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ISIS WORSHIP
Avid Doubles Up for Unity Isis 2.0 Release
By Michael Kunkes
 Screen shot of Avid Unity ISIS 2.0's Index Server. Photo courtesy of Avid Technology, Inc. |
On December 1, Avid announced the release of the Unity ISIS 2.0 (Infinitely Scalable Intelligent Storage) media storage system, a powerful upgrade to the company’s Enterprise-class media storage network system, and one that the company says sets a new standard for real-time high definition collaboration. The shipping date is TBA.
Designed for media organizations operating in “mission-critical” environments, ISIS 2.0 has doubled its maximum capacity and scalability from 192 to 384TB of fully protected storage (192TB when fully mirrored), has added a new 2TB intelligent storage blade that will double the engine capacity as well, from 16 to 32GB. The system also has the ability to connect and scale up to 330 real-time clients through 10Gb Ethernet, with full system monitoring. Avid reports that the new Unity ISIS system, while doubling capacity, will offer a lower unit cost, higher bandwidth to work more efficiently with large uncompressed HD and (for the first time) with 2K workflows, as well as an upgraded 64-bit architecture that increases the file count per system from three million to ten million files––especially useful for customers handling multiple projects online, or 100 or more active users.
Originally launched in 2005, Avid Unity ISIS is a blade-based storage subsystem with intelligent dual-drive storage elements, integrated Ethernet switching and redundant power and cooling. Unlike common storage area networks (SANs), the self-balancing architecture distributes data and metadata so that each intelligent storage element can make instant decisions that collectively optimize the performance, capacity and health of the entire system. With 384TB of storage, customers can store up to 300 hours of uncompressed HD or 6,300 hours of 50MB/sec of compressed HD. Avid Unity ISIS also gives users immediate and simultaneous access to media by combining offline and online workflows in a single system and allows for a far greater number of differently-tasked users beyond editorial staffs, as well as accommodating rapid changes in priorities and timelines.
 Avid Unity ISIS 2.0 Engine. Photo courtesy of Avid Technology, Inc. |
Additional new Unity ISIS hardware and software components include a redesigned interface, a new system director CPU, a new Cisco Systems switch that provides better 10Gb Ethernet connectivity, support for up to 32 streams of uncompressed HD, improved administration though a new lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP), and overall increased options for customers seeking increased 10Gb Ethernet port connectivity.
“The secret to the system is that each 32TB storage blade includes its own CPU, and that’s what gives the system such massive intelligence,” says Jim Frantzreb, Avid’s senior market segment manager. “Also, the bandwidth from each engine has been increased to 400 MB/second per ISIS engine, where the previous version topped out at 240, scaling to a maximum performance across 12 engines of 4.8GB/sec for a total of 32 streams of uncompressed HD or 240 streams of compressed HD.” And yes, he adds, “We actually did test the system with 330 edit systems hooked up simultaneously.”
 Jim Frantzreb, Avid senior market segment manager. Photo courtesy of Avid Technology, Inc. |
Pricing for an entry-level 16TB configuration (formerly 8TB) of the Avid Unity ISIS begins at $124,995. According to Frantzreb, “On a cost per gigabyte basis, Unity ISIS is cheaper than it was by about 40 percent. This is a system for high-end workgroups that are moving around very high resolution files.” He adds that Avid is not unaware of the economic realities taking hold of the entertainment industry. “It’s a tough environment for our customers, who are facing unprecedented economic and competitive challenges,” Frantzreb acknowledges. “Studios are working as lean as they can and stressing workflow and infrastructure, dealing with aggressive project deadlines and increasingly embracing geographically distributed production. At the same time, HD production is creating demands for higher bandwidths, flexibility and agility with multiple distribution formats.” According to Frantzreb, customers will be able to reduce the administrative costs of maintaining multiple storage systems and increase productivity by extending the collaborative capabilities of Unity ISIS to all staff involved in the production process.
“We believe that in ISIS, we have created the first real-time media network for the Enterprise level facility—it is a self-balancing, self-healing, distributive file system based on the Unity ISIS engine, which includes integral storage Switch Blades, Ethernet connected architecture, point-of-failure design and the ability to scale in all dimensions,” he adds. “It’s about storage, connectivity and bandwidth––and creating a true media network with a value proposition that will allow a business to achieve economy without sacrificing quality.”
Storage has always been a key driver for Avid’s technology development over the years. The company wrote the first audio-video microcode for disc drives in 1993 and created the first removable drive system for digital media. Avid then moved away from the sneakernets and into workgroup shared storage for low-resolution digital media in 1995 with Media Share. It rolled out Unity, the first facility-level media network, in 1999. “Even at the workstation level, it was a technology we had to get right in order to have a useable video editing system,” Frantzreb explained. “To date, we have installed about 4,800 Unity systems worldwide and about 500 Unity Isis systems representing about 1.5 pedabytes of storage; we also have about 50 storage and technology patents. As far as I know, Unity even has the only screen credit given to a storage system on a motion picture, on Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.”
According to Avid, several upgrade paths are available for existing Unity ISIS customers, including the new i2000 storage blade, iSS2000 and iXS2000 Switch Blade, and the SR2500 System Director. Avid Professional Services is also offering a number of services to expedite upgrades, including data migration, project management, upgrade planning, installation and media redistribution services.
Also of interest, Frantzreb reports that many customers are using Unity ISIS with Final Cut Pro with great success, and adds that in the first quarter of 2009, Avid will report more formally about Unity ISIS’ performance characteristics with FCP and other third-party edit systems. “Our Beta customers are universally telling us that Unity ISIS is a fantastic tool for taking their businesses to a new level and doing things they could not do otherwise, with the ability to take on bigger projects and turn them over faster. They have more time to be creative and are looking forward to being able to build their plants around these media networks.”