[Andrew Ryann]

Hi All!

With all due respect, Robin I’m trying to discern what you are saying and/or hardware configuration for which you are advocating. Oliver seems to have laid out a pretty strong case for using the iMac Pro in a shared storage post-production workflow environment (with the caveat that he is exempting projects/apps with tremendously demanding processor and video card needs, like 3D rendering/compositing and the like). Cost vs. Performance vs. Ease of Integration are all pretty clearly defined in his documentation and first-hand experience. And I do not believe that he is a shill for Apple. If you have a difference of opinion, please provide a real-world example of your experience with this gear and what configuration you would recommend.

And I am by no means flame throwing here! Not my style. I would truly like to hear what approach you would take.

Thanks much!

Andrew

[Andrew Ryann]

Hey Rich,

What are the specs on your iMac pros? There are so many variations, that I don’t even know where to begin. Like is the 3.0gig 10 core preferable to the 3.2gig 8 core?

We are also looking at a Qnap box, probably the QNAP TVS-1282T3-i7-64GB, loaded with 8, 10tb HGST Ultrastar Helium drives. Are you guys also using the Qtier functionality with the 2.5″ SSDs and/or the m.2 SSDs for additional cache? We are probably going to purchase the Qnap through SimplyNAS, as they build to spec, RAID and fully test before shipping, but any other vendors and/or specs that you might recommend would be thoroughly appreciated!

Thanks much!

Andrew

[Andrew Ryann]

Hi David,

Thanks for the link. I had seen this, but still wasn’t sure that it addressed my core concern about viewing the sequence/timeline directly on the external 4K display. I’m sure that you could drag a sequence window to the monitor, but that’s kind of a pain.

Also, if this indeed works the way I hope it does, is this configuration putting too much pressure on the graphics card in the iMac?

I know that CC apps used to use the graphics cards in the MacPros for additional processing power…not sure if they are still doing that with newer, speedier CPUs.

Thanks again for your help and any further insight would be appreciated.

Andrew

[Andrew Ryann]

A real world example: We have a Thecus N16000 with 16x3TB Hitachi Ultrastars link aggregated (dual) to an EdgeCore ES4528V switch. We have a MacPro, iMac and depending on our workload, 1-2 MacBook Pros all editing the same footage with no issues at all. We are using mostly CS6 and CC apps working with ProRes, AVCHD, DVCPROHD and even H264 from the 5D all natively. I just ran the BlackMagic Disk Speed Test on the iMac and was pulling 115mbps read and write to the Thecus. Then started opening successive video streams on the MacPro and the speed to the iMac never changed. Pretty impressive for a 1gig net! I think at some point will get the 10g SFPs for both the switch and the Thecus, but for now, it’s all dandy!

[Andrew Ryann]

So I’ve been doing some research and it looks like I can get the 10g network cards for both the Qnap and the EdgeCore. So for a few more bucks (looks like $700-1000) I can be 10g to the switch. That should rock, no?

[Andrew Ryann]

From the Qnap site under Software Spec:

https://www.qnap.com/pro_detail_software.asp?p_id=204

Dual Gigabit NICs with Jumbo Frame
Failover
Multi-IP Settings
Port Trunking/NIC Teaming (Modes: Balance-rr, Active Backup, Balance XOR, Broadcast, IEEE 802.3ad/Link Aggregation, Balance-tlb and Balance-alb)

BTW: This is a screenshot of the BMD Speed Test run from our iMac (core 2 duo with jumbo) taken while another editor is working on an FCP project on the same server, the Thecus N7700Pro. Don’t know what this proves, but we really don’t have any dropped frame issues, even when we have the same project open on two machines. I will admit that even though we may have 3 or even 4 computers connected to the server at the same time, we rarely would work on a project from more than 2 machines at the same time:

With the Qnap and link aggregation, I’m guessing we would get even better throughput.

Thanks,

AR

[Andrew Ryann]

Thanks for your reply, Marco.

I understand the concept of a “shared file/project system” and realize that is something to consider.

Right now we are a fairly small shop and just using the standard AFP has been working for us. If we were to grow to say 4 or 5 edit bays, we would definitely want to consider installing more of a managed system.

I did take a quick look at FlavourSys and it looks intriguing. I’ll definitely let you know if I have any more questions about it.

But for now we are just looking for a robust, reliable, cost-effective and relatively easy to use media server.

Still haven’t heard if anyone has any experience with Qnap, but from what I am reading on their site, it looks like a strong contender.

Thanks again for your help.

Andrew

[Andrew Ryann]

Bob, please refrain from responding further to any of my posts. I don’t need YOUR attitude.

Now, is there anyone from one of these other companies that I mentioned or any other professional who wishes to chime in? I would really like to hear what you think.

I’m not trying to get a something for nothing and realize that you typically get what you pay for. I’m just wondering what $15-30K is going to get me that $10K won’t. Thoughts?

BTW, the Qnap box I mentioned does support link aggregation and yes I am still getting 100+mbps from our Thecus N7700PRO on a single ethernet connection.

Thanks.

[Andrew Ryann]

Interesting reply. First, why are you assuming that we’re using a cheap 1gig switch? We have an EdgeCore ES4528V, which I have read is one of the best and not close to cheap.

Putting this system together was about one of the simplest things I’ve ever done and I am not a network specialist by any stretch.

Kinda doubt that we are the ONLY ones that have got something like this to work.

It’s a server and a RAID 5 array. Doesn’t sound so special.

So my question still stands. Why are these other systems so special?

And you sarcasm is well noted. When I do need help, I will remember that when I choose who to call.

Thanks,

AR

[Andrew Ryann]

OK, I may be opening a can of worms here, but I really want to know what the advantages are of some providers that Bob listed earlier, specifically over some other solutions that I have been using and researching.

We have a MacPro and an iMac with the occasional MacBook Pro thrown into the mix. We primarily work in ProRes422 with FCP7 and AE 5.5. We have a Thecus N7700PRO hanging off of our switch as our primary media server. Its populated with 7-3TB Hitachi Deskstars. We’ve had the Thecus online for about six months and it has worked perfectly. It gives us 107-120mbps on our 1gig net, which is more than enough throughput for us and similar to what I see advertised by Smalltree and Promax

We are looking to expand and I have been looking at the Qnap TS-EC1279U-RP. It’s $4,679 from B&H.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/826850-REG/Qnap_TS_EC1279U_RP_US_TS_EC1279U_RP_12_Bay_IP_SAN_NAS.html

Populated with the new 3TB Ultrastars at $369/per:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/772033-REG/Hitachi_0F12456_3_TB_3_5_Ultrastar.html

And I have a 36TB media server for under $10K, with a spare drive. A similar setup from Promax, at 32TB nonetheless, is just about $15K. Smalltree is even more.

Can anyone tell me a downside to the Qnap or Thecus servers or explain why I should pay 50-200% more from these other providers? Yes, I’m guessing that they offer support, but is it really worth the additional $$?

Thanks,

Andrew