DDP - Dynamic Drive Pool is a multi-award-winning shared storage system available with SSD caching, load balancing and automatic data redistribution as well as a range of additional advantages including linear bandwidth scaling, mirroring and single namespace.
All of it comes from one box and from one ethernet network - simple. An IP-SAN based solution allowing full project and file level based sharing, it uses almost 100% of the available ethernet bandwidth. DDP is a simple, effective (not to mention affordable) storage solution dedicated to meeting the demands of film, video and audio users. It is packed with the most innovative technologies available for post-production and broadcast.
HETEROGENEOUS DDP CLUSTER CONFIGURATION WITH DDP OS V5
With the upcoming V5 OS, DDPs can be clustered so that when one system fails, all data is still available. This technology enables clients and applications to continue their operations without any interruption. All clustered DDPs are able to act as a substitute for the one that failed, ensuring important data is still available. As data replication is carried on in the background, everything remains transparent for the client.
A Task Management interface lets you specify priority and choose data location among multiple DDPs, giving you control over where your files are stored and ensuring high/full availability. Not only does this technology provide advanced data
availability by using two identical DDPs, it also doubles the throughput as users access them both in parallel. Combining different DDP models is also possible and the throughput increases as the DDP cluster expands.
PROJECT SHARING
All editors can simultaneously work with the same media and on the same projects, freely sharing materials and ideas with no time-consuming set-up needed. This underlying technology is invisible so the creative editors, directors and producers can just concentrate on their work. Avid Media Composer bin locking is also supported thanks to DDP’s Avid FS emulation and it works in the same way as it would on an Avid Unity/ISIS.
SSD CACHING
The most common method of SSD caching currently used is when cache is filled on demand, with the least used data being pushed out. This process is called ‘on- demand caching’. However, the problem with this method is that no one knows exactly what is in the cache and so as a result generally don’t have much control over the process. So it makes better sense that the general rule for storage manufacturers would be ‘the bigger the cache, the better’. However this adds substantial costs pushing up the price of the storage server.
For DDP, while this is possible, a much better way is the ‘pinned’ method, where an operator selects folders or Folder Volumes, where cached files are located. Next, data from HDDs is copied internally (around 700- 800MB/s or even more) and it stays there until deleted.
LOAD BALANCING
The upcoming V5 allows multiple DDPs on the same network to stream (and I/O) data in parallel, controlled by one master DDP which holds the metadata. The master DDP tells all desktops connected to the network where to write or read the data to and from.
MULTIPLE CONNECTIONS PER SESSION
With the DDP MCS (multiple connections per session) you can combine several 1GbE, 10GbE, 40GbE connections for increased performance.
By simply using two 1Gb/s ethernet cables between DDP and a client machine, you can double the usable bandwidth. This means you can playback 10Bit HD uncompressed video 160-180MB/s with no drop frames. Other storage companies need to use either 10GbE or a fibre channel - making their systems more expensive to purchase and more complicated for the user to operate.
BANDWIDTH CONTROL
DDP offers bandwidth control on the iSCSI block IO level. This means that settings can be altered by the user so that bandwidth limits are subject to negotiation between the target and the source. This way, upload and download bandwidth can be adjusted without any loss of TCP/IP frames. Both upload and download bandwidth can be set independently on each desktop, giving the user, the reassurance of having complete control.
WORKFLOW MANAGER
For folder-based Access Rights permissions, the workflow manager has all the required Access Right management tools. Everything – from the creation of users and groups with
passwords, to the assignments of specific DDP volumes for each of them and the assignments of specific permissions for (sub)folders – can be set up and configured exactly the how you want them to work. Access Rights can be set for each folder for read, write, and delete, with every possible combination (read-only, read/write, read/ write no delete, write only (Dropbox) and no access). Special rights such as extending the DDP volumes capacity, changing permissions and making DDP volumes available can also be specified so you are in complete control.
FOLDER VOLUMES
With the DDP, it is possible to assign volume properties to any folder or subfolder; hence the name Folder Volumes. With Folder Volumes, there is one namespace with any number of roots, solving a common problem when editing applications. Other advantages include not having to move data across the DDP volumes when using Folder Volumes.
QUOTA CONTROL
This is a very useful function as it enables you to modify (at any moment and in real-time) the available space a user can see and use for a given folder volume. When you need extra space on a folder volume, the quota size can be increased temporarily and then set back to its original value whenever you are ready.
MEDEIS MAM & PAM: SUPERCHARGE YOUR MEDIA
DDP is exclusive OEM partner of Medeis – the UK-based company which enable you to view, tag, search and share your entire media with all industry standard audio & video applications. Creating proxies can be done on the fly and all processes from ingest to playout can be fully automated with additional Medeis modules.
ARCHIWARE P5
All DDPs integrate the Archiware P5 which is a complete software solution for data backup, synchronisation and archiving.
The standalone, scalable DDP series comes with a free licence of P5 backup for professional grade backup to LTO tapes. LTO tapes are the chosen technology used by large corporations, banks and broadcasters. P5 allows data backup to LTO tapes using a single tape drive; unlimited number of tapes can be written and P5 Backup keeps track of all tapes and files that are written.