Avid Unity™ MediaNet
System Overview
Release 2.0
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Trademarks
AirPlay, AudioVision, Avid, Avid Xpress, CamCutter, Digidesign, FieldPak, Film Composer, HIIP,
Image Independence, Marquee, Media Composer, Media Recorder, NewsCutter, OMF,
OMF Interchange, Open Media Framework, Pro Tools, and Softimage are registered trademarks and
888 I/O, AirSPACE, AirSPACE HD, AniMatte, AudioSuite, AutoSync, AVIDdrive, AVIDdrive Towers,
AvidNet, Avid Production Network, AvidProNet, AVIDstripe, Avid Unity, Avid Xpress, AVX, DAE, D-Fi,
D-fx, D-Verb, ExpertRender, FilmScribe, HyperSPACE, HyperSPACE HDCAM, Intraframe, iS9, iS18,
iS23, iS36, Lo-Fi, Magic Mask, make manage move | media, Matador, Maxim, MCXpress,
MEDIArray, MediaDock, MediaDock Shuttle, Media Fusion, Media Illusion, MediaLog,
Media Reader, MediaShare, Meridien, NaturalMatch, OMM, Open Media Management, QuietDrive,
Recti-Fi, rS9, rS18, Sci-Fi, Sound Designer II, SPACE, SPACEnet, SPACEShift, Symphony, Vari-Fi,
Video Slave Driver, and VideoSPACE are trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc.
Windows and Windows NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Macintosh and
Power Macintosh are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. All other trademarks contained
herein are the property of their respective owners.
Avid Unity MediaNet System Overview • Part 0130-04883-01 Rev. A • June 2001
Contents
Using This Guide
Chapter 1 System Overview
MediaNet Architecture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–2
MediaNet Clients . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–3
Accessing Data on the Drive Set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–3
Avid Composer Products Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–3
MediaNet Storage Subsystem. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–4
MEDIASwitch and Fibre Channel Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–4
File Manager and Backup File Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–4
MediaNet Drive Set. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–5
MediaNet Storage Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–5
Protection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–7
Spare Drives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–7
MediaNet from the User’s Perspective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–7
Typical Dataflow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–8
MediaNet Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–9
Chapter 2 MediaNet Hardware
Hardware Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–2
File Manager and Backup File Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–3
MediaNet Clients . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–3
Fibre Channel Adapter Boards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–4
MEDIASwitch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–4
MEDIArray Drive Enclosures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–6
iv
Keyboard/Monitor/Mouse Assembly (Optional). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–7
Keyboard/Video/Mouse Switch (Optional) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–7
Ethernet Hub (Optional) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–8
Uninterruptible Power Supplies (Optional) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–8
Figures
Figure 1-1 MediaNet Architecture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-2
Figure 2-1 8-Port MEDIASwitch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-5
Figure 2-2 16-Port MEDIASwitch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-5
Figure 2-3 Gigabit Interface Connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-6
Figure 2-4 10-Slot Rack-Mount Drive Enclosure . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-7
v
vi
Using This Guide
Congratulations on your purchase of MediaNet, the
high-performance, high-capacity shared media storage platform for a
workgroup of connected Avid
Who Should Use This Guide
This overview guide is intended for administrators responsible for the
operation and management of a MediaNet workgroup.
About This Guide
®
clients.
This book provides a high-level overview of MediaNet:
• Chapter 1 introduces MediaNet architecture, dataflow and
software.
• Chapter 2 provides hardware details for the MediaNet
components.
viii
Symbols and Conventions
The MediaNet documentation uses the following special symbols and
conventions:
1. Numbered lists, when order is important.
a. Alphabetical lists, when the order of secondary items is
important.
• Bulleted lists, when the order of the items is unimportant.
- Indented dashed lists, when the order of subtopics is
unimportant.
n
c
A note provides important related information, reminders, recommendations,
and strong suggestions.
A caution means that a specific action you take could cause harm to
your computer or cause you to lose data.
If You Need Help
If you are having trouble using MediaNet, you should:
1. Retry the action, carefully following the instructions given for that
task in your MediaNet documentation.
2. Check the Avid Unity MediaNet Troubleshooting Guide for
common MediaNet issues.
3. Check the documentation that came with your hardware for
maintenance or hardware-related issues.
Using This Guide
4. Check the release notes supplied with your Avid application for
information on accessing the Avid Web site and the Avid
Knowledge Center.
5. For customer support, contact your local Avid Reseller, or contact
Avid Customer Support directly:
• Broadcast customers — call 800-NEWS-DNG (639-7364).
• Postproduction customers — call 800-800-AVID (2843).
Related Information
The following documents provide more information about MediaNet:
• Avid Unity MediaNet Management Guide
• Avid Unity MediaNet Troubleshooting Guide
• Avid Unity MediaNet Supported Configurations Guide
ix
• Avid Unity MediaNet Setup Guide
• Avid Unity MediaNet for Windows Clients Setup Guide
• Avid Unity MediaNet for Windows Clients Quick Start Card
• Avid Unity MediaNet for Macintosh Clients Setup Guide
• Avid Unity MediaNet for Macintosh Clients Quick Start Card
• Avid Unity MediaNet Upgrade Notes
• Avid Unity MediaNet Release Notes
MediaNet also has online Help systems that provide complete
information about using the Setup Manager, the Administration Tool,
and the Monitor Tool.
x
If You Have Documentation Comments
Avid Technology continuously seeks to improve its documentation.
We value your comments about this guide, the Help, the Online
Publications CD-ROM, and other Avid-supplied documentation.
Simply e-mail your documentation comments to Avid Technology at
TechPubs@avid.com
Please include the title of the document, its part number, revision, and
the specific section you are commenting on in all correspondence.
How to Order Documentation
To order additional copies of this documentation from within the
United States, call Avid Telesales at 800-949-AVID (2843). If you are
placing an order from outside the United States, contact your local
Avid representative.
Using This Guide
CHAPTER 1
System Overview
MediaNet is a high-performance, high-capacity shared media storage
platform for a workgroup of connected MediaNet clients.
This chapter provides an overview of MediaNet, including:
• MediaNet Architecture
• MediaNet Storage Overview
• Typical Dataflow
• MediaNet Software
1-2
MediaNet Architecture
The MediaNet components enable multiple MediaNet clients to:
• Connect to a set of shared drives (collectively called the MediaNet
Storage drive set)
• Record, play, and edit video and audio media
Multiple clients can access the data stored on the MediaNet drive set
simultaneously.
Figure 1-1 shows the MediaNet components.
MediaNet Storage Subsystem
Client
Client
Client
Client
.
Up to 24 clients
.
.
Backup File
Manager
MEDIA
Switch
File
Manager
(optional)
MediaNet Drive Set
(Fibre Channel drives)
Fibre Channel
network connections
Figure 1-1 MediaNet Architecture
The following sections describe the functions of each MediaNet
component. Hardware specifics for each of the components are
covered in Chapter 2.
System Overview
MediaNet Clients
A MediaNet workgroup supports up to 24 MediaNet clients connected
to the File Manager through the Fibre Channel network. Clients may
be Macintosh
Accessing Data on the Drive Set
To access data on the drive set, a MediaNet client passes a file request
to the File Manager. The File Manager returns the requested file’s
location information to the client, enabling the client to access the data
from the drive set directly. This process avoids creating a bottleneck at
the File Manager.
Avid Composer Products Software
MediaNet clients run any of a variety of Avid applications, collectively
called the “Avid Composer Products software.” Avid Composer
Products software on Macintosh systems may include
Media Composer
Av id X pr es s
®
, Windows NT®, or Windows® 2000 systems.
™
, and Digidesign® Pro Tools®.
®
, Film Composer®, Avid Media Station,
1-3
Avid Composer Products software on Windows NT and
™
Windows 2000 operating systems may include Avid Symphony
Media Composer, Film Composer, Avid Xpress, and NewsCutter
,
®
XP.
In addition to these software products, MediaNet clients also support
MediaManager, TransferManager, and other Avid-supplied utilities.
MediaManager allows you to search, catalog and manage the assets
currently stored on MediaNet. TransferManager allows you to
package the elements of an Avid sequence and send them to another
client system, another MediaNet system or a playback device.
MediaNet Architecture
1-4
MediaNet Storage Subsystem
The MediaNet storage subsystem is responsible for storing, retrieving,
and managing all data, and consists of the following three
components:
• MEDIASwitch and Fibre Channel network
• File Manager and an optional second File Manager
• MediaNet drive set
MEDIASwitch and Fibre Channel Network
The Fibre Channel network is a high-bandwidth network that
supports the high throughput required to allow multiple MediaNet
clients to share video and audio files simultaneously. The
MEDIASwitch provides the backbone for the network and directs
communications among the MediaNet clients, the File Manager, and
the MediaNet drive set.
File Manager and Backup File Manager
The File Manager is an X86-compatible computer running the
Windows NT Workstation operating system. The File Manager
controls all data access to the MediaNet drive set. It handles requests
from MediaNet clients by directing the clients to the appropriate
storage locations on the drive set. The File Manager accomplishes this
task by caching a complete set of file system metadata in memory.
n
System Overview
Once the File Manager provides a MediaNet client with a storage location,
the actual data transfer operation occurs directly between the client and the
storage, so the File Manager does not form a bottleneck.
In addition to the active File Manager, another computer can be set up
as a second File Manager to provide system redundancy. The second
File Manager automatically replaces the active File Manager if it goes
offline for any reason.
MediaNet Drive Set
The MediaNet drive set consists of a collection of Fibre Channel disk
drives enclosed in one or more rack-mountable MEDIArray™
enclosures. MEDIArray enclosures can be connected to the
MEDIASwitch individually or they can be daisy-chained in sets of two
to four enclosures to reduce the number of connections they require to
the switch.
The MediaNet drive set is managed as a single virtual unit by the File
Manager, which greatly simplifies storage management. For more
details on the physical and logical organization of the MediaNet drive
set, see “MediaNet Storage Overview” on page 1-5.
MediaNet Storage Overview
MediaNet organizes the management of your storage hardware by
combining all of your physical data drives into a drive set that provides
a single, large file system.
1-5
To use the MediaNet file system, you must first assign all data drives
in the drive set into allocation groups —individually managed file
system partitions that span multiple physical drives. Allocation
groups must contain a minimum of four data drives, all of the same
size. You can use multiple allocation groups to accommodate drives of
different sizes, to optimize performance, or to improve data security.
Each allocation group is subdivided into one or more virtual volumes,
or workspaces. These workspaces are similar to network drives and are
made available to MediaNet clients for mounting (the drive set and
allocation groups are transparent to client users). Access to MediaNet
storage is controlled by means of user accounts with read access, write
access, or both that are specified for each workspace.
MediaNet Storage Overview
1-6
Workspaces can be resized at any time, within certain limitations (see
the Avid Unity MediaNet Management Guide for information on resizing
workspaces).
The following diagram illustrates the relationship among drive sets,
allocation groups, and workspaces.
Physical (Hardware) Perspective
Allocation group 1
(Drives of size X)
Allocation group 2
(Drives of size Y)
Drive Set
(Data drives and
optional spares)
The drive set is partitioned into
one or more allocation groups.
These are transparent to the
user, who sees only one or
more available workspaces.
Logical (User) Perspective
Workspaces
of various sizes
Workspaces
System Overview
Protection
Data integrity can be ensured by optionally protecting workspaces.
Protection involves a redundant configuration in which files written to
protected workspaces are duplicated on more than one drive. This
allows a protected workspace to be quickly repaired with no data loss
if a drive fails. A protected workspace uses twice as much storage
space as an unprotected workspace.
Spare Drives
The MediaNet drive set may also include spare drives that can be
swapped for bad data drives in the event of a drive failure.
MediaNet from the User’s Perspective
MediaNet clients mount workspaces through the Network
Neighborhood, in Windows clients, or the Chooser, on Macintosh
clients.
1-7
Multiple MediaNet clients can be connected to the same workspace
concurrently. This allows multiple clients to access the same media
and to start using it after it has been written to a workspace.
MediaNet Storage Overview
1-8
Typical Dataflow
The following diagram traces the flow of data from a MediaNet client
request through to data retrieval. Each of the numbered steps in the
diagram is described in more detail following the illustration.
Client
Client
Client
2
Client
.
.
Up to 24 clients
.
1
Backup File
Manager
MEDIA
Switch
3
Manager
1
File
(optional)
3
2
MediaNet Drive Set
(Fibre Channel Drives)
Fibre Channel network connections
1. The MediaNet client issues a request to the File Manager through
the MEDIASwitch.
2. The File Manager locates the requested file in its cached copy of
the file system metadata and passes its location information back
to the MediaNet client.
3. Using the location information it received from the File Manager,
the client retrieves the data it needs from the drive set, through the
MEDIASwitch.
System Overview
n
After the MediaNet client has received the location information, the File
Manager is no longer involved and the client retrieves the data directly from
the drive set. This process avoids creating a bottleneck at the File Manager.
All requests and responses between the MediaNet clients and the File
Manager are handled through a messaging mechanism. When a client
makes a request, the request is stored as a message on the File
Manager. The File Manager polls for request messages at regular
intervals. When the File Manager finds a request, it processes a
response and stores it as a message. MediaNet clients poll for response
messages and retrieve the message information accordingly. Unlike
the File Manager, MediaNet clients only poll when they are expecting
responses. The entire process of data retrieval takes less than one
second.
MediaNet Software
MediaNet provides three tools to help you set up and manage your
MediaNet workgroup.
Setup Manager
1-9
You use the Setup Manager to perform storage hardware management
tasks such as creating and managing a drive set, starting and stopping
the File Manager service, and performing drive maintenance. The
Setup Manager runs only on the File Manager computer.
Administration Tool
The Administration Tool is the primary tool for initial setup and
day-to-day administration of allocation groups, workspaces, and
users. It also allows you to monitor storage activity.
You can run the Administration Tool from the File Manager or from
any MediaNet client, in which case it communicates with the File
Manager through the Fibre Channel network. You should run only one
instance of the Administration Tool at any given time.
MediaNet Software
1-10
Monitor Tool
The Monitor Tool provides low-level performance-monitoring
functions. You can also use the Monitor Tool to start and stop the File
Manager service and to set some advanced MediaNet features, such as
resetting the administrator’s password. The Monitor Tool runs only on
the File Manager computer.
n
The Avid Unity MediaNet Management Guide provides detailed
information on using each of these tools. In addition, each tool has its own
help system.
System Overview
CHAPTER 2
MediaNet Hardware
This chapter provides hardware details for the MediaNet components.
For more information on component functionality, see Chapter 1,
“System Overview.”
This chapter includes:
• Hardware Overview
• File Manager and Backup File Manager
• MediaNet Clients
• Fibre Channel Adapter Boards
•MEDIASwitch
• MEDIArray Drive Enclosures
• Keyboard/Monitor/Mouse Assembly (Optional)
• Keyboard/Video/Mouse Switch (Optional)
• Ethernet Hub (Optional)
• Uninterruptible Power Supplies (Optional)
2-2
Hardware Overview
A MediaNet workgroup contains a number of interconnected
components, customized to the needs of the organization using it. A
typical MediaNet workgroup contains:
• One Windows NT system that functions as the File Manager
• An optional second Windows NT system that functions as a
backup to the active File Manager
• One Fibre Channel adapter board each for the File Manager and
the backup File Manager
• One MediaNet client kit for each client, containing a Fibre Channel
adapter board, client software, and user documentation
• One or two MEDIASwitches for connecting the File Manager and
the MediaNet clients to the storage subsystem
• One or more MEDIArray drive enclosures that contain the disk
drives
c
n
MediaNet Hardware
• One keyboard/monitor/mouse unit to control the File Manager
and the clients (optional)
• One keyboard/video/mouse switch (optional)
• An Ethernet hub (optional) to connect the File Manager to the
MEDIASwitch
• Several uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) to manage power to
the File Manager and the MediaNet storage (optional)
Be careful not to lose the application key that came with your Avid
Composer Products software. Your MediaNet clients will not
function without it. If you lose the application key, you must
purchase another one from Avid.
Client systems are not supplied as part of the MediaNet package. They must
be purchased separately.
File Manager and Backup File Manager
The File Manager is a rack-mountable, dual-processor computer
running the Windows NT Workstation operating system.
The File Manager maintains the storage location information for the
drive set by caching a complete set of file system metadata in memory.
To ensure the integrity of this metadata, the File Manager uses
error-correcting (ECC) memory and periodically writes three complete
copies of the metadata to multiple drives in the storage subsystem.
The metadata is also written to the drive set when the File Manager
service is shut down.
In addition to the active File Manager, another computer can be set up
as a second File Manager to automatically pick up for the active File
Manager if it goes offline for any reason.
2-3
MediaNet Clients
A MediaNet workgroup supports up to 24 MediaNet clients. Clients
may be Macintosh, Windows NT or Windows 2000 systems. MediaNet
clients run a variety of Avid applications, collectively known as the
Avid Composer Products software.
Avid Composer Products software for Windows NT requires Windows
NT Workstation Version 4.0 with Service Pack 5 or 6a. Avid Composer
Products software for Windows 2000 requires Windows 2000
Professional with Service Pack 1.
Macintosh clients have a greater variety of configurations than
Windows clients. Each version of Avid Composer Products software
has a specific Macintosh configuration that it runs on. These
configurations use either a Power Macintosh
Processor speeds and Mac OS versions are also dictated by the version
of Avid Composer Products software you are running.
®
9500, 9600, G3, or G4.
File Manager and Backup File Manager
2-4
For complete details on the Macintosh configuration requirements for
each version of Avid Composer Products software, see the Avid Unity
MediaNet Release Notes for the products you have.
Fibre Channel Adapter Boards
The File Manager and each MediaNet client are each equipped with a
Fibre Channel adapter board to connect to the Fibre Channel network.
The File Manager’s Fibre Channel adapter board allows it to connect
to the storage subsystem, access the Fibre Channel drives, and manage
and maintain the file system on the drives through the MEDIASwitch.
The MediaNet clients’ adapter boards allows them access to the
storage subsystem and the File Manager through the MEDIASwitch.
MEDIASwitch
MediaNet Hardware
The heart of a MediaNet workgroup is the MEDIASwitch. The switch
allows you to connect the File Manager, multiple MediaNet clients,
and up to ten drive enclosures (either individually or in groups of two
to four daisy-chained enclosures) together. MEDIASwitches can have
either eight ports or sixteen ports, and MediaNet workgroups can
have one or two switches.
Each MEDIASwitch isolates its ports, treating each port as an
individual Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop (FC-AL). This isolation
localizes loop initialization events (adding or removing clients, or
client restarts) to a particular port. This isolation also increases the
stability of the Fibre Channel environment.
All of the connections and indicators are on the back of the
MEDIASwitch. Figure 2-1 and Figure 2-2 show the back panel
connectors and status indicators for the 8-port and 16-port
MEDIASwitches, respectively.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 8
2-5
MGMT
100 RS232Act/Col
Power connector
Power connector
GBIC port
GBIC port status indicators
Power and network indicators
Management connectors
Figure 2-1 8-Port MEDIASwitch
1
9
2
10
3
11
GBIC port
GBIC port status indicators
4
12
5
13
6
14
7 8
15 16
Power and network indicators
Management connectors
MGMT
100 RS232Act/Col
Figure 2-2 16-Port MEDIASwitch
Each MEDIASwitch port uses a Gigabit Interface Converter (GBIC) to
connect either copper cable or optical cable to the MEDIASwitch (see
Figure 2-3). The GBICs are removable so that your MEDIASwitch can
be quickly reconfigured to support any combination of copper and
optical cable connections. The front of the copper GBIC has a 9-pin
connector. The front of the optical GBIC has two square connectors,
one for the transmit cable and one for the receive cable.
MEDIASwitch
2-6
9-pin copper GBIC Optical GBIC
Figure 2-3 Gigabit Interface Connectors
MEDIArray Drive Enclosures
The MEDIArray drive enclosures hold the drives in the MediaNet
drive set. Each storage subsystem has at least one drive enclosure. You
can connect up to ten drive enclosures together to expand the capacity
of the storage subsystem. Each enclosure contains:
n
MediaNet Hardware
•Up to ten drives.
Drives can be reserved as spares to use for replacements if drive problems
arise.
• One link control card (LCC). The LCC supports and controls the
Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop (FC-AL), and monitors the
enclosure environment. A second LCC is available, and may be
required, to support some configurations.
• Two power supplies. Each power supply can support a fully
configured drive enclosure. The two power supplies provide
automatic power redundancy should one of the power
supplies fail.
Figure 2-4 10-Slot Rack-Mount Drive Enclosure
Keyboard/Monitor/Mouse Assembly (Optional)
2-7
The keyboard/monitor/mouse assembly provides a convenient 1U
keyboard, monitor, and mouse control for whichever computer is
currently selected by the keyboard/video/mouse switch. This
assembly eliminates the need for multiple keyboards, monitors, and
mice and allows you to save on rack space.
Keyboard/Video/Mouse Switch (Optional)
The keyboard/video/mouse switch allows you to control the File
Manager and any other computers racked with the File Manager using
one keyboard, monitor, and mouse. You can switch from computer to
computer using the touchpad on the front of the keyboard/video/
mouse switch or from a keyboard.
Keyboard/Monitor/Mouse Assembly (Optional)
2-8
Ethernet Hub (Optional)
You use the Ethernet hub to connect the File Manager, the second File
Manager, and the MEDIASwitch together. This allows you to manage
the switches from either File Manager. The cables used are standard
Category 5 Ethernet cables.
Uninterruptible Power Supplies (Optional)
Uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs) provide power protection
when there is a brownout, a power dip or spike, or a power outage.
They shut down the File Manager software and the MediaNet storage
after approximately one minute of power interruption.
n
Avid recommends the use of UPSs to protect the clients from potential data
loss if a brownout or power outage occurs. UPSs must be purchased
separately.
MediaNet Hardware
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