Decisions of Ehance Tech company

By Vladimir Shatin

Review contents:

Data storage systems for TV Application technology of the uniform disk arrays from Avid Technology Decisions of Ehance Tech company SANStream from Huge Systems DriveBox from JC System Integration VelocityQ and Storage Area Networks (SAN) Network decisions from Medea Palladium architecture SAN/NAS decisions from Raidtec Network storage decisions of Sanbolic Company Storage in the broadcast environment

Not all on a pocket such “adult” decisions SAN, as, for example developed by Raidtec Company. Nevertheless, the need for such system (or as much as possible approached to it by the functionality), but nevertheless cheaper, remains. How to be in this situation?

In this case it is necessary to pay attention to arrays Ultrastor with interface Fiber Channel or SCSI by American company Enhance.

Ultrastor is provided by good productivity (up to 320 MB/sec on one channel for SCSI and 380 MB/sec on a ring for FC) and high failure-resistance, that proves by the award “For the best innovational development” which the company has received at NAB2003 (Las Vegas, USA).

Besides, these arrays are certificated by leading suppliers of systems for digital nonlinear editing and video servers: Leitch, Matrox, Pinnacle, Canopus etc.

Their basic distinctive feature is that these devices are assembled on the basis of standard hard disks ATA or SATA. It causes their extreme low cost (in 1.5…2 times cheaper in comparison with similar equipment from other manufacturers).

Ultrastor is an excellent base for creation of SAN systems. The example of realization of such system is given on the figure.

SAN realization based on Ultrastor

The basic features of array Enhance Ultrastor are the following:

Ultrastor RS2080, RS3160, RS3120 (top to bottom)

• Architecture on the basis of 64-bit platform PowerPC 750CXE, 400 MHz, Intel 80321, 600 MHz;
• External interface Ultra160/320 SCSI or 2 GB FC;
• Two-channel interface;
• Support of SAN-systems on base Fiber Cannel and iSCSI;
• Support of technologies Clustering and High Availability;
• Support of RAID-levels 0, 1 (0+1), 3, 5;
• Opportunity of “hot” replacement of disks, complete sets of a supply and cooling devices;
• Automatic restoration of a file in a background mode;
• Remote control of arrays.

Besides common SAN systems on base of Fiber Channel, the Ultrastor may be used for construction of SAN networks on the basis of the new protocol iSCSI. iSCSI is very perspective new standard, allowing to transfer the large data streams on normal IP-network (Internet/Ethernet). For example, on Ethernet the transmission rate may amount to 10 Gbit/sec that is much faster, than ever can offer Fiber Channel. With it the experts connect the prospective future of iSCSI. Besides expenses for introduction of iSCSI systems will be much lower.

The Ehance arrays are presented by three series: Ultrastor RS 2080 (on the basis of 8 disks), Ultrastor RS 3120 (12 disks) and Ultrastor 3160 (16 disks). For today the maximal space of the array is equal to 4 TB.

Material provided by System Video Graphics Alliance Company