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Reasonably priced SAN Solution
Hello-
I am working at a small post production company that is growing out of the current storage/server hardware (Drobo). Is there a faster, but yet inexpensive way to share files? Thanks.
Best,
JM
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11 Replies
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Faster? Yes. Inexpensive? Define inexpensive.
The home brew systems (ShareMAX, Final Share, etc.) are pretty basic set ups and will give you shared storage starting around $10k. Will it be amazing, no, but it will get the job done… if the job is not to heavy.
That’s about all you’ll really get into for under $15-20k. Once you get past $20k you have some higher end options that are more feature heavy and are higher quality. Facilis, EVO, Editshare, etc.
Keep in mind Avid support, with everyone fearing the future of FCP in a “pro” environment, you may want to factor this in if you can afford it and might move to Avid later on.
Nate Cooper
nate.cooper@promax.com
949.375.2738 -
SAN or NAS? Most Drobos are NASs. SANs are faster, but are much more complex undertaking and more expensive generally.
Which Drobo is it, how many editing seats, what are the file formats you work with (and their bitrates if applicable), and how many video layers do your editors work with at the same time? Once you figure out the approximate peak (or desired) load (bandwidth), you could start shopping for a Drobo replacement… which could be a 12- or 8-bay Drobo iSCSI (will require another server) 12-bay 3x GigE Drobo, possibly.
Alex (DV411)
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You can buy into an EVO starting at $13,999 for a short loaded 16 bay chassis with 8TB of RAW storage and two GbE ports (use a common GbE switch to share the two ports between more users depending on your bandwidth requirements, etc). From there you can add extra IO to build out an all Ethernet solution or a mix of Fibre and Ethernet, and scale up to 32 drives behind one controller unit.
-Caspian
Product Specialist
Studio Network Solutions -
Alex knows very well that a Drobo cannot be used as a shared storage system.
Joey – this is now YOUR job – you need to read about 100 posts on this very forum. All the “players” are listed in this forum. And do you know what you have to do after you collect the names (of which some were already mentioned here) – you need to CALL these companies, and ask them questions. I can only assure you of one thing Joey, there is no “magic box” that you order from B&H Photo, plug in your computers, and “bang” – you have shared storage. There are lots of teriffic solutions, but you need to CALL some of these companies that you have just heard mentioned, and that are listed in THIS FORUM. If you are not willing to do the research, and make the calls, you will wind up with a pile of garbage.
And Joey – what do you call “reasonably priced” ? Are you willing to spend over 10 grand ?
Bob Zelin
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[Bob Zelin] “Alex knows very well that a Drobo cannot be used as a shared storage system. “
Both statements contained herein are pretty far reaching assumptions! 🙂
(You meant that Drobo could not be used as a shared storage system for collaborative editing, right, Bob? Although even that qualifier doesn’t cover all the angles as some Drobos actually can be used for that purpose, as evidenced by our OP.)
Alex (DV411)
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Starting the research now. Thanks for all the comments. Reasonable price 10K. Thanks.
Joey
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Joey
Please contact me or one of my guys at 714-374-4944 and we can help you walk through the process.Sincerely,
Ron Amborn President
Maxx Entertainment Digital
21562 Newland Street
Huntington Beach , Ca 92646
Direct 714-374-4944
Cell 714-713-4492 Fax 714-374-3404
ron@maxxdigital.com
http://www.maxxdigital.com -
Joey,
Like Bob said, there are plenty of people to talk to to aid you in this so with that I’ll add mine.
Steve Manella
Broadcast/Facilities/Storage Engineer
The Studio- B&H
212-239-7500, ext 1548
smanella@bhphoto.com -
Hi Steve –
what shared storage product is B&H Photo promoting ?Bob Zelin
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Hi Bob,
On the software side, The Studio offers both file and volume level solutions. On the hardware side, we provide solutions from Active, Dulce, Promise & Rorke. It’s all about listening to the customer and providing them the best solution based upon their requirements.
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