• Storage & Archiving

  Simple network

  Posted by John Kaley on July 30, 2013 at 2:46 pm

  I’m looking to build a simple 2 user shared storage network for an upcoming project. The footage is 1920×1080 ProRes 422 @ 100mbits/sec.

  The “server” computer is a 64bit 2009 MacPro 8 core with 16mb ram. This has an 8TB Caldigit raid 5 connected via mini SAS.

  The other computer is a current iMac 27″ with 32mb ram.

  For a “stock” gigabit network, can I simply connect an ethernet crossover cable between the MacPro’s second ethernet port and the iMac with jumbo frames enabled? I realize I will get less streams per user.

  If I want to move up to a 10GbE network, can I simple install a Small Tree 10GbE PCI card into the MacPro and a ThunderNet box for the iMac with a Cat6 crossover cable?

  Any insight would be very helpful. Thanks!

  Alex Gerulaitis replied 12 years, 9 months ago 4 Members · 4 Replies
• 4 Replies

• 

  Ericbowen

  July 30, 2013 at 3:29 pm

  Yes you can do both although the 10Gbit network adapters should autosense on the ports and you should not require crossover cables.

  Eric-ADK
  Tech Manager
• 

  Eric Hansen

  July 30, 2013 at 3:35 pm

  no crossover cable needed on the internal ports either

  e

  Eric Hansen
  Production Workflow Designer / Consultant / Colorist / DIT
  https://www.erichansen.tv
• 

  John Kaley

  July 30, 2013 at 5:09 pm

  Thanks for the replies. I tested the gigabit speed and I’m getting 106 MB/sec. using the AJA System Test. What kind of speed can expect from the 10GbE Small Tree solution? 300-400 MB/sec?
• 

  Alex Gerulaitis

  July 30, 2013 at 5:30 pm

  [John Kaley] “What kind of speed can expect from the 10GbE Small Tree solution? 300-400 MB/sec?”

  Here are some tests from the field:

  350MB/s writes, 250MB/s reads – 2008 xServe, 16-drive RAID6 DAS, OSX 10.6 server, Small-Tree 10GbE PCIe in the xServe, Thunderbolt 10GbE NICs in Magma chassis on the clients.

  620MB/s writes yet still 250MB/s reads – same as above except in OSX 10.7 server which allows to use a later version of the Small-Tree driver. The relatively slow reads are likely an indication of xServe limitations. We’ll know more once the client tests a Mac Pro in a similar configuration.

  Also tested were ATTO PCIe and Thunderbolt 10GbE NICs: similar speeds with a switch; direct cabling (no switch) however locked the cards into a 1GbE link limiting speeds to 110MB/s. Strangely, ATTO drivers didn’t allow to force a 10GbE link. Also, their TB chassis (Sonnet I believe) is also much louder than the Magma one, which didn’t work for a client. ATTO support however is top notch, and they’re looking into these issues which they hope will be fixed soon.

  Alex Gerulaitis
  Systems Engineer
  DV411 – Los Angeles, CA

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