External RAID over 1gbit ethernet

tbob

tbob

Active member
Anyone tried this or recommend a solution?

Need to have localized storage accessible from both MAC and PC editing platforms (simultaneously?), with high enough speeds to support HD streams. SAN seems far too expensive and sophisticated, as we only have 2-3 editing stations.

1) Is gigabit ethernet fast enough/reliable enough?
2) Is it truly multiplatform (assuming it will show up as a 'network drive')?
3) Is this overkill?

Thanks!
 
Yup, that's the kind of thing I'm talking about... there are a whole bunch out there (wiebetech, g-tech, snap server, etc.). I'm just looking for anyone who has real-world experience with one.

Is anyone currently using this kind of setup for direct-access NLE?
Are there any network latency problems (delayed playback, etc.)?
How many simultaneous HD streams can be piped through that kind of setup?
Is it truly Mac/PC compatible?

Thanks!
 
We have the terabyte 2TB drives on a 1GB network. For NLE work it's way too slow.

In fact we have a large Digital juice library stored on it, but the catalog performance was so delayed (especially for video and HD) that we had to move the catalog to a local disk (so the previews would be quick). A SD video clip of 10-15 seconds would take as long as 45 seconds to show.

It's great for centralized storage, but you need to use larger local drives for caching purposes.

As an idea you can use something like a Maxtor Storage III turbo (that can up to 1.5TB, uses raid 0 for speed, and connects with USB 1.2/2.0, Firewire 400/800). [We use these for system backups.) NLE work off of these would be acceptable, but they only work with the one machine.

- Mark
 
One other thing. 1GB network promise a lot, but don't deliver much. To get best speed out of them requires all the equipment on the network segment to be running at that speed, switches that support large packets (like the D-Link 2208), and a lot of configuring. Unfortunately there is no standard for large packet transmission (over 1.5K) and they rarely match.

Still, large parkets--even mismatched--run faster than using standard packet. Be prepared for a bunch of work and $$$s with only modest gains.

-Mark
 
I use MetaLan to set up my networks. 1 host - 2 clients. http://www.tiger-technology.com/article.php?story=Products

I am running everything 1GB ethernet. you can also get a 2GB device (forget the name) that will essentially double your throughput from what i've been told. your switch needs to be 2GB compatable and your machine needs 2 ethernet ports. and yes all the ports on your network need to be 1 GB.

with the metalan it changes the way the data is transferred over the network. i'm not too technical - but you can read all about it on their website. for me i have a bunch of esata raids that i build into these norcotek enclosure boxes interfaced with an old G5. connected to the other machines via 1GB ethernet. I can edit 1080 footage no problems. before i was using metalan there was no way the speeds were up to par to edit off of.

good luck
 
As a retired IT Engineer and professional video producer/trainer, I can tell you anything short of xSAN is not going to hold up for serious editing. But for just storing files, it's perfectly fine. You just won't edit very well with it, you'll eventually get bogged down on any type of Ethernet system.
 
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