| FlashNet |
| Content archive & storage management for media & entertainment. Find out more about the leading archive management software available to broadcast customers here. |
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| Avid Interplay Archive™ |
| FlashNet is now sold and distributed by Avid as part of their Avid Interplay Archive solution. Discover more, here. |
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| StorageManager |
| FlashNet's StorageManager module provides automated data life cycle and media management. Discover how StorageManager can expand the power and performance of your archive. |
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| The following FAQ has been generated from questions that SGL have been asked by broadcast industry customers and specialists. We hope that it provides all of the information that you require about FlashNet. If you still have unanswered questions, however, please choose a link to the left for specific FlashNet information, or contact us via email. |
| General issues |
| Q.
What platforms is FlashNet available on? |
| Q.
What are the minimum server requirements? A. The minimum server requirement is a single CPU server with 2GB RAM and 70GB hard disk storage. For current recommended server configuration please contact info@sgluk.com |
| Q.
What are the minimum requirements and SGL's recommendations with respect
to the network? A. Given that data rates tend to be large (video data) our recommendation for the data path is gigabit ethernet or fibre channel for maximum bandwidth. |
| Q.
Which databases does FlashNet support? A. FlashNet is based around a Microsoft SQL database. For further information please see FlashNet. |
| Q.
How is support organized? A. Support is offered by dedicated support teams around the world to support all time zones with minimum response times. For details on support contract please contact info@sgluk.com. |
| Q.
How is FlashNet distributed? A. SGL's preferred method of delivery is via third-party integrators. We have SI relationships worldwide. Please see our Partner Companies for details. |
| FlashNet |
| Q.
What is the minimum and maximum file size your system supports for
archiving files? A. There is no lower or upper limit to file size. However, we recommend that smaller files are stored on a suitable medium, such as optical or HDD. This provides a faster restore time than tape-based archives for small files that are regularly accessed. StorageManager can be set to store files smaller than 'x' size on media with faster access rates. |
| Q.
Does your system support direct write from a source device to the
data library or vice versa, without writing to a disk-based cache
first? A. FlashNet writes directly from source to destination and vice-versa without the need for disk-caching. |
| Q.
Is your system able to operate in a disk-only environment or is the
presence of a data library required? A. FlashNet is agnostic with regard to storage media and as such will support a disk based archive, a mixed environment or a tape-only solution. |
| Q.
Can requests be prioritised? A. Requests are queued on a FIFO basis, which can be prioritised. The priority can be changed at system administration or privileged user level via the FlashNet UI or by 3rd party applications using the FlashNet API. |
| Q.
What is the maximum archive capacity that FlashNet can support? Can
you incrementally scale the system (start small, increase on demand)? A. There is no maximum limit on storage capacity that can be accessed or written by FlashNet. The clustered architecture at the heart of FlashNet is designed to make the archive completely scaleable. As data throughput requirements increase new I/O servers can be added, which increases data transfer capacity. |
| Q.
Can FlashNet control multiple data tape libraries? A. Yes, multiple libraries of different types are supported. Further, the StorageManager module allows data to be written to multiple devices and physical locations for complete redundancy. |
| Q.
Is it possible to mix drive types? A. Yes. FlashNet supports multiple drive types, as long as this function is supported by the library. All current drive technologies are supported by FlashNet, but if you are unsure, please contact us. |
| Q.
Can FlashNet restore content from a data carrier that has been either
externalised or manually removed from a data library? A. Each archive on a tape contains a co-resident index file, that allows the tape to be transferred to any FlashNet installation, where the index can be scanned and data retrieved. The placement of index on the media (as well as in the FlashNet database) also means that in the event of catastrophic failure the database can be rebuilt directly from the data tapes without the need to scan in all files on the tapes. |
| Q.
How does FlashNet manage automatic drive cleaning? A. FlashNet has a cleaning cycle function which can be set within the Flashnet UI for individual drives in the archive. |
| Q.
Can FlashNet archive and restore any file type? A. Yes, all digital file formats are supported. |
| Q.
Does FlashNet support Partial File Restore? A. Yes, Partial File Restore has been implemented for MXF OP1A format. |
| Q.
Does FlashNet support Partial File Restore based on byte reference
pointers? A. Yes. FlashNet can operate on a byte offset if provided by the 3rd party application. The body of the clip within the byte offsets, the header and the tail are all restored allowing clip playout. With the predominance of GXF and MXF as file formats, however, it is recommended that FlashNet utilities which use the frame look-up table are used rather than interpolation of the byte offset into a frame count. |
| Q.
Does FlashNet support archive from and restore to generic FTP servers? A. Yes |
| Q.
How does FlashNet manage collections (content that is composed of
an arbitrary number of files)? Is each file managed individually,
or is the collection handled as one (virtual or physical) object? A. Each file is treated as a separate entity. However, in the case of e.g. an Avid clip, the clip is archived with all elements that comprise the clip (i.e. audio, video, metadata, graphics etc). At restore, all associated files are restored, unless they already exist on the system. |
| Q.
How does FlashNet synchronize content between systems (replication
of individual files or groups of files)? A. StorageManager allows multiple instances of data to be stored concurrently in multiple locations in the archive. The database tracks all versions, and in the event that an instance becomes unavailable another instance is used. FlashNet will always use the most available instance of a file (e.g. if one instance is stored on nearline disk and another is stored on tape the disk-based instance is used, as this can be accessed quicker). |
| Q.
Does FlashNet support multiple restores to disparate locations? A. Yes. FlashNet supports Y-way transfers using a setting in the FlashNet configuration. Single clips can be restored to multiple destinations. |
| Q.
How do you span large files across multiple carriers? A. Spanning is an inherent feature in FlashNet. Data transfers that cause a tape to fill automatically span to another volume using FlashNet's grouping technology. Spare media are added to the archive from a dynamically extensible media pool as the backup progresses. |
| Q.
Does FlashNet support the concept of grouping, for example to ensure
that all content relating to each other are stored in the same media
group? A. Yes, FlashNet group management is designed specifically for this purpose. There is no limit to the number of groups that can be created, and each group is allocated a data age that can be used to sub-divide content into backup (data with a short life-span) and archive (data to be retained permanently); once the data age of a piece of media allocated for backup has been reached the media is recycled. FlashNet also uses excess group functionality to dynamically extend groups as media becomes full. |
| Q.
Which broadcast video servers does FlashNet support? A. FlashNet is integrated with all major video servers, These include: Pinnacle - GVG - Omneon - Leitch - Avid - Quantel - Seachange |
| Q.
Does FlashNet support broadcast video server solutions where multiple
video servers share central storage? A. Yes. |
| Q.
Can FlashNet support simultaneous interface to several different video
server types in the same installation? A. Using grouping each video server or video server type is allocated its own portion of the overall storage. Restoration of data by definition is to a video server of that type. Exchange of material between different video servers, while possible, is predicated by compatible formats between video servers and/or transcoding to ensure compatibility. |
| Q.
Which post-production or editing solutions does FlashNet have existing
integration with? A. FlashNet is tightly integrated with Avid, who sell FlashNet as part of their Avid Interplay Archive™ solution. In addition, FlashNet also support the Quantel range of products. |
| Q.
Which broadcast automation solutions does FlashNet have existing integration
with? A. FlashNet is integrated with the following automation companies: Harris - IBIS - Omnibus - Novus - Sundance - Pharos. In addition, the FlashNet API has been passed to Encoda Systems and Pebble Beach for inclusion in their development plans. |
| Q.
Which media asset management solutions does FlashNet have existing
integration with? A. FlashNet is integrated with a number of MAM providers. All MAM providers integrate to FlashNet via the API and the level of integration is decided by the MAM supplier: Arkemedia - Blue Order - Harris Invenio - Konan - Media 360 - TMD. |
| FlashNet architecture and system |
| Q.
How does FlashNet address issues of high availability? A. The clustered architecture of FlashNet is designed to provide high availability across all areas of the archive. This includes I/O servers, queue management servers and database servers as well as individual components. |
| Q.
How does FlashNet inform administrators of warnings, error and component
failures? A. FlashNet contains SNMP trap capture and reporting. This system enables messages to be sent to a location of the administrator's choice in the event of failure, warning, error or component failure. In addition, all FlashNet processes are fully logged. |
| Q.
What is the maximum archive capacity that FlashNet can support? Can
you incrementally scale the system (start small, increase on demand)? A. There is no maximum limit on storage capacity that can be accessed or written by FlashNet. The clustered architecture at the heart of FlashNet is designed to make the archive completely scaleable. As data throughput requirements increase new I/O servers can be added, which increases data transfer capacity. |
| Q.
How do you handle large load or volumes? Do you offer a way to distribute
components over multiple servers? A. FlashNet6 is based around a clustered architecture, which allows infinite scalability in the archive. Workloads are distributed evenly across I/O servers, and new servers can be 'bolted-on' as required. See FlashNet for further details. |
| Q.
How does FlashNet control multiple tape drives? A. In a FlashNet cluster, all I/O servers are connected to every tape drive in all libraries. Drives are not controlled by a single server. Data transfers are queued until a drive is available, then the least-used I/O server executes the data transfer to the available drive. |
| StorageManager |
| Q.
Which kind of content storage and migration rules does FlashNet support? A. Data copy and movement within the archive is provided by the LifeCycle function of the StorageManager module. LifeCycle allows content to be moved or copied across media types based on user defined rules. Rules can be based on several criteria: size, time since used and age. |
| Q.
Does FlashNet offer tape defragmentation? A. Yes. The StorageManager module contains a Defrag utility, which analyses media for deleted data based on user-defined rules. Useful data on fragmented media is transferred to other media, and the original media are recycled into the FlashNet media pool for use in day-to-day archive operations. |
| Q.
How much disk space is required to support defragmentation? A. The required space for the defrag cache is dependent on the size of the archives being defragged. As a general rule, the cache should be at least as big as the largest archive to be defragged. |
| Q.
Which means does FlashNet provide to interrupt or delay defragmentation
in order to perform more important tasks? A. Defrag can be set to run in 'quiet' periods, as defined by the administrator. Defrag processes can also be interrupted by the administrator. |
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