ELM HUB: the purpose-built computer for ELM at full scale
Built for the largest pixel-mapped installations, ELM HUB brings the processor, graphics, memory, storage and networking needed to run ELM at its maximum rated capacity – up to 32,768 universes per output protocol – into one installation-ready 3RU platform.
The computer behind a permanent lighting installation rarely gets much attention … until it becomes the problem. A media facade may contain thousands of fixtures. An immersive venue may depend on precisely timed content every day. A multi-site rollout may need the same show-control behaviour in every location. In each case, the computer running the pixels is not simply an office PC. It is part of the installation infrastructure.
ELM HUB is ENTTEC’s answer for projects that need that computer to be deliberate, repeatable and ready for the rack. Its complete hardware configuration – from processor and graphics to memory, storage and dual 10 Gigabit networking – is selected and tested as one system for ELM’s most demanding workloads. Windows 11 Pro and ENTTEC LED Mapper 2026 arrive installed and configured, so integrators do not need to decode computer specifications or validate a different machine for every job.
For the biggest imaginable pixel-mapped shows, ELM HUB removes the computer-specification guesswork: one validated platform, engineered to support every ELM feature at its maximum rated capacity.
Built to belong in the control rack
ELM HUB uses a robust steel and aluminium 3RU chassis designed for a standard 19-inch equipment rack. That immediately changes how the system is installed and handed over: the pixel-mapping computer has a defined place beside the rest of the lighting-control hardware, with its connections accessible and its physical installation easy to document.
A built-in front-panel monitor provides an at-a-glance view of ELM and network status without connecting another display. Two front USB 3.0 ports make keyboard and mouse access straightforward during setup, while three Mini DisplayPort outputs support external screens for expanded commissioning and control.
One repeatable platform, project after project
Building a control computer from individual components can work well, but it introduces choices that must be made, tested and supported on every project: processor and graphics configuration, network interfaces, storage, operating system, drivers, cooling and physical mounting.
ELM HUB turns those variables into a consistent, high-performance platform. Every unit is assembled, configured and tested as a complete system before dispatch, with the compute, graphics, memory, storage and network capability needed for ELM at full scale. Windows 11 Pro is supplied with the machine, .NET 4.8 is installed, and ELM 2026 is likewise configured.
For integrators, that can reduce validation work and make documentation, commissioning and future support more predictable. For repeat installations and multi-site rollouts, it also means each project begins from the same known foundation.
Engineered for ELM’s maximum scale
Large pixel systems are network systems. ELM HUB provides two independently addressable 10 Gigabit Ethercon connections, allowing control and pixel traffic to be separated or large outputs to be distributed across multiple network paths.
ELM HUB is specified to support every ELM feature at its maximum rated capacity, including up to 32,768 universes per output protocol. That makes it the clear, purpose-built computer for the largest ELM shows: no processor, graphics or network calculations for the customer, and no uncertainty over whether an off-the-shelf PC is up to the job. Art-Net, sACN and KiNET output connect ELM HUB to gateways and pixel controllers across the installation, while ArtSync and sACN sync help coordinate output where timing matters.
A 1TB internal SSD provides local storage for media libraries, show files and content. As ELM evolves, the hardware configuration is reviewed continuously; contact ENTTEC for the current specification when planning a project.
Designed for the show that keeps running
ELM HUB is rated for continuous, unattended operation in ambient temperatures from 0°C to 50°C. Forced-air cooling and dual ventilation paths manage heat inside the rack, while the universal 100-240 VAC input simplifies deployment across regions.
Inside ELM, a built-in scheduler can run shows without a dedicated operator, while DMX, OSC and HTTP control provide options for integration with the rest of the site. The result is a platform suited to installations that need to start, run and respond as part of a larger control environment.
For long-term confidence, ELM HUB carries a three-year return-to-base manufacturer warranty and certification for CE, UKCA, FCC and RCM requirements.
Where ELM HUB fits best
ELM HUB is at its most valuable when consistency, physical integration and unattended operation matter more than the freedom to build a one-off computer. Typical applications include:
- Media facades and architectural lighting requiring scheduled, high-capacity pixel playback.
- Immersive spaces, attractions and nightclubs where content runs without a dedicated operator at the computer.
- Permanent public installations where the control hardware needs a documented, maintainable place in the rack.
- Multi-site deployments that benefit from the same validated hardware and software foundation at every location.
- High-value integrated systems where reducing project variables and simplifying support are part of the specification.
In smaller installations, temporary productions or workflows where the user already has suitable hardware, a conventional ELM computer may remain the natural choice. ELM HUB is purpose-built for the other end of the spectrum: permanent, high-value projects and the largest pixel-mapped shows, where the computer itself must be a fully specified part of the lighting-control system.
From the control rack to every pixel
ELM HUB becomes the mapping and media engine at the centre of a wider ENTTEC system. ELM can turn video, still images, camera feeds and generative effects into Art-Net, sACN or KiNET data, then send that output to ENTTEC gateways and pixel controllers across the installation.
Combine it with products such as Storm 10 for Ethernet-to-DMX conversion, Pixelator Mini Mk2 for high-density pixel output and PLink Injector for reliable long-distance data distribution. The result is an end-to-end path from media and mapping in the rack to light across the installation.
Explore ELM HUB
ELM HUB is available now for permanent pixel installations that need a consistent, rack-ready control platform. Visit the product page for full specifications and resources, compare ELM editions, or contact ENTTEC to discuss how ELM HUB may be the perfect fit for your project.
Explore ELM HUB
Compare ELM editions
Download the ELM HUB datasheet