Pro Cache-A LTO-4A 800GB NAS Tape Deck

Cache-A Overview

Direct connect compatibility with the industry’s most used media devices:

• Works with P2 cards and P2 devices
• Works with SxS cards and EX devices
• Works with CF cards and Red devices

Cache-A Archive Appliances provide the most integrated networked archiving solution in post

• Works with Macs, PCs and Linux/Unix Machines
  Solutions with Avid and Final Cut Pro
  Solutions with Final Cut Server, CatDV and R3DDM

Archiving made easy with Cache-A Archive Appliances

• Application independent - no special software needed
• Easy to deploy - plug and play on any network
• Self-contained appliance is a complete solution

One Archive Appliance for every step in the Digital Content Creation Process

Archive Source Masters of Field Footage

• Cache-A archive appliances are compact, self-contained and easy to operate — on a network or stand-alone in the field
• Ingest footage to our disk share and archive-to- tape happens automatically in the background

Archive Complete Projects in the Edit Suite

• Project files, Graphics, Footage, Stills, Shot Lists — all your data can all be saved in one place
• Multiple versions of your projects and content can all be placed on the same tape

Interchange Content on A-Series Tapes

• Because Cache-A tapes have a directory on each tape, they are “self-describing” letting any Cache-A system see what is on any A-Series tape
• Cache-A tapes are written with standard “tar” format and your data can be restored by anyone with any LTO-4 drive anywhere
• LTO-4 tapes cost about 6¢ per GB and provide 30 Year “IT industry” archival life

A-Series drives provide networked storage direct to data tape.  This solves a critical need in the Entertainment Industry by providing an economical, archive quality media on which to store file-based content.  Every tape cartridge contains a directory of its content making each one a self-contained asset repository that can be shipped around the world and stored for long periods of time.

The content can be retrieved regardless of the application or software environment that recorded it.   This is important for both portability and longevity since the software and OS environment that recorded a cartridge may not be available across locations or may not persist in time for 10, 20, or even 30 years.

LTO-4 A-Series Features

Gigabit Ethernet Connectivity

• Ease of deployment
• Fast transfers – over 50MB/s

Browser based FTP client

• Works across all major OS platforms
• No additional software needed

File directory on each cartridge

• Each cartridge is self contained
• No external database or metadata required to access content

High capacity, robust 800GB cartridge

• Standard IT LTO-4 media
• 30 year shelf life

Metadata content aware

• Embedded support within the directories for extended media metadata
• Support for .mxf, .r3d, and .mov file types planned

LTO-4 A-Series Benefits

Portability & Interoperability

• Access on standard networks from any OS
• File directory on each cartridge
• Robust high capacity cartridge

Content Interchangeability

• Between facilities
• Between field acquisition and post production

Low cost

• Only about 6 cents / GB ($50 / 800GB cartridge)

Ease of deployment

• Standard Gigabit Ethernet Networks
• Works with existing OS platforms

Durability

• Rugged media cartridge

Long shelf life

• 30 year shelf life
• Independent of today’s software environments

LTO-4 Tape Storage Benefits

The Cache-A LTO-4 A-Series drives will hold 800GB per cartridge, equivalent to more than 60 hours of 25 Mb/s Standard Definition or more than 15 hours of 100 Mb/s High Definition (HD) content.   The new  LTO-4 A-Series drives will also provide fast file transfers over Gigabit Ethernet at estimated data rates up to 50MB/s or more.

The desire to go tapeless really means “video tapeless” because:

• Video tape does not preserve meta-data.
• Video tape is slow – transfers are always real-time.
• Video tape locks in a particular format/standard.

Although data tape overcomes these limitations, video tape still has advantages:

• Video tape is portable and exchangeable – doesn’t require specific software environment.
• Video tape has longevity – 20-30 years plus is not dependent on specific software environment.
• Video tape allows flexible and unanticipated workflows – just add labor and anything is possible.
  This is not the case with more restrictive IT workflows.
• Video tape allows accessing content by timecode.

A-Series data-tape combines the advantages of video tape and data-tape without the limitations

• Network attached for easy access
• File system on each 800GB cartridge provides portability and interoperability
• No additional software required to access content
• Format/compression independent – store HD, SD, Graphics, Digital Film
• Fast transfers at up to 80MB/s

 

Hard Disk Drive Capacity

• 2 x 1000 GB - user configurable for RAID 0/1

Connectivity

• GB Ethernet Port
• USB Ports X 6 (2 front, 4 rear)
• eSATA Connection
• ExpressCard Slot
• VGA Monitor, Mouse & Keyboard for Maintenance

IP Services

• NFS - Unix/Linux
• SMB/CIFS - Windows
• afp - MacOS
• Bonjour / ZeroConf
• FTP
• HTTP for status, management, configuration and file transfer control
• "Support-Connect" for full remote service capability

Dimensions

• 5.25" (3 RU) x 8.5" x 14.5"

Pro-Cache Rack kits allow rack mounting of one unit on the right or left side or two units side by side.