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storage solutions
I apologize if this isn’t the best forum to post this question, but I imagine most of you here have ideas/opinions on this….I have just started working at a non-profit with a video dept that started with one edit station (G5) using 2 internal SATA drives for storage as well as a network accessed drive for copying final media so that the rest of the company can access the files for distribution (web/cable).
Now we have added a second edit station (new Intel Mac) and are trying to find an affordable solution that will allow both macs access to the same media/projects. We work in SD and HD, though the HD is minimal, and would be DVCProHD 720p30 quality at best. The majority of projects are direct to web or for Comcast on Demand and they want everything 4×3, 720×480. We are looking at both a Fibre solution as well as a possible Ethernet solution. The issue with the Fibre solution is that it is going to max out our budget for the year (11 thousand was an estimate for 8TB I believe). We are looking at the iSCSI but it seems to be single user.
Just curious what SAN solutions other people have for a max 2 or 3 station setup. All stations would be in the same room, though we do have a server room on the other side of the wall from the edit room.
Not sure I gave enough info, but hopefully this paints a picture.
Thanks!
Steve Goldberg
Common Sense Media -
2 Replies
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This one…
https://magazine.creativecow.net/article/build-your-own-affordable-san-that-iworksi
Shane
GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD…don’t miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def -
Steve writes – (my reply below)
one edit station (G5) using 2 internal SATA drives for storage as well as a network accessed drive for copying final media so that the rest of the company can access the files for distribution (web/cable).
Now we have added a second edit station (new Intel Mac) and are trying to find an affordable solution that will allow both macs access to the same media/projects. We work in SD and HD, though the HD is minimal, and would be DVCProHD 720p30 quality.
Just curious what SAN solutions other people have for a max 2 or 3 station setup. All stations would be in the same room, though we do have a server room on the other side of the wall from the edit room.
Hi Steve –
if you can find a Fibre solution for $11,000, please tell me who it is, because I will buy it !This is what you need. You need a DEDICATED MAC PRO (about $3000) and about $2000 of DEDICATED Small Tree managed ethernet equipment.
This will let you share DV25 files from interal SATA drives in the dedicated MAC Pro. If you want to share DVCProHD or ProRes422HQ or uncompressed SD, you will need a much larger drive array that is fast enough to playout to multiple systems (think $5000).
If you say “we have an old MAC G5 lying around – can we use this” – NO !
If you say “we have an ethernet switch – can we use this” – NO.
If you say “can we use one of the FCP edit computers as the server” – NO.You are going to spend a minimum of $3000 for the MAC, and $2000 for the Small Tree ethernet gear to have a “minimal” shared storage system to work at low res SD video (like DV25). For higher definitions, you need a larger faster drive array to be able to playout hi speed video to multiple stations. This all works off of standard ethernet. The article Shane is refering to talks about a process called LINK AGGREGATION which makes ethernet run faster.
Is there a cheaper way to do this ? NO.
Is there just one company I can call to make this happen – yes –
https://www.maxxdigital.comBobZelin
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