Solution Brief: Using a XenData Digital Video Archive with Grass Valley STRATUS Contents 1. About Us 2. Introduction 3. XenData GV STRATUS Configuration 4. Benefits from XenData s Commitment to Standards 5. XenData Functionality 6. Contact Information Copyright 2015 XenData Limited. All rights reserved. XenData is a registered trademark of XenData Limited Last updated: December 9, 2015
1. About Us XenData was founded in 2001 and is a leading provider of professional digital archive solutions focused on the needs of the media and entertainment industry. Our mission is simple: to provide the best digital video archiving solutions to our customers at competitive prices. We are committed to customer service and to our reliable high performance products. Our digital video archives are installed in over 50 countries, especially at TV stations, video production companies, postproduction organizations and the media departments of large corporations and government organizations. Our offices are located in Walnut Creek, California, USA and in Cambridge, UK. We provide both pre-sales support and post-sales customer support from each location. Walnut Creek, CA Cambridge, UK Using a XenData Digital Video Archive with Grass Valley STRATUS 2
2. Introduction The Grass Valley (GV) STRATUS media workflow application framework is a complete and versatile application environment for nonlinear media production. XenData provides digital video archive systems that deliver high performance and are based on IT standards. XenData s SX-520 Series of archive servers manage an LTO or Sony Optical Disc (ODA) robotic library, creating a digital video archive which interfaces with Grass Valley via the generic FTP Managed Device Interface (MDI). Interacting with K2 media servers and a XenData archive, GV STRATUS provides a unified, expandable foundation for new applications and workflows. This document gives information about how a XenData archive works in a Grass Valley environment. 3. XenData GV STRATUS Configuration Elements Grass Valley System: o o o STRATUS Core Server: an Archive and Restore License must be available on the MediaFrame server. STRATUS Core Server manages transfers between the K2 SAN and the XenData Archive. STRATUS Clients: must have Archive and Restore capability. All content of the MDI or the Paths (FTP) specified is accessible through the Browse application. K2 Server. XenData Archive: o SX-520 Series Archive Server with an FTP server enabled. o LTO or ODA library. Using a XenData Digital Video Archive with Grass Valley STRATUS 3
Workflow The integration implements a simple FTP transfer workflow process between K2 SAN and the XenData Archive. GV MediaFrame communicates with the FTP server running on the XenData Archive Server to establish the FTP connection. Archiving is initiated from the GV Archive GUI. Content to be archived is sent from the K2 SAN to the XenData Archive as an FTP transfer. Once the content is transferred and archived, from the XenData disk cache to LTO or ODA, it will be flushed from disk cache as defined by XenData policies. The metadata is shared back with GV, which will have all metadata/clip information intact for the Archive content. As the metadata is already with GV, all the content in the Archive is listed on the Browse Client application. After browsing the low res, the required clip can be restored from the Archive. Configuration An FTP path to the IP of the XenData Server is defined through a generic FTP MDI. Any Browse Client with Archive and Restore capabilities can archive and restore content from the XenData Archive. When a Restore is initiated, XenData will retrieve the content and an authentication from the XenData FTP server will be received. The clip will be seen transferring in the Transfer Queue. Using a XenData Digital Video Archive with Grass Valley STRATUS 4
4. Benefits from XenData s Commitment to Standards Standard File-Folder Interface The XenData archive accepts all file types and presents them in a single network share. Files are stored in a standard file-folder structure which can be accessed, not only by GV STRATUS, but via any Windows or Mac client with designated permissions. Benefits: The archive can be used by multiple applications You can start with a general purpose archive and then add a MAM at a later time LTFS Tape Format The XenData archive may be configured to use the LTFS interchange standard when writing to LTO. Benefits: LTO cartridges are interchangeable with other applications that also support LTFS Avoids being held-hostage to one supplier and the huge expense associated with moving away from an archive that uses proprietary formats Industry Standard File Security The XenData file server integrates fully with the Microsoft W indows security model based on Active Directory. Benefits: Standard and familiar configuration of file permissions Industry Standard Hardware The SX-520 Series of archive servers is based on the HP DL-380 Gen 8 server platform. Benefits: Onsite support to 24x7 is available in most locations worldwide 5. XenData Functionality The XenData SX-520 archive servers provide the following functionality. Standard File Interface The digital archive accepts all file types and presents them in a single file-folder system. Files are written to and retrieved from the archive as though from a standard disk-based network share. Multi-Purpose The digital archive can be used with a GV system and simultaneously with other applications. For example, a pool of LTO or ODA cartridges can be mapped to one network share that is used by GV and another pool of cartridges can be mapped to another share which is used for Final Cut Pro archives or P2 files. Standard Network Protocols The solution is optimized for CIFS/SMB and FTP file transfers. (FTP is used for the interface to GV.) Cartridge Replication The SX-520 Series server automatically generates replica LTO or ODA cartridges that may be exported from the library for off-site retention. Furthermore the cartridges may be rapidly imported into a replica DR system. Using a XenData Digital Video Archive with Grass Valley STRATUS 5
Supports Cartridge Spanning The Administrator defined policies can be set to allow or prevent files being spanned across multiple cartridges. This option is particularly useful when very large files are being archived. Multiple Cartridge Pool Support The software allows groups of file to be allocated to specified pools of cartridges. The Administrator defined policies can be used to group related files together on the same set of cartridges. Dynamic Expansion of Cartridge Sets The system will dynamically expand cartridge sets to meet capacity demands, minimizing system administration. Optimized Restores The system restores a queue of files in the shortest possible time. The restore requests are processed in an order that minimizes unnecessary LTO tape movement or optical disc swapping within the Optical Disc Archive cartridge. Repack of Cartridges This copies only current files, excluding deleted files and old versions of files, to new cartridges. This operation recovers space created by deleted and overwritten files. Metadata Backup and Restore A file system metadata backup and restore utility provides rapid system restore in case of rebuild after RAID failure. Alert Module A software module is included which provides e-mail and on-screen alerts. These are tailored to the needs of archive system operators, system administrators and IT support personnel. Comprehensive Reports A range of reports can be run to assist in managing the archive. These include cartridge contents reports, file search reports, recoverable space reports. Any report may be exported to Excel. System Upgrade Upgrading to a later generation of LTO or to higher capacity ODA cartridges is a very cost effective way to increase the size of an existing archive. XenData archive software makes for easy system upgrades, going from an older to a later generation of cartridges. 6. Contact Information XenData Phone (USA): +1 925 465 4300 Phone (UK): +44 1223 370114 Address (USA): 2125 Oak Grove Road, Walnut Creek, CA 94598, USA Address (UK): Sheraton House, Castle Park, Cambridge, United Kingdom Email: xendata@xendata.com Website: www.xendata.com Grass Valley, Worldwide Headquarters Phone: +1 514 333 1772 Address: 3499 Douglas-B.-Floreani, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H4S 2C6 Website: www.grassvalley.com Using a XenData Digital Video Archive with Grass Valley STRATUS 6