Pharos Communications will unveil a major innovation in Media Asset Management at NAB2006, being the first to implement Isilon’s OneFS intelligent clustered storage into a MAM system. Intelligent clustered storage enables broadcasters to benefit from Isilon’s ‘pay as you grow’ server technology, expandable up to 528 terabytes of capacity and 7 gigabyte/s data speeds.
“This new technology overcomes the bandwidth constraint and single-points-of-failure that can arise when a centralised server is used to manage multiple storage resources,” explains Pharos’ Commercial Director Roger Heath. “Copying from the ingest server to the Isilon store greatly reduces the latency which arises from multiple transfers. This enable us to deliver much larger, faster and wider bandwidth storage systems than are possible with traditional server technology. Isilon technology has already been tested successfully by a major London-based client and the operational benefits have proved very impressive.”
The Isilon servers can be scaled from a 5.7 terabyte three-node mini-cluster up to the total 528 terabyte 88-node system, all with n+2 protection. Hot-swap modular construction means the servers can be withdrawn for inspection, or the system expanded, without any interruption in transmission.
Pharos plans to offer Isilon storage throughout its range of broadcast workflow systems, including Mediator Enterprise (which makes its US exhibition debut at NAB2006) plus the established Playtime and Playtime Interactive broadcast playout systems.
Pharos will be exhibiting on Booth SU186A (South Hall, Upper), UK Pavilion, NAB 2006, Las Vegas Convention Center, Nevada, April 22-27