[Bernard Lamborelle]

Hi Ross,

There are many good options out there, but please tell us more about your requirements… At the very least, what video format/codec, how many streams and what applications (outside of FCP if any) are you using?

For ProResHD you can do quite a bit nowadays with a simple Gb solution. Of course, a turnkey solution is always attractive, but if you are technical you can configure your own solution for a lot less money using off-the-shelf components. There are also integrators that offer complete turnkeys at great value. One such option based on metaLAN Server/metaLAN is the Z-Share from Zsystem: https://www.zsyst.com/z-share/ at just $15,299.

Bernard Lamborelle
bernard at tiger-technology.com
http://www.tiger-technology.com
514-667-2015

[Bernard Lamborelle]

Hi Rui,

Make sure your SAN setup is sound and solid before trying to configure for Avid. For instance, you should have no problem playing back or capturing from a single Avid machine without implementing this procedure. You should also be able to work with FCP without problem. This procedure is only required so two or more Avid can connect and work off the same volume.

If you are experiencing issues with even a single Avid machine, it is best to get in touch with our support team…

Good luck,

Bernard Lamborelle
bernard at tiger-technology dot com
http://www.tiger-technology.com
514-667-2015

[Bernard Lamborelle]

Hi Rui,

I think there might be two different problems and they may or may not be related…

I forgot to ask: what version of metaSAN you are running?

There should be no problem with Nuendo. If it is hanging while playing, there has to be something wrong somewhere…

There is a special procedure for activating the “Virtualization for Avid” feature. If this procedure has not properly been followed, it is normal to you receive errors while trying to update its databases. Please note that the order in which the steps are followed is critical. If the following document has not been carefully implemented, I would suggest starting all over again:
https://www.tiger-technology.com/downloads/ConfiguringMetaSANforAvid.pdf

However, there is probably no point trying to implement this procedure if Nuendo isn’t working fine as it probably means there is something else wrong with your install.
– How often is Nuendo hanging?
– Does it matter how many tracks are you playing when this happens?
– Are you able to successfully run the metaSAN Read/Write Performance Test in the Utilities tab for a while without hanging? If so, what readings are you getting?

It will probably be necessary to analyze complete system logs and work with our support team to resolve your issues. My suggestion would be that you fill a support request at: https://www.tiger-technology.com/support_request to get the process started.

Let us know how it goes.

Cheers,

Bernard Lamborelle
bernard at tiger-technology dot com
http://www.tiger-technology.com
514-667-2015

[Bernard Lamborelle]

Hi Rui,

Where are you located?

What do you mean by “I have the metaSan installed but I can not work in the storage. Avid can not capture to the storage, the other machines can’t work either”?

This is a very vague statement and it is pretty much impossible to help without more information.

A few question to get started:
1- are your Avid Windows- or Mac-based?
2- is your file system NTFS or HFS+?
3- do you have a dedicated metadata controller?
4- are you able to read/write to the SAN storage at full speed?

Cheers,

Bernard Lamborelle
bernard at tiger-technology dot com
http://www.tiger-technology.com
514-667-2015

[Bernard Lamborelle]

Harcharan,

(I presume you meant 4Gbps (and not 4Ghz) speed)

I’m not an Infortrend expert (others might have more specific suggestions), but these numbers are definitely low for this type of array. You can start with two simple check:

– Check the low-level formatting block-size on the array: 512 bytes is typical. Anything smaller will impact performance. Anything bigger *might* cause compatibility issues.

– Check the speed on all FC ports. Should be either “Auto Detect” or set to 4Gbps

Let us know…

Bernard Lamborelle
bernard at tiger-technology dot com
http://www.tiger-technology.com
514-667-2015

[Bernard Lamborelle]

As Bob said, AFP will work fine for file-level sharing. It is pretty efficient and you might only get marginally better performances using an iSCSI initiator.

Windows servers usually make poor servers for video editing on Mac. But using metaLAN Server, you can turn a windows machine into an excellent server for Mac or Windows editing. We have totally revamped metaLAN 4.5. The new performances are now on par with iSCSI and exceed regular shares (I’ve seen 50% increase). metaLAN uses a proprietary block-level protocol over TCP/IP but this protocol handles file-level sharing – as opposed to iSCSI which requires SAN management software on top.

So depending the type of footage you are editing, this might be another option to consider. Typically metaLAN works best for up to ProRes editing. For higher bandwidth requirements (uncompress HD, 2K, etc.), you should still consider FC.

A faster machine will help for efficient link aggregation, but other than that, a fast bus and efficient NIC interface and a fast switch are the main requirements for metaLAN Server.

Bernard Lamborelle
bernard at tiger-technology dot com
http://www.tiger-technology.com
514-667-2015

[Bernard Lamborelle]

Patrick,

I would suggest you upgrade to the latest 2.2.5 build and see if the problem persist. I believe there was a fix issued for this a while ago.

In order to upgrade, you only need to download and install the latest version of the software on top of the existing one. There is no need to uninstall anything. Start with the master, and upgrade the other machines one by one.

It will also be easier for support to help. Is this something you can do?

Cheers,

Bernard

Bernard Lamborelle
bernard at tiger-technology dot com
http://www.tiger-technology.com
514-667-2015

[Bernard Lamborelle]

Hi Patrick,

If I understand correctly, you are using metaSAN iSCSI with UltraStor storage and that is working fine. However, when accessing files over LAN (as opposed to iSCSI), you are seeing corruption!? Can you clarify who is accessing what?

Also, what kind of file corruption are you seeing?

What version of OS (XP, Vista, 32/64-bit) and metaSAN are you running?

Thanks,

Bernard

Bernard Lamborelle
bernard at tiger-technology dot com
http://www.tiger-technology.com
514-667-2015

[Bernard Lamborelle]

Hi Bob,

A regular Mac Pro will be just fine. There is no need for a Server workstation.

All the best.

Bernard

Bernard Lamborelle
bernard at tiger-technology dot com
http://www.tiger-technology.com
514-667-2015

[Bernard Lamborelle]

Hello Marcus,

We do have a number of users doing successful HD and even 2K work using Infortrend storage. This said, I would highly recommend that you hire a local reseller to do the integration. Hiring a reseller means you will have someone local that can take ownership of your entire setup, and this will prevent finger pointing in case you run into issues. There is really nothing worse when all the individual components work fine on their own, yetthe SAN faces performance and/or reliability issues. The configuration of the storage alone will be a critical step to achieve this level of performance…

Let me know if you have any questions. We do have partners in Australia that stand ready to assist!

Best regards,

Bernard Lamborelle
bernard at tiger-technology dot com
http://www.tiger-technology.com
514-667-2015