I don’t need SAN….Do I?

[Eric Hansen]

back to the original post

i have been thinking about a MetaLAN solution for awhile after reading Bob’s article (one server with 5 edit systems and a few random laptops and iMacs) and i always wondered why AFP couldnt handle it as i have used AFP at various levels for years. so you’re saying MetaLAN is not really necessary if everything is Mac and FCP (no Windows or Avid)? my client wants to run FCSvr and it bugged me that under MetaLAN, the server hosting the storage couldnt use the storage directly. i would have to use 2 different servers instead of one.

marc, i am wondering, do you only allow your edit systems to connect to the server via their jumbo-enabled ethernet? in my setup, i would like to share the storage with both the edit systems (link agg, gigabit, jumbo frames) and non-jumbo enabled office computers over the office LAN. if the server has 2 ethernet connections (one link agg to the managed switch) and one single line to the office switch, can AFP force certain computers to connect over certain ethernet ports? making sure the edit systems get the high speed link-agg connection and the office computers get the slower single connection?

thanks

e

4 G5s, OSx 10.4.11, Final Cut 6.0.2, Kona LH (v5.1)
Xsan: Xserve 2.0 G5, 3GB RAM, 2 7TB Xserve RAIDs, Sanbox 5200
Quantum SDLT600A
decks: Sony HDW-M2000/10 HDCAM, HVR-M10U HDV with HD-Connect, DSR-1500 DVCAM, UVW-1800 BetacamSP
MacBook Pro: 2.33, 2GB RAM, OSx 10.4.11, Final Cut 6.0.2
cameras: Panasonic HVX200, Sony FX1 and A1U, Arri S/B 16mm
skis: Volkl Gotama 183s with 914s and Lange Fluid 120 boots

[Marc Bostrøm]

Hi Matt,

Thank you for your insight… You guys at small-tree usually know what your talking about!
I now realize that my 10gbe solution is not doable.
I don’t need the bandwidth right now…But it is always good to look ahead and know whats out there.

NOW…when are you done with your AoE solution?

Marc Bostrom
-| just another PRO FCP user |-

[Marc Bostrøm]

Hi Eric,

Yes, the recommendation I received from tiger tech. indicates that there is no need for SAN in such an environment.

“….would like to share the storage with both the edit systems (link agg, gigabit, jumbo frames) and non-jumbo enabled office computers over the office LAN….”

That is exactly what I do. The built in ethernet does office IP 192.168.0.xx. and the 2 external ethernet PCI cards do the edit IP 10.0.0.xx.
I make sure that i connect correctly with CMD-k (write ip-adresse) and save these as shortcuts or make them auto-mount at startup.
It works well under 10.5.5.

Good luck!

Marc Bostrom
-| just another PRO FCP user |-

[Eric Hansen]

hey marc

thanks for the reply. i just got off the phone with Matt at Small Tree and he pretty much said the same thing. i’m happy i read your post before i budgeted in MetaLAN when it appears that its not really needed for this particular installation.

if this installation gets the green light i will post the details and outcome here, as i’m sure others are interested in this method of SAN.

e

4 G5s, OSx 10.4.11, Final Cut 6.0.2, Kona LH (v5.1)
Xsan: Xserve 2.0 G5, 3GB RAM, 2 7TB Xserve RAIDs, Sanbox 5200
Quantum SDLT600A
decks: Sony HDW-M2000/10 HDCAM, HVR-M10U HDV with HD-Connect, DSR-1500 DVCAM, UVW-1800 BetacamSP
MacBook Pro: 2.33, 2GB RAM, OSx 10.4.11, Final Cut 6.0.2
cameras: Panasonic HVX200, Sony FX1 and A1U, Arri S/B 16mm
skis: Volkl Gotama 183s with 914s and Lange Fluid 120 boots

[Matt Geier]

Marc,

What do you want to know ? 🙂

It’s Ethernet Storage. If you’re familiar with any AoE storage, this is no different really. The one exception would be that Small Tree writes our own AoE driver for the RAID Vendor that we offer.

Configurations span from 4TB (entry) to 24TB. The nice thing about it and perhaps one of the biggest compelling pieces is the ability to just keep adding more to the network as your requirements increase. Simply because it’s Ethernet, as long as you have something to keep connecting to, you’re in good shape.

The other thing of note would be that we can connect them with either 10Gb or Multiport Gigabit (link agg) – The 4TB RAID will go 200MB/sec. There are two Ethernet Ports on that unit. The bigger RAIDS will do 500MB/sec.

As with any storage we simply suggest putting it on your server, and then making sure the server is adequate enough to support the editors, in addition to having the needed bandwidth.

From a $$ standpoint the best comparison I can give here is as follows… (rough numbers of course)

AoE Storage – $1000.00 per TB
compared to
FibreChannel Storage – $1500.00 per TB

What more do you want to know?

🙂