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Xserve + fiberJet + Qlogic SANbox, what RAID?
I’m putting together a FibreChannel SAN system for a recording studio/media lab in Brooklyn that does mixed Audio and Video production.
We’ll have 2 audio workstations running Pro Tools and 2 video stations with FCP, using Final Cut Server. All the workstations are Mac Pros.
We already have the QLogic SANbox 5602 and Apple fibre cards for some of our Mac Pros.
Fibrejet seems like the SAN software to go with, mostly because of their Pro Tools support.
The Xserve is our choice because we’re right now an Apple-only house. I’m actually more of a Linux guy, but I won’t always be the one managing our tech.
The current contenders for our storage are the Galaxy HDX2 and the Promise VTRAK E-class, but I just found out about Active Storage’s XRAID, which seems like a great option.
Probably our most important consideration is flexibility and stability. We have different engineers and video guys coming into the studio, and we’d like the system to not get in their way.
This forum has been a wealth of information! Thanks in advance for any help!
-spencer
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6 Replies
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you write –
Galaxy HDX2 and the Promise VTRAK E-class, but I just found out about Active Storage’s XRAIDListen buddy, I know Brooklyn, and there are no “assorted engineers” that would know the difference between Active Storage and Promise. To these audio mixers, and video editors, it’s just a disk drive. They will not know how to set one of these units up, or diagnose problems with it. This is YOUR JOB, and there are few people in NY who know how to do this. If it was my money – Active Storage – but what the hell do I know. I am sure the Rorke is cheaper. And these days, money wins. Call Fibrejet, and ask them their opinion, of what they have had success with.
Bob Zelin
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Hey Spencer, from an administrative perspective, I personally find the Active boxes much easier to deal with compared to Promise (we have both). We’re a Mac editing house running FCP (some Pro Tools) and Xsan, and I think very highly of the Active Storage stuff — high quality, very good features, easy to administer and excellent customer support. I have no experience with the Rorke stuff.
Bob is right, though — none of them should impact your user experience either positively or negatively. They’re just storage. If Fibrejet has a preference, I’d defer to that.
Good luck!
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Hi Spencer,
I’ve built may a SAN supporting ProTools, FCp & more using SANmp from Studio Network Solutions. These guys have probably the most experience in working with ProTools. In fact, if you talk to your local ‘Digi-Avid’ guys here on the east coast they’ll make that referral as well. On the storage side, Rorke’s boxes are based on the Infortrend product and it’s a solid, stable platform. Active, Promise, Infortrend, etc will probably not make much of a difference, if any, to the users. It’s all about the user experience and how your solution is integrated into your workflow.
I’m based here on the east coast, on Long Island so if you need some assistance or suggestions feel free to contact me @ slmanella@mac.com,Steve
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Hey Spencer,
I use Fibrejet with a mix of seven Rorke 24bay chassis and six Infortrend sixteen bay chassis hardware including five QLogic 5600 switches all on 4 Gig fibre. I purchased it all from CommandSoft over the last 2 1/2 years. We have 26 Final Cut Pro workstations and 8 PC video encoders hooked to the system. This is a rock solid combination on Macs and Windows boxes.
I currently don’t have any of our Pro Tools rigs on the system but will be adding them soon. I know for a fact that Skywalker sound uses over 100 seats of fibrejet on Pro Tools. Pro Tools just sees the fibrejet mounted volumes as local hardrives.
Commandsoft and Rorke Support has been amazing. Rorke is very fast on hardware replacement and service and the support team at CommandSoft including Chuck, Steve and Tyson is amazing.
Cannot say enough good things about the system and my guys drive the hell out of it!!!
Brandon
Brandon Tyler
Director, Video Post Production & Engineering
FUNimation Entertainment -
Spencer, I would be glad to talk to you about this as we sell both the GalaxyHDX2 RAID and the Promise RAID.
We are also Commandsofts largest partner when it comes to Fibrejet software and we know it inside and out.
Many people say “a RAID is a RAID” but that is not true. Yes, many of the RAID’s have similar features but the difference is how we setup the RAID to work best in specific applications, especially Final Cut and Pro tools.
please give me a call.
Jim Boas
Rorke Data
610-793-7513
jimboas@rorke.com -
Hi Spencer.
Since a couple of our most experienced and knowledgeable customers and partners have chimed in for you already (thanks for the kind words folks!), I’ll simply add that we here at CommandSoft also welcome you to contact us any time if you have additional questions or concerns.
Be wary of working with any vendors that don’t start their discussions with you by focusing on questions about your workflow wants, needs and desires. As Mr. Zelin has pointed out here and many times before, there are lots of hardware vendors out there but only a small few that truly understand the needs of digital post workflows.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Chuck McMakin
CommandSoft, Inc. /
Phone: (805)730-7772 /
Email: chuck@commandsoft.com
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