HUDSON, Mass.—Facilis is rolling out a couple of new updates to its Facilis Shared Storage System and FastTracker Media Asset Management software, as well as new Object Cloud remote workflows.

The Facilis Shared Storage System is now on version 8.0, which includes software-defined Bandwidth Priority to deliver full throughput to all workstations; SSD and HDD Tiering; and Multidesk Parity RAID6 disk-failure protection for up to four drive failures per drive group.

Version 3.5 of the FastTracker, meanwhile, now features file movement profiles, duplicate file reporting and a secure directory browse interface. The software can flush and pre-fetch files and folders from cloud and LTO locations through the Object Cloud feature while reporting the status of archived media. With proxy encoding of indexed assets to an Object Cloud location, FastTracker can deliver compressed versions of facility media to editors in the field.

According to Shane Rodbourn, Facilis’ chief operating officer, these advancements were designed to provide “overall resiliency, flexibility and bandwidth management capabilities.”

The new updates are available immediately and are free for eligible Facilis customers with a current software support contract.

For more information, visit www.facilis.com.  

HUDSON, Mass. — Facilis will debut the latest upgrades to its high-performance shared storage solutions for collaborative media production networks at the 2018 IBC Show at the RAI (Stand 7.C14), in Amsterdam Sept. 14–18. To enable more efficient use of its TerraBlock shared storage and Hub Server systems, Facilis will showcase v7.1 of its Shared File System, FastTracker v2.5, and a preview of features still in development.

Building on v7.0, which introduced a web console interface and some shared file system enhancements, v7.1 adds workflow management features including:

• Real-time and historical bandwidth monitoring of volumes and workstations;
• RAID50 and RAID51 management through an admin console;
• Preferred connection address for multipath networks;
• Automatic load balancing of clients across server IPs;
• Remote client deployment to facilitate upgrades in multiclient facilities.

With FastTracker v2.5, Facilis claims users can get better organized with custom ingest-to-archive workflows to LTFS and disk-based backup. Previews of local storage assets, as well as LTFS and network-based assets, can be generated and stored in a way that makes them easier to find. And catalogs can be created for the separation and security of indexed data and accessed through a new Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects panel.

[Read: Evolution Of Storage Solutions: What Matters Now In Media Management]

“Even the average facility has hundreds of thousands of video and audio files that are often very difficult to locate,” said James McKenna, VP of marketing at Facilis Technology. “By … indexing and cataloguing data with FastTracker, our customers have increased efficiency, and … full access to the facility library.”

With speeds over 4 Gbps from a single virtual project-based volume, the new Facilis Hub Server — which optimizes drive groups and increases bandwidth from TerraBlock storage — gives new customers a way to scale bandwidth through dynamic aggregation, while letting existing customers extend the usable lifespans of older systems.

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AMSTERDAM—At IBC 2017, Sept. 15-19, Facilis, a supplier of shared storage solutions for collaborative media production networks, will showcase new Version 7.0 Shared Storage features for the first time in Europe. Included within Version 7.0 are the new Facilis Hub Server, a performance aggregator that can be added to new and existing TerraBlock systems, Open Storage Attachment that promotes generic storage partitions to Facilis Shared File System volumes, and a new browser-based, mobile- compatible Web Console that delivers enhanced workflow and administration.

Facilis Web Console Mobile App

The Facilis Hub Server is aimed at protecting customers’ current storage investment and providing the most future-proof new systems available. The Hub Server architecture optimizes drive sets and increases the bandwidth available from standard TerraBlock storage systems. In addition to this, Facilis is also shipping SSD and Hybrid systems with 12 Gbps components that are the fastest shared storage systems in the smallest form factor available.

The new Facilis Web Console increases facility control, and improves access to administrative functions. The modernized browser-based and mobile-compatible interface delivers enhanced functionality and removes barriers to creativity. With dynamic bandwidth monitoring, remote volume mount control, and auto connectivity failover, Facilis has advanced customers’ expectations of shared storage systems.

The latest enhancements to Facilis’ FastTracker software are also being shown at IBC. FastTracker is designed for cataloging, searching and accessing media on all attached storage. New features include preview clip generation and global indexing for automatic cataloging of all media assets.

Going into IBC, Facilis has announced a number of major customer wins, including the installation of a large-scale shared storage solution at leading German TV production service providers, nobeo GmbH. Working closely with local channel partner, Cologne-based Speed Systems, they have installed three TerraBlock 24EX/16 and TerraBlock TX16 expandable storage systems together with a TerraBlock Hybrid24 storage system. All the TerraBlocks are connected to a switched 10GbE ingest and logging network and to an 8 Gbps Fibre Channel editing network that supports the entire seven studio, outside area and post production campus where they manage all ingest, logging, service and back-up operations.

Facilis will be in stand 7.B40.

LAS VEGAS—Facilis will announce version 7.0 of its TerraBlock shared storage system—along with new tools for increasing the speed and efficiency of existing installations—at the 2017 NAB Show.

With speeds over 4GBps from a single volume, the latest TerraBlock handles ever-increasing file sizes and workflows, such as HDR and VR, which put pressure on facility infrastructure. It also offers enhanced system redundancy, data resiliency, and bandwidth scalability when expanding the network.

Facilis will also promote tools they are developing—such as newly designed server and workstation monitoring interfaces, a remote volume management console and a more integrated user database—which increase the efficiency of administrative tasks and improve the end-user experience. 

Facilis will also announce version 1.5 of its FastTracker application, which offers a simple drag-and-drop interface that makes it easier to find, view and access any media within the TerraBlock shared storage network.

The 2017 NAB Show takes place in Las Vegas, April 24-27. Faciliswill be in boothSL7920. For more information, visit www.nabshow.com.

LAS VEGAS—At the 2016 NAB Show, Facilis Technology will highlight TerraBlock shared storage solutions—including its Hybrid24 and SSD8 products—for collaborative media creation. Enhancements include increased system capacity and performance, with substantially lower price points across the model line.

While the integration of SSD technology significantly increases the available shared bandwidth for 4K or greater resolution workflows, it’s also important to efficiently utilize SSD in a broadcast or post workflow. By combining traditional spinning disk technology with SDDs in the same enclosure, users can dynamically assign volumes where performance matters most, and they won’t waste valuable SSD space with persistent data since the spinning drives can perform automated offload and mirroring.

Facilis will also show Fast Tracker, a new application that makes it quicker and easier to find, view, access and catalog media within Facilis Shared Storage. It supports QuickTime, MP4 and MXF codecs, along with DPX and TARGA image sequences, among other media types. It also offers custom metadata tagging, catalog user permissions, Boolean search and incremental indexing.

The 2016 NAB Show takes place in Las Vegas, April 18-21. Facilis Technology will be in booth SL8811. For more information, visit www.nabshow.com