You are here: Home Page » Infrastructure » Infrastructure Archive » Emerging trends in file-based infrastructures

Emerging trends in file-based infrastructures

Oct 1, 2007 12:00 PM, BY BRIAN CAMPANOTTI

    

Key to recognizing the significance of this graph is to appreciate that file-based content in any media-centric environment, whether in news or post production, will statistically span the entire horizontal axis and are not specifically limited to small files only. From an operational perspective, it is likely more acceptable to wait 94 seconds for a one-minute duration asset to be transferred using LTO-4 technology than it would be to wait nearly 50 minutes for a one-hour asset to transfer using Blu-ray technology. (See Table 1.)

While arguably insignificant in real-world implementations, the impact of the mechanical characteristics of data tape-based CSM solutions for short-form content can be further reduced by introducing a small amount of spinning nearline disk managed transparently by the CSM middleware. This nearline storage acts as a transfer cache for content moving in and out of the data tape robotic system and allows short-form content to persist on spinning disk for quick access while also protected on one or more data tapes within the robotic library.

Advanced CSM solutions allow content lifecycle policies to manage the migration of content dynamically tuning overall system performance to match creative workflow demands. As an added benefit, nearline disk also provides bandwidth balancing between fast data tape technologies such as LTO-4 and significantly slower broadcast devices, which typically run at less than half their speed, allowing optimization of overall CSM system performance.

The spinning disk technology evolution continues to be driven by the IT industry and now affords broadcasters commodity nearline disk-based solutions. One technology worth briefly mentioning is network attached grid-based storage. These are emerging as the most compelling, cost-effective and redundant spinning disk technologies for advanced CSM implementations, specifically targeted toward media-centric applications.

The CMS ideal

Of course, the underlying storage technologies represent only a portion of the overall CSM infrastructure architectural considerations necessary to design an effective system. The ideal CSM solution must offer broad and proven integration with different types of workflow or application-specific storage and remain open as needs and technologies evolve. Key to the design and architecture of an effective and future-proof CSM infrastructure are other factors, such as:

• Application-specific storage technology support with differing QoS;

• Seamless storage scalability and expansion;

• Support for existing and emerging content and storage technologies;

• Transparent storage technology migration;

• System bandwidth extensibility as workflows and demands evolve;

• Support for content reuse, analysis and other content-centric features; and

• Focus on long-term content protection of valuable file-based assets.

State-of-the-art CSM solutions are capable of connecting independent media-centric workflows into an enterprise-wide system that unites all the storage within an organization and serves each workflow according to its specific needs. In the diverging world of content delivery, the CSM system provides the essential extensibility and flexibility to adapt to new industry conditions and deliver maximum value from an organization's valuable assets.

Brian Campanotti is chief technology officer for Front Porch Digital.

Want to use this article? Click here for options!