Terrablock vs DDP

[Bob Zelin]

Hello Salvador,
this is my opinion.
It is my opinion that your IT director should be fired immediately. He is obviously complete unaware of the professional video industry, and completely unaware not only of the Facilis Terrablock, but of the other professional solutions that are available from professional video companies, that make up 99% of every professional television station and professional video facility in the entire world. These companies no only include Facilis Terrablock, but also include AVID, EditShare, Small Tree Communications, Archiware, ProMax, Maxx Digital, Studio Network Solutions, OpenDrive, Apace Systems, GB Labs, OWC Calipso, LumaForge, Tiger Technologies, and a few select systems from QNAP and Synology that are optimized for video production. I am sure that your IT director is not familiar with any of these brands, as I am sure he has never attended an NAB trade show, IBC show, CCW show, SMPTE meeting, etc. This all means that he is completely unqualified to make any decisions on the purchase of a professional shared storage system for your company.

I urge you to show this to your supervisor or boss, and simply say “maybe we should contact a company that is familiar with what we need, because I don’t thing that our IT director is familiar with the requirements that are necessary for our department”.

I would like to know whose website is not scant, and not informal in tone ? Facilis is a great company, but all the other companies I mentioned are terrific as well. Exactly who is he looking at ?
NetApp, EMC, Quantum ? Is he looking for permanent job security ? Perhaps he wants to build this himself with a Dell Server and Cisco switch !

Now if you are talking about Ardis Technolgies Dynamic Drive Pool, they are in the Netherlands. Are you in the Netherlands ? Who is going to support your product ?

Bob Zelin

Bob Zelin
Rescue 1, Inc.
bobzelin@icloud.com

[Salvador Garza]

Thanks Bob!
DDP was recommended by an IT preferred vendor.

Our top choice thus far is Terrablock. Great team at Facilis.

What are your thoughts on using existing FC infrastructure (4Gb) vs 10GbE over copper?

Salvador Garza
Apple Certified Trainer & Adobe Certified Instructor
https://www.salvadorgarza.com

[Walter Biscardi]

Just to chime in here, your setup is almost identical to what we have in our shop. 5 edit suites, ProTools Mixing Theater, Davinci Resolve Suite, Two Media Management Systems and 5 Client use iMacs. All tied into our NAS. We’ve been running ethernet based NAS for about 9 years now and recently switched to Studio Network Solutions. We’re running their 48TB EVO system which is running out to all the client systems via 10GigE and where we have iMacs, 10GigE to Thunderbolt. Our systems are a mix of older model Mac Pro, Dell Workstation, iMac and Laptop. We run both ProRes and native files here cutting both HD and UHD cutting in an Adobe workflow primarily though we also run Avid and FCP on occasion.

Main reason for switching to SNS was their Share Browser allowing on-board media management and project level locking. We can have multiple clients all using the exact same Adobe Premiere Pro project at the exact same time with no fear of one person overwriting the other’s work. Cross platform operation is also solid with Mac / Win. We had permissions issues galore for the year prior to switching to SNS. All gone now.

The Share Browser also catalogues everything that is attached to any system on the network, and that’s another part we really love. Any drive that’s on any system on the network can be mounted by any other system on the network. For this reason, we kept our original 48TB RAID and now run it as a near line Archive. So in essence, we have 96TB to edit with and the Share Browser can control all of it.

Our workflow is all media is catalogued / ingested at the media management stage. Project goes through editorial and finish. Project is archived back through the media management team. The Share Browser gets installed on all the systems to actually manage the data flow, but the price of the tool is included in the purchase. No need to purchase “seats” for each clients, you can install on unlimited computers.

Facilis is a great product. For my needs, SNS really made sense dollar for dollar. Here’s a couple of blogs I wrote about it.

https://walterbiscardi.com/first-look-studio-network-solutions-evo-with-sharebrowser/

https://walterbiscardi.com/twoeditorsonepremierepro/

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Editor, Colorist, Director, Writer, Consultant, Author, Chef.
HD Post and Production
Biscardi Creative Media

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[Bob Zelin]

Hi Salvador –
I have looked at your impressive website. You are an engineer. You should be making these decisions. Exactly who is telling you that Facilis is not going to be a reliable product. Exactly what is his background ? Why choose your “preferred vendor” – it seems to me, based on your website, that you are more than capable of not only making the correct decision, but of doing the minor administration that would be required for any of these products. I hate these people that try to install a system that is so complicated, that it insures their job.

You have asked an excellent question – 4G fiber, or 10G Ethernet.
4G fiber is over. Today, even if you were to run 8G or 16G fiber, you would not use the orange 63 micrometer fiber cables that you have in place. Even with a facilis (who will be more than happy to supply you with 4G fiber cards from ATTO) – this is a poor choice, compared to 10G Ethernet over cheap Cat6 cabling. Even if you say “no no we are sticking to fiber” – well, then you are running new 50/125 fiber cable for 8G or 16G fiber. So it’s my opinion that you should switch to 10G Ethernet with a nice boring cheap Netgear 10G switch, which ANY of these companies will support. and you will get greater performance with 10G Ethernet that you do with your current 4G fiber.

You seem like a very smart guy. I urge you to take matters into your own hands, and make your own decisions, and stop listening to foolish advice from those that do not have a clue.

And by the way, I have nothing against Dynamic Drive Pool, other than the fact that they have no representation in the US. I recently knew very little about GB Labs in London, but they contacted me, and trained me on their product, so I am no longer “afraid” of GB Labs, which turns out to be an excellent product, with US support. If DDP is reading any of this, perhaps they should participate on Creative Cow, or FCP.CO.UK, or other international forums where people can learn more about their products.

Bob Zelin

Bob Zelin
Rescue 1, Inc.
bobzelin@icloud.com

[Salvador Garza]

Thank you sharing Walter! Ultimately the actual workflow and user experience is one of the most important factors, if not the most important, when selecting a shared storage system. Very much appreciated!

Salvador Garza
Apple Certified Trainer & Adobe Certified Instructor
https://www.salvadorgarza.com

[Salvador Garza]

Thanks Bob! Although I’m not an active member on these forums, I’ve always valued your no BS approach and expertise. You’ve also provided some really good points that backup our selection.

Salvador Garza
Apple Certified Trainer & Adobe Certified Instructor
https://www.salvadorgarza.com

[Elvin Jasarevic]

Hi Bob,

You have said “It is my opinion that your IT director should be fired immediately” based on perception that IT Director did not hear about DDP or Terablock.

You also said “Now if you are talking about Ardis Technolgies Dynamic Drive Pool, they are in the Netherlands. Are you in the Netherlands ? Who is going to support your product?”

Well, based on the same logic, you should also be fired as contributor, or not be taken seriously based on above as you becoming biased.

DDP in US is distributed and sold by Cinesys/Oceania, who happens also to be the largest Autodesk distributor and reseller in US and Canada!?

Related to Salvatore, well, if you are going to spend some 20K + my recommendation is to see demo on all products mentioned, same as when you buy car, you need to try it out.

On link bellow, there is one article with client who recently replaced XSAN (the one you have) with DDP.
https://ddp-asia.com/interviews/article/11

Also as I would like to help both to you and Bob, and anyone else, lets organise online demo and spend hour or so and learn something about award winning shared storage by IABM – International Association Broadcasting Manufactures.

Wish you great day

Elvin

https://www.ddpsan.asia

[Salvador Garza]

Hi Elvin,

Thanks for chiming in! When is the earliest we could schedule a demo?

Best,
Salvador

Salvador Garza
Apple Certified Trainer & Adobe Certified Instructor
https://www.salvadorgarza.com

[Elvin Jasarevic]

Hi Salvador,

Can we do today 2pm Japan time or do you prefer tomorrow sometimes?

Anyone else who would like to see a demo in 1/1 session more than welcome.

elvin@ddp.jp
https://www.ddpsan.asia

[Salvador Garza]

Can we do tomorrow 8am Tokyo time? That’s 6pm Houston time.

2pm Tokyo time is past midnight over here.

What’s your email?

Thanks

Salvador Garza
Apple Certified Trainer & Adobe Certified Instructor
https://www.salvadorgarza.com