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FC Array Questions…
Ok,
I have a few questions about setting up a fibre channel array for two G5’s, both running FCP.1. With 2 G5’s, if I get the array (Medea VideoRaid XTRM4 or Huge Systems MediaVault 4210), two FC cards (Atto Celerity FC-42XS), SAN software (Apple Xsan) and corresponding cables, I should be able to edit on both machines at the same time, both capturing and accessing media – right? As far as I can tell, without Xsan software – the array is volume locked – only user per volume – right?
2. Any opinions on the above selection of equipment/software? I’d love to use an all Apple solution, but lack of 4Gbit and a poor reputation for high level support keep me away. I am currently leaning towards a Medea with an Atto card mainly because the Medea’s chassis holds 15 drives and has 4 ports. Also, Medea and Atto seem to have paired up in the 4Gbit realm.
3. How much should I worry about having/not having 4Gbit? Most of the time we are editing solely DV, via FW. However, an HD camera (Varicam) is right around the corner, and again much of the capturing will be done via firewire (DVCPRO HD), but the ability to capture uncompressed HD is needed as well.
4. I need to get some opinions on the noise levels – while our studio is by no means silent, we are limited on space and I can’t have a howling array right next to me. Does anyone know of any decibel level test of the arrays? Am I going to have to sacrifice a closet? I just have lingering fears from a Softimage|DS JBOD array of 16 SCSI drives (and apparently a small jet engine).
5. Any and all suggestions are welcome.
Mahalos to everyone in the CC community!
Mike Peele -
1 Reply
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Mike,
An X-SAN solution is NOT a simple plug and play operation. Go to the Apple site and read about the requirements. You’ll need a fibre based infrastructure, a gig-e based network and a second ethernet if you want to access the internet. You’ll need a switch and at least one, preferably two dedicated metadata controllers. And then, you’ll need drives. Having said all that, if you do it right, and don’t cheap out on components, the X-SAN compares quite favourable to a Unity system. We have close to one hundred users spread over two x-SAN’s all sharing projects, media, and data on a variety of volumes. That’s the beauty of the X-SAN, you are NOT volume locked. Depending on how you organize your media, you can have many, many people all accessing the same medai, writing to the same volume, and sharing data.
If you’re at DV resolution, you have NO NEED for 4bgit speed. I don’t know what you’re talking about “poor reputation” for high level support. I would think any tech head would love to jump a plane and come visit you in Hawaii!
In a SAN environment the number of “spindles”(Drives) you have enhances your throughput. If you’re looking at doing serious, uncompressed HD, then I would be thinking about getting at least two X-RAIDs fully populated.
Noise? What? I can’t hear you over the sound of the fans! Yes, these suckers are LOUD! And, they generate a fair amount of heat. But that’s gonna be the case with any SAN you get. I would NOT want to edit in the same room as these drives. Plan on a separate machine space. Don’t forget about the air conditioning.
Mark “Missing Diamond Head” Raudonis
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