Quantum Releases Purpose-Built 4K Video Reference Architectures

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Quantum Corp. (NYSE: QTM) today announced purpose-built 4K video reference architectures that leverage the companys StorNext -powered, disk- and flash-based workflow storage systems to maximize 4K stream counts and optimize performance levels in accordance with users specific needs. Based on exhaustive testing with real-world metrics, the new reference architectures reinforce Quantums long-standing position as the performance leader in media workflows and empower media facilities to make better-informed investments in 4K storage infrastructure.

The Need for Purpose-Built 4K Video Solutions

4K has become the primary driver of storage-purchasing decisions for many media companies, but identifying the best storage medium and system configuration is challenging. Given the wide variety of stream counts and media formats used across different facilities, its not necessarily obvious or intuitive what type of storage will deliver the best mix of performance, capacity and cost for a specific workflow or use case. To answer this question, Quantum conducted testing that not only provided a thorough performance characterization but also identified the optimal drive form factors for various media types.

The Role of Flash in Media Workflows

Flash can provide a tremendous amount of performance, and Quantums testing showed that flash storage provides excellent value in media workflows where there is a high number of compressed streams - which can leverage the random I/O performance of flash - and where high capacity is not as important. On the other hand, because of the nature of uncompressed formats, flash does not significantly improve performance when there is a high number of uncompressed streams and may be capacity-limiting. StorNext performance optimization applies equally well to flash and disk, thereby giving users the freedom to choose the infrastructure that best fits their performance, capacity and cost requirements.

Maximizing 4K Storage Performance and Value

Quantums testing involved 14 different storage configurations using six media formats, all under rigorous, real-world conditions - e.g., arrays filled to 85 percent of capacity and using high-quality RGB data, not the 30-percent-less-demanding YUV data often used by others for evaluation. From this testing, Quantum determined stream counts and performance levels for its StorNext-powered disk drives and arrays, when and where flash is the most cost-effective solution for high performance, higher-resolution workflows, and when a spinning disk configuration can provide better performance for less money - ultimately resulting in the creation of four 4K reference architectures. Based on StorNext-powered Xcellis storage systems, these reference architectures are sized for specific stream counts and can scale up as needed to provide additional capacity and performance.

StorNext Base 4K - Ideal for small workgroups working in compressed formats, supports up to 15 streams of compressed and two streams of full-aperture 10-bit uncompressed 4K.

StorNext High Capacity 4K - Designed for groups that need additional capacity for primary storage, supports up to 24 streams of compressed and up to six streams of full-aperture 10-bit uncompressed 4K.

StorNext Performance Disk 4K - The right starting point when higher stream counts and capacity are required, supports up to 28 streams of compressed and up to five streams of full-aperture 10-bit uncompressed 4K.

StorNext All Flash 4K - Providing maximum compressed stream counts and uncompressed support for high-value content production, supports up to 66 streams of compressed and up to six streams of full-aperture 10-bit uncompressed 4K. This all flash configuration will be on display in Quantums booth at the 2017 NAB Show.

StorNext 4K Reference Architectures

Supporting Quotes

Nick Gold, Chief Revenue Officer, Chesapeake Systems

Weve represented Quantum to our customers for years based on their technological strength and expertise in media workflows. Im excited about the companys 4K testing and new StorNext-powered reference architectures because my clients will appreciate that my recommendations are based on real-world data. Thats extremely valuable.

Dave Frederick, Senior Director of Media and Entertainment, Quantum

We have completed exhaustive testing of 4K media workflows and applications, arguably gaining the industrys best view of how storage reacts in a 4K environment. With this knowledge, we can give customers a clear view of the most effective way to achieve their goals as they implement 4K workflows. By turning our findings into reference architectures that are easy to deploy and scale, were making it easy to implement 4K infrastructure and removing doubts about real-world performance and scalability.

Additional Resources

Learn more about Quantums 4K testing and reference architectures: www.stornext.com/products/stornext-reference-architectures

Read about StorNext solutions: www.stornext.com

For information about Xcellis storage systems: www.quantum.com/products/scale-out-storage/stornext-primary-storage/index.aspx

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About Quantum

Quantum is a leading expert in scale-out tiered storage, archive and data protection. The companys StorNext 5 platform powers modern high-performance workflows, enabling seamless, real-time collaboration and keeping content readily accessible for future use and re-monetization. More than 100,000 customers have trusted Quantum to address their most demanding content workflow needs, including top studios, major broadcasters and cutting-edge content creators. With Quantum, customers have the end-to-end storage platform they need to manage assets from ingest through finishing and into delivery and long-term preservation. See how at www.quantum.com/customerstories-mediaent. Quantum, the Quantum logo, StorNext and Xcellis are either registered tra

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