DriveBox from JC System Integration

By Vladimir Zontov

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

Base of any system of data keeping is the storage. It may be a separate hard disk (HD, the Winchester disk), a disk array (RAID), every possible device of storage on DVD or tape, the whole file servers etc. With productivity growth and cost fall of networks the increasing distribution is got by so-called network storehouses.

First of all in sphere of video production the decisions on the basis of SAN architecture (Storage Area Network) are claimed. Here are necessary the large size of lines (up to 25 m with copper conductors and up to 10 km at use of an optical cable), a high efficiency, and an opportunity of simultaneous access to files (by software support). We shall consider a simple example: realization of the project of system of editing control room at broadcasting company “1 Channel”.

As the device of storage the high-efficiency Fiber Channel RAID-array DriveBox VR 10/480 FCRX from JC System Integration is used, connected through switchboard Vixel 9000 (company Emulex) with three workstations.

For work with video the editing systems Affinity (company Accom) are used. Software ATTO AccelWare provides control of SAN functioning, of the network collisions settlement, of the distribution of rights of access.

System of editing facilities of the “1st channel” TV Company

DriveBox VR 10/480 FCRX (full volume is equal to 480 GB) has the built-in controller, allowing to configure the array, adjusting level RAID 0,1,0+1,3,5 with different ratios of total disk number to redundant disk number and also to leave a spare disk for automatic restoration in case of failure of one array storage.

Restoration of RAID integrity may occur in background mode, thus all data remain accessible for high-grade work. Switching-off of an array or the controller reloading during recover or replacement of a disk are not required.

Control of the array functioning and its configuration is made remotely. If the system of self-diagnostics has found out any problems, the audio signal is generated and the error message is sent under TCP/IP network to the manager.

The DriveBox VR 10/480 FCRX output is enough for comfortable work of three NLE stations in real time under non-compressed video using.

Introduction of this technology has allowed solving some problems simultaneously:

• Increasing the working efficiency of work: any clip or a project at the any moment of time is accessible for processing on each editing station Affinity SAN;
• Achieving an opportunity of teamwork over the projects: all workstations became completely interchangeable;
• Significantly reducing the general requirements for disk space due to absence of the duplicated files on workplaces;
• Improving the working conditions of editing staff (accordingly to lower the tiredness): the additional space on workplaces was released, and due to removal of local disk arrays from workplaces the noise level has decreased;
• Raising the general failure-resistance in studio.

Application of technology SAN has allowed to improve the industrial figures of editing studio and to receive some remarkable increase of economic efficiency of investments.

Material provided by JC System Integration Company