Using this article as a foundation, we will first build a basic Manager/Client system using two of the servers, ensuring we also have implemented the steps below.
- Ensure both servers are on a dedicated PIXERA network (confirm the two servers can ping each other)
- Launch Presence on the Client machine (ensuring the Adapter IP is set to the network in the above step, which should match the Manager's Discovery Adapter)
- Create a new PIXERA project on the Manager machine
- Set the Discovery Adapter to the network adapter used above (may require restart)
- Add two Displays
- Name one “Manager” and the other “Client”
- “Start” the Client machine via the Mapping tab
- Now, you should see two systems with green icons - "Local" and your Client (Here, PX2-21049)
- Assign one of your Local (Manager) outputs to the Manager screen and one of the Client's outputs to the Client screen
- Then, Activate both outputs
- Add at least two pieces of content to a Timeline
- Assign one piece of content to the Manager display and the other to the Client display
- Ensure you are seeing content play out from each machine before moving forward
Manager Backup
On the third machine (soon-to-be Hybrid machine), using the same PIXERA version as the other machines, join the Manager in a Multi-User session. We will refer to this third machine, for now, as the Backup Manager and the other as the Main Manager. Once properly setup, this Backup Manager will be called the Hybrid Backup.
Referring to this article as a foundation, ensure the Backup Manager's Multi-User and Backup settings are as follows:
Treat Closed Members As Lost means that when the Backup Manager notices another server in the Multi-User session disappear (either by closing PIXERA's engine or due to loss of communication), it will consider this as a Multi-User Member failing or becoming lost. In this case, when the Main Manager disconnects, it will be registered as the Lost Member.
Automatically Activate Local Outputs When Member Lost means when the Backup Manager registers a Lost Member (as noted above), it will assume responsibility for outputting that Lost Member's local outputs. So if the Main Manager was outputting content via it's GPU, now the Backup Manager will output that same content from it's local GPU.
Automatically Take Over Clients From Lost Members means when the Backup Manager registers a Lost Member (again, as noted above), it will also assume responsibility for controlling playback of that Lost Member's Clients. In this scenario, where the Main Manager disconnects, the Backup Manager would takeover playback control of the Client machine that was once controlled by the Main Manager.
Client Backup
Now, here's where the Backup Manager becomes the Hybrid Backup.
Remember, instead of PIXERA accessing the Render Engine directly, for Hybrid to work, PIXERA needs to access the Render Engine via a local instance of Presence. To do this, on the Backup Manager, navigate to Settings > Discovery and turn on “Use Presence For Local Live System.” Then, restart PIXERA.
Once PIXERA has restarted on the Backup Manager, open Hub on that same machine and click the cog icon next to the PIXERA version you are using. Select “Start Presence.”
To confirm this machine is available as a potential Hybrid Backup, on your Main Manager, check to see that the Backup Manager is listed as a Live System under the Mapping tab. Select that System and start it's Engine.
To officially make our Backup Manager the Hybrid Backup, we need to follow a Backup scenario, assigning the Backup Manager/Hybrid Backup as a Backup for the Client machine. For this scenario, we will keep it as simple as possible but the article linked above can be followed for more advanced options.
To make this assignment, either from the Main Manager or Backup Manager, select the Client machine under Mapping > Live.
Then, in the Inspector window on the right, find the entry box titled “Usage” and give this Client machine a Usage Preset by typing in a name and then selecting “Update.” This stores the Client's Live System configuration as a Usage Preset, which will be set up in the next step to transfer to the Hybrid Backup in case of Client Engine/communication loss.
Continuing downward in the Client's Inspector, find the “Backup” menu and twirl down it's options.
Populate the “Backup IP” entry box with the IP address of the Backup Manager/Hybrid Backup. Then, set the Usage Transfer Mode to “Copy,” and then select “Configure Transfer.” Doing so will copy the Client's Usage Preset over to the Hybrid Backup in the event of the Backup being triggered.
The Backup Manager has now officially become the Hybrid Backup!
Testing
The most important part of using PIXERA's Backup features is ensuring they work as intended! Please always test your backup system before relying on it for a production.
To test that the Hybrid Backup takes over for the Main Manager, close the Main Manager's PIXERA GUI or “Close” the Main Manager's Engine. If setup properly, the following will happen:
- Hybrid Backup machine will takeover playback of the content from the “Manager” screen, which was outputting locally from the Main Manager, now outputting locally from the Hybrid Backup's outputs
- The Client machine will continue outputting content from the “Client” screen, which was receiving playback commands from the Main Manager, but is now receiving playback commands from the Hybrid Backup. Pause the Timeline from the Hybrid Backup and ensure the content on the Client pauses as well
Once successfully tested, re-open the PIXERA project on the Main Manager and reconnect to the Multi-User session.
You will notice that the Hybrid Backup still has priority over playback control of the project. To regain control on the Main Manager, you can start, or restart, the Hybrid Backup's Engine and Client's Engine via the Mapping Tab > Live systems tab from the Main Manager. You will be prompted with a pop-up informing you that you are “taking the engine” from the Hybrid Backup/other Manager and asking if you'd like to continue - select “Yes.” Doing so will give the Main Manager playback control again. Now we are back to normal and can test our Client backup.
To test that the Hybrid Backup takes over for the Client, we can perform the same “mock” failure of the Client as we did for the Main Manager - closing it's Engine, disconnecting the Client from the network, or selecting “Trigger Backup.” In doing so:
- The Hybrid Backup machine will takeover playback of the content from the “Client” screen and will output this content from the Hybrid Backup's local outputs. Playback control will still be coming from the Main Manager
Congratulations! You have successfully setup a PIXERA Hybrid Backup system.
Going Further
If you are interested in taking this a step further, or configuring a larger network of servers, please have a look at these articles:
PIXERA 25.2 | 15. September 2025 | R.J.