DataDirect Networks Announces Multi-Stream 2K & 4K Real-Time Storage Solution

DataDirect Networks, Inc., the storage performance leader, will demonstrate at NAB 2006, booth SL 2985, the S2A9500 Storage System. The S2A9500 storage system, integrating the latest in high performance storage networking technologies delivering six concurrent 2K streams or two 4K streams, empowers users with the ability to perform true real-time post production collaboration in HD post production, CGI, and 2K and 4K digital intermediate service applications. "Our new S2A9500 open real-time storage system gives producers and editors independent and simultaneous access to native HD, 2K (2048x1080) and 4K (4096x2160) film resolution content," explains Paul Bloch, President of DataDirect Networks. "With up to 3 GB/s of sustained real-time throughput and up to 480 TB of storage capacity in a two rack system, the S2A9500 can easily scale to handle the bandwidth and capacity intensive requirements needed in the evolving HD post production and mastering, visual effects, compositing, 3D animation, and digital intermediate space, empowering true real-time collaborative workflows." The S2A9500 storage solution, a lead product in the family of S2A storage solutions, allows post production facilities to utilize the many types of post production systems and applications needed to create in real-time regardless of file format and size. The system works with a wide range of NAS and SAN solutions, shared and parallel file systems, supports Fibre Channel-4 and InfiniBand host connectivity simultaneously, and can use Fibre Channel or SATA disks. It has consolidated and fully integrated SAN functionality in one simple, easy to use intelligent device and its technology allows management of up to 480 TBs in a two rack storage system. The S2A's fully pipelined, parallel processing architecture enabled by high-speed data-mover ASICs and software delivers reliable SAN storage solutions that are easy to install, scale and manage, while delivering data quickly for real-time application productivity. Like all S2A solutions, the S2A9500 has a unique zero-bottleneck architecture developed by DataDirect Networks and removes the complexity, congestion, latency and contention of switched fabric SANs and generic SAN RAID systems. This exceptional combination delivers data in real world situations at least three times faster than existing SAN and at least ten times faster than NAS technology. With its hardware based RAID 6 capability, the S2A9500 can maintain peak sustained performance, even in the event of drive rebuilds or multiple drive failures. "Post production houses are already starting to build out their facilities and are realizing that significant bandwidths and ultra-high throughput are required to take advantage of the latest, most advanced and timesaving digital applications," concludes Bloch. "The S2A9500 storage system will help to accelerate the migration of the HD post production and digital intermediate markets into a completely digital environment, integrating NAS and SAN, and helping users to consolidate and easily manage their storage, dramatically reducing their total cost of ownership and increasing their return on investment."