Real-Time 4K/2K/HD/SD Digital Intermediate and Stereo 3D...

A key point for any modern DI / post-production environment is the complete independence of the storage infrastructure from the specific applications, and SGO has installed a large number of SAN environments for DI and other post-production market clients without Mistika systems. This is the key differentiator for SGO technology, compared to may other proprietary 'SAN providers'.

Using the Storenext API to pre-allocate consecutive space, both at capture time and when rendering, avoids fragmentation and increases performance in environments where many clients may be writing within the same environment.

The Storenext multi threading API also provides for DPX files to be read in parallel, which provides the unique capability of reading 4K dpx files in real-time directly from an open SAN. This prevents the need to copy material to local private storage, as with many DI systems that use proprietary storage. With such proprietary storage systems, even if they can play 4K in real-time after loading, the preliminary copy process (and the posterior copy of the rendered files) means a huge bottleneck in the workflow, plus the need for duplicated material, doubling storage needs.

The Mistika software also uses customizable pre-buffering techniques, both for capture and playout: In this way there is no need for a very expensive SAN in order to cover 'the worst case' scenario; just to cover the 'average case' is enough. As standard, Mistika comes with 32Gb of RAM (and can be upgraded up to 128Gb RAM at market - non proprietary - prices). This RAM is used to absorb the biggest I/O peaks that happen when several clients are doing outstanding Io's on the SAN, keeping real-time processes real-time, but without the need for expensive proprietary hardware overheads.

During playback, Mistika processes frames faster than real-time, placing them in the buffer ready for real-time readout. A very simple approach to answer the needs for real-time operation.

During real-time capture (from tape for example), the RAM is used to avoid overflow situations.

Mistika's SAN storage can also be scaled up with virtually no limits, and the fact there is no data server (only metadata server, but the disk arrays are not attached to servers but directly to switches, and the switches can be stacked in a similar way as Ethernet switches with no limits), provides a truly scalable storage solution.

Using a standard Storenext SAN file system for native storage, with pre-formatted fibre channel disk arrays, means that Mistika is able to grow its SAN without destroying the previous contents, which is obviously a key point as any DI environment usually grows in 'urgent' jumps, as work demands - which is usually in the middle of a project.

This also means that the purchase of a customer's first Mistika system immediately provides an important part of a SAN infrastructure - SAN ready fibre channel disk array, fibre channel board, Storenext license, a SAN ready file system...), which makes it easier and budget efficient to start small and build into a larger DI operation.

All this high-end SAN experience and technology has enabled SGO to develop a unique approach SAN system design, with SGO calling this an Asymmetric SAN.

This Asymmetric SAN topology is based on the understanding that with DI production workflows there are always a few systems that need high bandwidth for uncompressed material in real-time (Mistika, Spirit Datacine, Smoke, Clipster, etc...), but there are also tens or even hundreds of machines that need direct access to the same material in the same storage, but not in real-time or only real-time for compressed proxies (for off-line editing systems).

This is a seriously complex scenario for SAN engineering, but SGO have been able to develop a real working solution, using a combination of different tools, such as the Mistika pre-buffering for main capture/playouts (even in 3D stereo), asymmetrical SAN topologies, and NAS bridges.

In this way, SGO's engineers have developed a system with real-time clients on one side of the SAN, and on the other side have placed several NAS servers that mount the SAN volumes and export them to the Ethernet network of the non-real-time clients.

In addition, this workflow means the customers do not need to pay license for each end client on the non real-time side of the SAN, which can be a huge problem with proprietary SAN technologies. And interestingly, in the future, if a customer decides to stop using Mistika, the infrastructure left will be useful for any other system using open SAN technologies...

Now there's a breath of fresh air for post-production companies...

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