Film Studio Uses RAIDIX to Protect Digital Content
Effortless content protection! This film studio secures its digital assets with RAIDIX solutions, ensuring safety and reliability for every project.
The organization
Download solution PDFBUSINESS IMPACTS
Sharp Image installed the RAIDIX software on a high-density chassis from SuperMicro provisioned with 24 4Tb SATA drives for 96 terabytes of capacity. “Installing the solution was easy,” said Yousufi. “RAIDIX support then helped us to tune the application for maximum read and write speeds.”
Because the RAIDIX software provides RAID capabilities, Sharp Image economized by using commodity hardware rather than buying a pricey RAID array. Additionally, RAIDIX is more scalable than hardware-based RAID controllers, ensuring the firm can cost-effectively scale out its environment as needed.
“Our artists have I/O performance fast enough to stream the largest files without congestion, and they no longer worry about data corruption,” said Yousufi. “Our storage environment is now optimized for performance, availability, and data protection.”
RAIDIX offers Sharp Image additional value thanks to its web-based management interface. Users can easily monitor and manage storage systems, and view statistics to confirm performance and accelerate troubleshooting. They also configure settings to meet the demands of any job and can change read/write access to files.
For further protection against issues that might impede workflows, Sharp Image contracted for the RAIDIX premium support plan for comprehensive 24/7 support services, including system maintenance that can be performed during off-hours or on weekends to accommodate production schedules.
“RAIDIX is a complete storage solution for any company working with digital content,” said Yousufi. “Our work is always safe and quickly available, ensuring we meet our client's needs effectively and within their deadlines.”
The challenge
Storing and accessing large files, such as medical images that can be a hundred gigabytes in size, can be challenging. One industry, however, Media and Entertainment, works with files that are truly gargantuan. When the resolution of digital content is 2K or 4K, over four times the resolution of standard high definition, a feature film can be up to two terabytes in size.
Working with files this large is formidable. A case in point is Sharp Image, a premium, full-service, animation, and visual effects production studio located in Karachi, Pakistan. Since 1994, the award-winning firm has worked on feature films, animations, commercials, and other digital content for such clients as Colgate Palmolive, the Pepsi Cola Company, and Unilever. Poised to become a global player in its industry, the studio delivers world-class post-production services often on enormous 2k and 4k digital files.
Its artists must store terabyte-sized files and then stream them for post-production effects using applications like Blackmagic Design’s DaVinci Resolve 12 for editing, advanced color grading, and finishing. When two artists worked on the same file, however, the files often suffered from data corruption, compromising production schedules and the integrity of files. Additionally, the size of the files taxed the NAS storage system. The 10Gb Ethernet links between the storage and workstations caused bottlenecks that further jeopardized deadlines.
To preserve its competitive edge, Sharp Image had to improve the performance and capabilities of its storage environment. The firm required faster links to support streaming and the means to safeguard files from corruption as multiple users worked on them. Yet it wanted to avoid the costs of deploying a hardware-based metadata controller, which would allow users to safely access the same blocks on a storage volume.
The solution
Sharp Image turned to cost-efficient software-defined storage (SDS) for data protection, metadata controller functionality, and scalability to accommodate future growth. It also sought 16Gb Fibre Channel (FC) speeds to eliminate I/O latency, even for the largest media files. The studio evaluated one storage software solution but found that it compromised FC performance. Additionally, it was not designed for media production, particularly for 2K and 4K content.
To achieve high-speed 16Gb throughput, Sharp Image deployed ATTO Celerity FC host bus adapters from ATTO Technology. The vendor then recommended RAIDIX for the studio’s SDS solution.
The RAIDIX storage software provides function-rich control of storage clusters, including SAN and scale-out NAS architectures, and supports all major protocols such as Fibre Channel. The software prioritizes data streams and optimizes I/O performance by excluding the slowest drives in an array. Moreover, its patented algorithms detect and correct silent data corruption without impacting routine storage operations.
The RAIDIX software also offers metadata and RAID controller functionality, a key requirement for Sharp Image. Whereas RAID controllers generally support no more than 32 drives in an array, the RAIDIX architecture can support up to 64 for greater scalability.
With color rendering critical to its services, Sharp Image requested pre-sales assistance from RAIDIX technical support. RAIDIX technicians tested the software on the same hardware that the studio intended to use. This proof of concept verified the data speeds that Sharp Image demanded.
“We were impressed that an industry leader like ATTO Technology recommended RAIDIX, and understood its reasoning when we discovered the solution’s rich capabilities,” said Arifeen Yousufi, Deputy IT Manager for Sharp Image. “When RAIDIX confirmed that its software would perform quite effectively in our environment, we knew we had the answer to our problems.”
System configuration
Benefits Immediately realized
• No latency to impede workflows
• Robust data protection
• Cost-savings
• Exceptional scalability
• Around-the-clock service and customer care
How we did it
About
JETSTOR
JetStor meets the evolving needs for data storage, protection, and management. We leverage leading technologies to offer high-value solutions for NAS, SANs, clouds, and hyper-converged infrastructures (HCIs). Since 1994, our customers have spanned virtually every industry, and range from Fortune 500 enterprises to small and medium-sized firms. We support environments from data centers and clouds to branch offices and remote sites.
Conclusion
RAIDIX's solutions allow the film studio to securely store and protect valuable digital content, ensuring seamless access and reliability during production. With robust data protection, the studio can focus on creativity without worrying about data loss.
Another JetStor Solutions
Penn State Turns to JetStor for Mission Critical Testing
Penn State trusts JetStor for mission-critical testing, ensuring reliable data storage and seamless operations for their high-stakes research.
Turbomachinery Company Consolidates Servers with JetStor
A turbomachinery company streamlined its server operations with JetStor, boosting efficiency and simplifying infrastructure. Explore the impact on their workflow.
Burbank Police Dept. Replaces Analog Media with JetStor RAID Arrays
Burbank Police modernizes by replacing analog media with JetStor RAID arrays, ensuring faster access and better data management for security operations.
Storage Correctional Facility Uses JetStor to Archive +100TB of Video Data
JetStor helps a correctional facility securely archive 100TB of video data, transforming how critical footage is stored and managed.
Film Studio Uses RAIDIX to Protect Digital Content
Effortless content protection! This film studio secures its digital assets with RAIDIX solutions, ensuring safety and reliability for every project.
Leading Production Studio Counts on JetStor® RAID Solutions
Uncover the storage strategy that keeps a top production studio running smoothly, safeguarding creativity and powering seamless workflows.
