-
what do we need?
Hi,
I’ve been looking around to see if I could find a solution to my problem but I think the easiest way is still to ask:
We are a motion graphic studio running most of the time 3 AE workstations.
One of the workstation run also FCP. We work a lot for shows and events as well as TV commercial.
We have are running 1 G5 intel, 1 Imac G5, 1 first generation G5, 1 MacBookPro 13″ and 2 PC for 3DS max. and we ae running also Gridiron Nucleo v.2When we work SD format its pretty easy even if sharing files is always a waste of time. but production is not too slow. When working HD (mostly size like 2k to 3k ) copying a file to each computer is a nightmare.transferring file is a headache.
We are looking for a solution that help us to have different things. As we are a small studio we always need to have access to old project, stock footage etc…
So, simply put, we need to work on share data as big as RED 3K (also being able to render from AE such format as 3200×800) and share a library of pre-made elements and old projects.
Our studio is based in china and any of the regular ethernet card, SATA card or else cost 20% more than in the west 🙁 yes you can find very cheap stuff in china but when it comes to something professional it cost you a bomb.we need a reliable and fast fileserver. Do we need two networks? one for the files we are working on and1 for the library?
no need to say that we have no money and we still want a better solution than we have now.cheers,,
ox -
8 Replies
-
do nothing right now. Wait for the 6 Gig drive stuff to come out later this year, and you can do a 10Gig solution for cheap. When you say “we have no money”, you better mean that you have “some money” – because if you are Red 3K work and it’s associated graphics for zero money, so you can undercut people in the US and Western Europe, I will fly to China and kill you. But a simple 10 Gig solution will work for you, once the 6 Gig stuff comes out later this year. Currently, if you need 300Mb/sec per workstation for your three systems, the single drive arrays currently on the market are not fast enough. You can do what you want now – but it will cost a lot of money.
bob Zelin
-
Thanks a lot for the tips.
Well when I say we have no money its indeed not true, we have some but I prefer not even say how much as price ratio do not match the west.
6Gig drive, sounds good. In the meantime anything good with those 600-800$ NAS? I’m not trying to reach anything close to 300m/s with that but just make things more easy while waiting to built a 10Gig.
Are those solutions will help us in anyway?cheers
-
no – buying a $600 NAS is a waste of time. These products are designed to share accounting data, not hi speed video files, and I assume you are not working in DV.
bob Zelin
-
No we are not working on dv.
So I guess for now I will try to setup your SAN.
thank a lot for your help. I think I will have a lot of questions when I will get strarted 🙂cheers
-
first you said you were working with hi def images, now you say you are working in DV resolutions.
I am confused.Bob Zelin
-
I guess I made a mistake when I wrote my post: I’m working mainly in HD and Higher. we are working really often in 2k or 3k as we are working on a lot of live show.
I’ve been watching some of the advertised boxes and I wonder if the key is let say a HDone from call digit plugged on a computer that as a x4 Giga Lan network as described in your SAN solution?
I’ve been trying to find a solution for a while now but still not sure where to look or how to put things together.. -
Listen Harauld,
you ain’t doin’ this by yourself, and you ain’t doin’ this cheap.
End of story. You ain’t gettin no 2K / 3K shared storage system for cheap – ain’t gonna happen.The Cal Digit HD One is NOT going to work for you, CERTAINLY not in shared storage. No offense, but I am SICK of all you people trying to cheap out on super hi end solutions. You like Cal Digit – you are in luck – Cal Digit has a WONDERFUL new HI END Shared Storage Solution –
it’s called Cal Digit SUPER SHARE –
https://www.caldigit.com/products.asp#it uses the Cal Digit HD Pro2, their new wonderful PCIe switch and hub, and dedicated host adaptor cards (PCIe adaptor cards that go to the switch), and SOFTWARE LICENSES (like MetaSAN, XSAN, or FibreJet – about $1000 per seat) to get this to work. Cal Digit is a great company, and this will do the job that you want, but IT IS NOT CHEAP. How can you do it cheap – YOU CANT – not for 2K and 3K uncompressed HD media in a shared storage enviornment.
There are other companies that can help you do this right now, including JMR and Sonnet, that will allow you to have 4 people do shared storage with fibre and 2K media – but you will spend at least 30 grand for this solution from them.
You want cheaper – wait until early 2011, when the 6 Gig drives, and cheaper 10 Gig stuff is available (that you can do with simple Apple File Sharing). You can do it RIGHT NOW, but only two stations. I can do a 6 client 10 Gig system right now, but the drives available to me are just too slow to handle six 10 Gig 2K and 3K uncompressed clients.
So spend your money now, or wait.
This is the Cal Digit system that you need –
The CalDigit SuperShare is a revolutionary solution to the traditional SAN. Based on direct connect PCIe technology, the CalDigit SuperShare is an extremely fast hardware solution that allows users to access a pool of shared storage simultaneously. This e ective collaboration makes sharing CalDigit storage solutions easy, fast and a ordable.bob Zelin
-
thanks bob,
I understand. Well I guess some people want cheap coz its business thing. other coz they are small studios and they don’t have the budget sometime or they need in between solutions.
For my part we mostly work locally on each machine, a server is a try for a better workflow if we can afford it.
Thanks again for all the advices, I will check the Caldigit shared solution.cheers
Harauld Sextus
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up