Extreme performance with flexible expansion.
Todays post production workflows demand higher performance from their storage. The quest for higher resolutions, frame rates and stereoscopic 3d all require high bandwidth data storage for smooth playback. The data path between the storage and processing needs to be a fast as possible. Accusys take advantage of the computers PCIe bus to deliver that speed in the most efficient way possible. By using a direct PCIe connection between the host and the storage Accusys eliminate the protocol translation required by fibre or SCSI connections. The PCIe specification provides 250MB/sec bandwidth per channel. The A08S-PS has four data transmission channels giving it 10Gb/s bandwidth.
The A08S-PS is an 8-bay RAID array that supports 3G SAS and SATA hard drives (up to 4TB disks) providing flexibility in terms of capacity and performance. Using RAID5 and equipped with 8x 2TB SATA disks the system provides 14TB (RAW capacity) capable of storing 8-9 hours of uncompressed HD video. If you require more storage or more speed you can add a second A08S-PS via a dual port controller. This provides 20Gb of bandwidth, 1400MB/sec data throughput and 28TB’s of capacity. Further capacity can be added via the use of a ExaSAN switch allowing you to add up to 7 A08S-PS arrays to your system. This provides a storage capacity increase as the speed is limited to 1400MB/sec by the dual port controller.
The A08S-PS is the ideal single workstation solution whether you need capacity or performance. In modern workflows projects are usually divided between different workstations and operators. The drawback to this environment is the time wasted in data transfer – copying files to the local workstation in order to achieve the speed required for real-time playback. The other drawback is data duplication – keeping track of revisions and who has the latest version on their system. Accusys provide an easy upgrade path for their ExaSAN storage arrays to move them from a Direct Attached Storage (DAS) solution to a Storage Area Network (SAN) solution. Not only does this provide a cost effective SAN which have traditionally been out of budget for many smaller operations but it allows you to maintain your ROI by reusing the existing storage rather than replacing. More details on the ExaSAN solution can be found here.
