TMS System Requirements
Hardware Requirements
Expersys TMS is designed to manage cinema screen devices, schedule playlists, transfer content, and monitor system statuses. To ensure optimal performance, stability, and future scalability, specific hardware specifications are recommended for TMS server deployment.
Depending on operational size, performance expectations, and whether you subscribe to Expersys TMS Cloud, hardware requirements can slightly differ.
Minimum Hardware Requirements #
For basic TMS operations handling up to 10 screens:
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| RAM | 8GB DDR4 |
| CPU | Quad-core processor, 3GHz or higher |
| OS Storage | 250GB HDD |
| Data Storage | 2TB x4 HDD (RAID recommended) or NAS solution |
| Display | 1280 x 1024 minimum resolution |
| Peripherals | 2 x USB 2.0 ports, 2 x Gigabit Ethernet ports |
✅ This setup is suitable for smaller multiplex operations with basic ingest and scheduling needs.
Recommended Hardware Specifications #
For better scalability and smoother operations managing 20+ screens:
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| RAM | 16GB DDR4 or higher |
| CPU | Intel Scalable Xeon 12 Core / 24 Thread @ 2.1GHz+ (Turbo 3.3GHz) |
| OS Storage | 2 x 240GB SSDs in RAID 1 |
| Data Storage | 4TB x4 HDD or larger (internal RAID or external NAS) |
| Network | 2 x 1Gbps Ethernet ports, 1 x 10Gbps Fiber (optional for Media transfers) |
| Display | 1280 x 1024 or higher |
✅ This setup ensures fast ingest speeds, concurrent device monitoring, and supports future expansion like integrating additional auditoriums or centralizing logs.
Network Requirements (Summary)
- Management Network: 100Mb/s to 1Gb/s (CAT5e or CAT6 cabling)
- Media Network: 10Gb/s recommended (Fiber optic or CAT6A cabling)
Separation of Management and Media networks is highly recommended for performance stability.
Optional Storage: Synology NAS DS923+ as Local TMS
For cinema sites that prefer a compact, efficient setup without deploying a full rack server, the Synology DS923+ NAS can be used as the TMS hardware platform.
Supported via Expersys TMS Cloud Subscription, this configuration allows:
Feature Details Deployment Install Expersys TMS Cloud Agent onto DS923+ Control Manage Ingests, Playlists, Scheduling, and Device Monitoring remotely Storage DS923+ offers internal RAID support up to 4 drives (expandable) Performance Ideal for up to 8–12 screens, depending on NAS configuration Advantages Lower power consumption, compact size, cost-effective Important:
- Ensure the DS923+ has 10GbE NIC expansion card installed if you plan heavy media transfer.
- Recommended to use Enterprise-grade NAS HDDs (Seagate IronWolf Pro, WD Red Pro) for better performance and longevity.
✅ Use Case:
- Sites requiring minimal maintenance footprint
- Single location sites
- Small to medium multiplexes
If you have any questions please contact our support team.
Software Requirements
The Expersys TMS application requires a stable, secure, and well-supported operating system and software stack to ensure proper operation of all system components, including dashboard monitoring, scheduling, ingest, and automation features.
Below are the required operating system and software components to successfully deploy and operate Expersys TMS.
Supported Operating Systems
Expersys TMS is developed to run on x86_64 Linux-based systems.
The supported operating systems include:
| Operating System | Version |
|---|---|
| Debian | 11 (Bullseye) — ✅ Recommended |
| Ubuntu | 20.04 LTS (Focal Fossa) |
| CentOS | 8 (End of support approaching; caution advised) |
Note:
Debian 11 is strongly recommended for optimal compatibility and access to automated installation scripts provided by Expersys support.
Required Software Components
| Component | Version | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| PHP | 8.3 | Core web application engine |
| Apache | 2.x | Web server handling HTTP requests |
| MariaDB | 11.2.x | Database backend for system and content metadata |
| SNMP Daemon | Latest stable | Device monitoring via SNMP |
| VSFTPD | Latest stable | FTP server for content ingest and library communication |
| USBMount | Latest stable | USB media auto-mounting support |
| MediaInfo | Latest stable | Media file metadata reading |
| VLC Media Player | Latest stable | Media playback libraries support |
Web Browser Compatibility
Expersys TMS is designed to be accessed via any modern web browser, including:
- Mozilla Firefox (Latest)
- Google Chrome (Latest)
- Brave Browser (Latest)
Mobile Browser Support:
TMS is accessible on mobile devices for essential functions such as:
- Dashboard status monitoring
- Playback control
- Power control
However, certain administrative functions (e.g., configuration, scheduler editing) are best performed on desktop browsers.
Installation Method
Contact Expersys Support to request the Automated Installation Script for faster and error-free deployment supported with Debian operating systems.
If Hardware is purchased from Expersys, the TMS will be pre-installed and ready to operate out of the box.
If you have any questions please contact our support team.
Network Recommendations
The Expersys TMS requires a reliable, high-speed network to effectively manage devices, transfer media content, and monitor system statuses across a multiplex environment.
Recommended Network Setup
| Network Type | Specification |
|---|---|
| Management Network | 100Mb/s to 1Gb/s (Cat5e or Cat6 cabling) |
| Media Network | 10Gb/s (Fiber optic or CAT6A cabling) |
Management Network:
Used for device communication, status monitoring, system controls, and SNMP traffic.
Media Network:
Dedicated to high-volume data transfers such as DCP content ingest, playlist uploads, and KDM distribution.
Having separated networks from TMS to Auditoriums helps to prevent traffic congestion and optimizes performance.
Recommended Switches
For better network reliability and performance for the Media Network, it is recommended to use high-speed managed switches such as:
- Netgear M4250 Series
- HPE Aruba 2930F Series or Aruba 3810M Series
- FS S3900-24T4S or S5800 Series
Features to look for:
- SFP+ or 10GbE ports for 10Gbps fiber or copper uplinks
- Gigabit copper ports for device connections
- VLAN support to separate Management and Media traffic
- Redundant power options (if available)
Tips for Optimized Setup
- Use Fiber or CAT6A cabling between TMS and Media Switch to ensure 10Gbps performance.
- Use dedicated VLANs to logically separate Media and Management networks even if switches are shared.
- Ensure servers and switches have Jumbo Frames enabled for large media file transfers.
- Enable Link Aggregation (LACP) if multiple uplinks are neede
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our support team.
Supported Devices
The Expersys TMS system is designed to work with a wide range of industry-standard cinema hardware.
Following outlines the current supported devices:
Cinema Players:
- Dolby: DCP2000, DCP2K4, Showvault, IMS1000, IMS2000, IMS3000
- Christie: IMB-S3, IMB-S4
- IMAX
We are working to add support for more devices proactively.
Cinema Projectors:
- Christie
- Barco
- NEC
- IMAX
Sound Processors & Audio Equipment:
- Dolby: CP650, CP750, CP850, CP950, IMS3000, DMA Amplifiers
- MAG: DANA, DCO Amplifiers, DCQ Amplifiers
- PowerSoft Amplifiers *Networked Devices Only
Power Distribution Units (PDUs):
- Expersys PDU
- RevPower PDU
External Storage Devices:
- FTP Compatible Devices such as NAS or PC with FTP Server installed. (Commonly used for electronic DCP delivery)
If you have any enquiries please contact our support team.