-
Need simple networking solution
Hello!
I have a small production company, which is growing. To date we have had one workstation with a Mac Pro running Premiere Pro from a RAID (eSATA connection).
I have just taken on an intern who will be working from their MacBook Pro. Both computers now need to access the RAID and the current project files.
I know very little about networking so am looking for some basic advice.
What is the simplest, safest (and hopefully cheapest) way to connect the new computer, so that both machines can work on the files stored on the RAID? FYI there are also two FW 800 ports in the back of the RAID, but no ethernet.
Thanks for any help!
-
4 Replies
-
First idea, and probably the cheapest would be to network the two computers together (wired ethernet, either through a router, or by creating an ad-hoc network and connecting the two computers directly with an ethernet cable). You can make the RAID a shared drive and allow the Macbook Pro access.
There are some performance concerns (a consumer or lowend office router isn’t superfast for instance) and the downside that your Mac Pro would need to be on any time the laptop needed access, otherwise your only real purchase would be an ethernet cable for the laptop.
Just my two cents.
-
Thanks, Angelo!
I do have an Apple Time Capsule that I use at home for back up and wifi. I think this also works as a router and has a number of ethernet ports in the back, so i’m wondering if that could be useful in anyway?
Is there any advantage to using a router as opposed to simply directly wiring the two computers like you suggested? Also, is there any issue with working over an ethernet connection? I have only ever worked over FireWire.
-
I wouldn’t bother with Time Capsule or an Airport (both are Mac-centric routers). I suppose I should have been more clear: what you could benefit from is a high speed network switch, not a router. Routers connect multiple networks, switches connect and manage traffic within a network.
In your situation, if these two computers can reside in the same room, I would just wire them directly together. Once you add NAS storage or other computers, a switch becomes a good piece of hardware.
At its slowest, gigabit ethernet (~120MBps) should be fine between two computers, you’re not really using any overhead on the line between the computers for much else. I’d account for about 70MBps for a “non optimal” setup. You won’t be able to work on RED or ARRI footage, but that should be decent enough for 5D or a bevvy of ENG camera originating footage. Even if you did deal with Arri or RED, then it may be worth working off of smaller proxy files for throughput gains.
-
Thanks! Appreciate your input. A simple ethernet connection is well within budget! 🙂
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up