SAN JOSE, Calif.—Quantum has upgraded its Xcellis appliances powered by the company’s StorNext file system.

The new appliances are based on a next-generation server architecture that includes dual 8-core Intel Xeon CPUs, 64 GB memory, SSD boot drives, and dual 100Gb Ethernet or 32 Gb Fibre Channel ports. The significantly enhanced CPU and 50 percent increase in RAM over the previous generation greatly improve StorNext metadata performance, according to the company, making file auditing less time intensive, provide support for an even greater number of clients per node, and enable the management of billions of files per node. Customers operating in a dynamic application environment on storage nodes will also see performance improvements, the company said.

Quantum says that the 100 Gb Ethernet and 32 Gb Fibre Channel connectivity option allows customers to utilize the latest generation networking infrastructure between their clients and storage arrays, thereby accelerating workflows and improving productivity. Combined with StorNext’s capability to provide the most comprehensive and coordinated file accessibility over NAS, SAN, and DLC architectures, the new platform offers industry-leading architectural flexibility, Quantum said.

The new version of Xcellis gives customers the ability to provide cross-protocol locking for shared files across SAN, NFS, and SMB, optimizing performance for collaborative workflows and the ability to share content across both Fibre Channel and Ethernet. This will allow StorNext to provide even higher levels of streaming performance for video playback, with even greater reliability, according to Quantum.

Xcellis appliances provide a high-performance gateway for StorNext advanced data management software to integrate tiers of massively scalable on-premise and cloud-based storage. This end-to-end capability provides a cost-effective solution to retain massive amounts of data according to Quantum. In addition, StorNext offers a variety of important features that ensure data-protection of valuable content over its entire life-cycle. Customers can easily copy files to off-site tiers and take advantage of versioning to roll back to an earlier point in time (prior to a malware attack, for example) as well as set up automated replication for disaster recovery purposes, all designed to protect valuable digital assets.

Quantum’s latest Xcellis appliances are available now.

RIO DE JANEIRO—Launched in 2012, Fox Sports Brasil has taken the lead in bringing world-class sports to as many viewers as possible, and has quickly become a top sports broadcaster in Brazil. We own rights to several exclusive sporting events, including the 2018 FIFA World Cup—which set new viewership records for the channel.

With such a massive amount of content to broadcast, and viewers wanting to access this content across a variety of platforms, we needed a sophisticated archiving technology solution that could help meet this demand—one that would be easy to manage and have enough capacity to hold our increasing collection of sports footage. Beyond that, we also needed to improve our ability to find content in our archives. Given the growing demand, generating new content through archive footage had become just as important as delivering live sports.

However, in looking to deliver this footage, finding the right content proved to be nearly impossible. Luckily, a good portion of our archive content was on YouTube, and we found that the ability to search historical video footage on YouTube was good enough to yield adequate results. Unfortunately, the quality of this footage was rather poor since it had been formatted multiple times for different platforms. It didn’t take long to realize we needed to find a better way.

THREE CRITERIA

We determined three criteria our ideal solution would meet. First, it had to be able to not only enrich the metadata of our numerous ingest streams, but also scan and enrich the archives. Next, it needed to be appropriately automated and simple to manage. Finally, the entire workflow had to remain on-premise, due to security concerns about moving our archive into the cloud, and cost considerations of frequently retrieving data. We settled on an artificial intelligence (AI) solution, since AI can be used to enrich volumes of metadata through cognitive engine processing.

After an extensive review, it became clear that Quantum provided the only option that met all of our criteria, including leveraging AI. The Quantum team—working with Seal Broadcast & Content—built a hybrid-cloud AI platform based on Quantum’s Xcellis storage appliance. This AI solution connects transparently to StorNext, Quantum’s file system for protecting, preserving and accessing rich media content.

We can now easily index and access 60,000 hours of archived content and live programming, and the AI-enabled workflow allows us to search content more rapidly to meet aggressive production deadlines.

A BETTER BROADCAST BUSINESS

The business impacts of the new solution have been immense. We can more quickly find the archived footage we need. And now that the entire archive is searchable, we’re constantly finding more relevant and compelling footage. And last but not least, the end product is of much higher quality. Ultimately, Quantum’s StorNext-based Xcellis on-premise solution has enabled us to be more agile, cost-effective and productive, and has gotten viewers across Brasil even more engaged with their sports content.

Luis Santos, vice president of Engineering & Operations for Fox Sports Brasil has worked in the sports and entertainment industry since 1995. He moved to the Fox Network Group in 2011 to launch Fox Sports Brazil Channels. He can be reached atLuis.Santos@Fox.com.

For more information, please visitwww.quantum.comor call 800-667-6268.

LAS VEGAS—Quantum will use the 2018 NAB Show as an introduction to enhancements to its Xcellis workflow storage family and StorNext shared storage and data management platform.

The new Xcellis Scale-out NAS platform delivers scalable Ethernet-based storage, combines high-performance media and metadata management to support collaborative workflows. Powered by StorNext, Xcellis tackles data-intensive workloads, including 4K/UHD editing, VFX creation and color correction.

An Xcellis NAS cluster can scale performance and capacity, together or independently, to reach hundreds of petabytes in capacity and more than a terabyte per second in performance. Also, the new Xcellis Foundation entry-level NAS appliance enables greater collaborative StorNext media workflows.

Xcellis also adds aiWARE, a hybrid on-premises and cloud version of the Veritone artificial intelligence platform that lets users use cognitive analytics, such as object recognition, optical character recognition and transcription, to extract hidden value from video and audio stored on Quantum appliances.

By indexing and grouping content, ClarityNow for Xcellis makes it easier to attach exact costs to storage related to specific content and projects, and keeps these collections in the most economical and appropriate storage medium.

With its StorNext 6 release, Quantum provides new data management options and global collaboration. It includes FlexTier public/private cloud access, making it easier to integrate existing public-cloud storage accounts and third-party object storage (private cloud) into a StorNext environment.

The new FlexSpace shared archive feature lets multiple StorNext systems anywhere in the world share a common content repository. Another feature, FlexSync Multisite Synchronization, uses enhanced file-system metadata monitoring to detect changes made to content in one location and immediately update it across related StorNext systems globally.

The 2018 NAB Show takes place in Las Vegas, April 9-12. Quantum will be in booth SL8511. For more information, visit www.nabshow.com.

Read up on all of TVT's NAB Show Sneak Peeks and other 2018 NAB Show news here.  

SAN JOSE, CALIF.—After its unveiling at the 2017 NAB Show, Quantum has officially made the StorNext 6 available for shipping. The latest release of the company’s StorNext workflow storage platform, the StorNext 6 ships with Quantum’s Xcellis shared storage systems adding advanced data management for 4K performance.

With this new StorNext model, Quantum has provided scalable storage to deliver high performance for 4K workflows. A new quality of service feature also allows users to tune and optimize performance across workstations; allocate specific bandwidth to individual workstations; and set parameters on bandwidth consumption. Another addition is the FlexSpace feature, which enables multiple instances of StorNext located anywhere to share a single storage repository; offers shared repositories for public and private cloud storage using the S3 protocol; and provides facilities for protected off-site content storage. There is also the FlexSync capability that provides a way to synchronize content between multiple StorNext instances. Other new features include copy expiration, selectable retrieve, content auditing and tracking, and focused Mac Finder results for improving file management.

With its integration to the Xcellis, StorNext 6’s features can support multi-tier storage systems encompassing flash, spinning disk, object storage, tape and the cloud.

The StorNext 6 is shipping with all newly purchased Xcellis offerings and is available at no additional cost to current Xcellis users running StorNext 5 under existing support contracts.

SAN JOSE, CALIF.—Denver-based post-production house Citizen Pictures works on lifestyle projects primarily for food-oriented networks and digital platforms. So to help ensure that nothing gets left on the burner and all deadlines are met, the company recently deployed an Xcellis workflow storage system, powered by Quantum’s StorNext platform.

The Xcellis integrates components of workflow storage into a single hardware system. Using the StorNext 5 platform, the Xcellis provides content production, distribution and archiving, as well as streaming performance for ingest, transcoding and delivery. The system also offers high-speed Fiber Channel SAN connectivity, LAN, SMB and NFS sharing options and IP connectivity.

In addition, the StorNext Connect is a full-featured management tool integrated into the Xcellis system that provides Citizen Pictures management and troubleshooting capabilities to identify and resolve issues for optimal performance and maximum uptime. It also supplies real-time monitoring and trending statistics.

Quantum is a provider of workflow storage, archive and data protection equipment.

SAN JOSE, CALIF.—Quantum Corp. walked away from the 2016 Storage Visions Conference a winner, as its Xcellis high-performance shared workflow storage system was rewarded with the 2016 Storage Visions Award for Visionary Products, Professional-Class System. The Storage Vision Awards recognize companies advancing the state of the art in storage technologies and showcase visionary digital storage products.

The Xcellis system consolidates data and media management, extending connectivity options and supporting hosted applications. The system integrates components of workflow storage into a single hardware system that runs off of the Quantum StorNext 5 media workflow platform.

Other finalists for the Visionary Award included Aspera Files, Avid Isis 1000, DDN WOS 360 v2.0, HGST Active Archive System, Marvell 88NV1140/88NV1120 DRAM-less NVMe controller, Panasas ActiveStor 18, Primary Data DataSphere platform, Samsung SSD 950 PRO 512GB NVMe M.2 V-NAND SSD, Samsung SM863 Enterprise, SSD, Solidfire All Flash storage system, and Spectra Logic ArticBlue.

The 2016 Storage Visions Conference took place from Jan. 4-5 at the Luxor Conference Center in Las Vegas.

SAN JOSE, CALIF.—Quantum announced Xcellis, its next-generation shared workflow storage system, back in October, now it is ready to have its big unveiling at CCW 2015.

The new system enables users consolidate media and metadata management, extend connectivity options and support hosted applications. The Xcellis integrates different components of workflow storage into a single hardware system that runs on the Quantum StorNext 5 media workflow platform. The system supports online work in process, ingest and delivery, and archives through the Lattus, LTO tape and Q-Cloud services. It can also run through a variety of production and archive options, including multistream 4K editing and extended online storage utilizing object storage technology to cloud- and tape-based archiving.

Quantum, a workflow storage, archive and data protection company, will be located at booth 1049 during CCW 2015, which runs from Nov. 11-12 in New York. For more information, visit www.ccwexpo.com.

SAN JOSE, CALIF.—Quantum Corp. has launched Xcellis, a new end-to-end shared workflow storage platform that allows users to manage production and archiving workflows across the range of Quantum storage systems. Xcellis consolidates media and metadata management, extending connectivity options for both Fibre Channel and Ethernet clients, and supports hosted applications, greatly enhancing productivity in collaborative media environments by integrating the most important components of workflow storage into a single, easy-to-manage, fully scalable hardware solution. Xcellis supports online work in process, ingest and delivery, and archiving through the company’s Lattus object storage, LTO tape and Q-Cloud services, all running on Quantum’s StorNext 5 media workflow platform.

Xcellis

Xcellis helps users desiring the highest levels of performance and collaboration in an easy-to-access archive by combining the power of SAN and the low-cost connectivity of NAS in a single, continuously scalable system, thereby simplifying the storage architecture and streamlining operations. With Xcellis, workflows are enhanced to boost user efficiency, productivity and creativity while also enabling long-term content archives using either private or public cloud infrastructure.

Xcellis enhances workflow storage by integrating real-time and “non-real-time” media production support elements in the same system. At the heart of the new solution, the Xcellis Workflow Director controls shared client access privileges and provides simultaneous client connectivity across all popular network types, including Fibre Channel and IP for SMB, CIFS, NFS and Quantum’s higher performing DLC (Distributed LAN Client) — while also supporting hosted applications. By bringing the functionality of multiple disparate components into a single system that occupies just 4RU of space, the Xcellis Workflow Director simplifies the overall storage architecture and streamlines operation and management. Optimized for modern workflows, Xcellis also recognizes that many operations do not require high-speed Fibre Channel and can instead take advantage of low-cost IP NAS connectivity. Xcellis improves productivity by eliminating the need for separate islands of storage and allowing all clients and workflow automation operations such as transcode, QA, and delivery to share storage with complete transparent access to all assets and content regardless of interface type or operating system.

Xcellis takes maximum advantage of Quantum’s StorNext 5 platform to offer:

• Industry-best streaming performance for ingest, transcoding and delivery, especially important for today’s high resolution and HDR enabled workflows.
• Optimized high-speed Fibre Channel SAN connectivity for which StorNext is known, along with cost-effective LAN, SMB and NFS sharing options, with IP connectivity for easy deployment and integration into all broadcast and postproduction environments.
• Intelligent, policy-driven file movement across LTO tape (LTO-6 and LTO-7), LTFS, object storage and cloud archive systems for an optimal balance of media access and storage TCO.
• High-speed collaboration across Mac OS X, Windows and Linux.

Xcellis users can start with the smallest possible system and scale smoothly to the largest possible system without having to invest in new hardware and without interruption. While nearly doubling the number of files that Quantum workflow storage can handle, Xcellis also enables users to:

• Scale capacity and bandwidth independently to realize the performance characteristics ideal for their operations, tuning performance to the roles of different individuals within the workflow.
• Protect and maximize their investment by paying only for what they require, and eliminating disruptive and costly hardware changes as their system grows.
• Independently and economically scaled performance and capacity, now up to 10 billion unmanaged files, or 1.4 billion managed files in up to 64 file system volumes.

Xcellis also features StorNext Connect, the company’s full-featured management tool that supports users in configuring, deploying and scaling the entire storage system and clients and also helps them to identify and resolve issues quickly for optimal performance and maximum uptime. Quantum is continually updating StorNext Connect, and Xcellis users will benefit from a newly enhanced customer self-install feature, as well as NAS (IP client) configuration within the StorNext Connect UI.

“Xcellis shared workflow storage consolidates client access control, client connectivity and hosted application capabilities into a single solution with extraordinary in-place scalability,” said Alex Grossman, vice president, media and entertainment for Quantum. “These advanced capabilities help users improve efficiency and productivity and meet ever-greater demands in high-resolution workflows. In addition, Xcellis offers flexible configuration and scalability options to reduce the cost and complexity of deployment while facilitating smart, simple and cost-effective growth.”