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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Fast, cheaper, better: G-Tech vs. CalDigit

Paul Lee

Paul Lee

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Looking for reliable, simple, plug and play RAID for data rates including uncompressed HD (YUV and RGB) as well as Redcode. I know that these off the shelf systems will not handle any more than 2K and that is fine for now. ANy one out there working with either G-Tech G-Speed or Caldigit's HDPro or S2VR HD? These seem like far more afordable solutions than Apple's.

Paul
 
We are exclusively using G-Speed XL rack mounted raid (8T) in out Scratch color grading suite.

We have been running in a RAID3 config - beating the living hell out of it - it is just fantastic - maybe the best raid we have ever used. No problem 2K, 444, etc. etc.
 
Mark, Why not do RAID5? It would seem to give you faster write times with the same security. Only downtime would be the rewrite if one drive failed.
 
Pywl said:
Mark, Why not do RAID5? It would seem to give you faster write times with the same security. Only downtime would be the rewrite if one drive failed.
Click to expand...

Pywl -

Below is an explanation I clipped from the web - I am on Raid 5 on my Xserves (on my FCP systems) - lots of folks told us we should consider Raid 3 - so far, we are very, very happy - do you know of a significant advantage to using RAID 5 over RAID 3??

"Where RAID-3 shines is in sequential reads and, to a lesser extent, in sequential writes. In fact, it's actually faster than RAID-5 on sequential reads and writes, and nearly as fast as RAID-0 (striping), with the advantage of data protection. This means that in applications where large files comprise all of the workload, RAID-3 is a good choice.

Not surprisingly, RAID-3 is most common in applications like streaming media, graphics and video editing, in which the files are very large and the storage medium must keep up with system speed.

A RAID-3 array tolerates the loss of any single drive and most modern RAID-3 systems support hot spares and automatic rebuilding. While performance doesn't degrade much in the event of a single-disk failure, rebuilding the array can take hours, as the blocks are checked and the bad ones reconstructed.

RAID-3 requires at least three disks (two for data and one for parity) and at least a medium level controller.

Generally speaking, any application that reads and writes large files sequentially is a good candidate for RAID-3."
 
Mark,Is your RAID SCSI or Fibre? We currently have Xserve RAID and have found it finiky with fibre.

Paul
 
Paul,

What kind of problems are you having with your XSRAID?
 
Jeff,
We have a unit with both chanels stripped together and every now and then we get a LIP error/reset and the Mac ejects the volume. We may have had a dirty connector, but it has us a little spooked. I am looking forward to direct attached storage in which no software/OS stripping is needed.

Paul
 
Hmm... Yeah, my first thought would be a dirty or damaged connector or cabling problem. But it could be lots of other things like a bad controller or even a bad power supply. Does the RAID unit reset when it gets ejected/disconnected?

I asked because I initially had problems with my Xserve RAID system and it turned out to be a problem cable. Mine wouldn't eject the volume, it would just hang. I would be in the middle of copying a file or something and it would just stop and finally time-out after several minutes.
 
This particular unit is older. It will unmount and a reboot of the systems brings it right back. Never had one lock-up.
 
Maybe a bad cable or connection?

Maybe a bad cable or connection?

Sort of sounds like that if it's just falling off the desktop. I had some bad FireWire drives that did this, and it was the connector on the drive that caused it... LaCie stuff... yikes...

I think I'd take a look at what Cal Digit has for sure, but really look at something faster. Ciprico's fibre is the best I've ever been around... Can't attest to the G-tech array, never used one.

Jerry
 
My RAID didn't lock up or hang, it would act as if nothing was wrong. Just the transfer status on both PC or Mac would hang... And finally time out with an error and I would often have to tell the OS to unmount the RAID volume and then re-mount n order to keep using it.

Anyway Paul, I'd definitely try a new set of cables if it's not too much trouble. I suppose it also depends on how you have it connected. Does the RAID connect to a FC switch for multiple systems? Or is it directly tied right to a specific system? I'm assuming the latter based on what you've said. But if it's accessible from multiple workstations, do other systems also eject or disconnect from the RAID?
 
Mark, My memory only served me half correct (better half than none I guess). You’re probably running the best combination for video. I looked further into the Raid combinations and came up with this site that gives a pretty good explanation of all Raid levels.

http://www.acnc.com/04_01_03.html
http://www.acnc.com/04_01_05.html

It shows that Raid 3 is good for reading and writing at a fast rate, but Raid 5 is faster at reading just slower at writing. So I can definitely see why most choose Raid 3 over 5 for production purposes.
 
Jerry,

"Ciprico's fibre is the best I've ever been around..."

Are you talking about the Mediavault products or the old Huge Systems stuff? Don't have expereice with either but they've been around a while.

Paul
 
Paul, you could always build your own, probably cheaper than all these brand names. Just a quick case study...

Almost exactly 3 years ago I needed uncompressed 10bit 1080i rates for my VelocityHD boardset. I bought 4 250gig SATA drives, put them in a case, added a FastTrack SATA controller to my PC, set the set up as RAID 0 and I was good to go. Cost around 800 bucks back then. 220 MB/sec writes, 200 MB/sec reads when empty, just checked tonight at 83% full I get 140 MB/sec writes and 130 MB/sec reads, which is on the edge for uncompressed 1080i.

Reliability? 3 years and going strong... add a couple more drives and change the RAID configuration if it seems risky. You can of course build much bigger for much less today.

Hell, I even got a small write up with my picture in POST magazine talking about it all...

I personally no longer need uncompressed speeds, and with RED coming certainly not. I will break the array soon and replace it with two 750meg drives, or three if I want some protection... haven't decided.
 
Well,
We have a CalDigit HDPro on the way. Keep you guys posted.

We're also a Silicon Color beta house from back in the day so we will be thrashing Color on a new big box soon.

PS Jim: think it may have been a drity cable on the fibre.

-paul
 
Just to update everyone, we have run our first CalDigit through its pases, including a 1/2 hour HD show, and have to say we have been very pleased. Consistantly ran 1/2 HDCAM laybacks without one glitch. Look forward to gettting some RED FOOTAGE on it perhaps as early as next week and will report back on 2K performance.
 
Paulee, if i may ask. How many TB is your Caldigit and how much do you buy it ?
 
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