Naming conventions for editing machines

[Keith Van Orden]

Hey fellas,

I've recently begun work in a studio with various freelancers, permalancers, full time artists and editors. It's a constant reshuffle of people and workstations. One of my responsibilities is to maintain these computers, routinely run benchmark tests, diagnostics tests, color calibrations, etc etc.

It's fallen upon me to devise a new naming convention for my studio's ~40 Mac Pro towers. Right now, some (but not all) of the computers are labeled Artist 01, Edit 03, that sort of thing.

My question is this; Is there an industry standard for naming computers in a studio full of editing towers? Or editing bays? Is there a solution that you've been using that works specifically well for you?



Thanks for your help and advice!

 

[Louis Maddalena]

I don't know industry standard, but I've used locations in the past. This way if somebody says their computer isn't working, Id know exactly which one and where it was.

 

[M.Halsell]

Was the current naming convention broken? Will the new system require everyone to relearn where everything is? Or will this basically be a symbolic map for IT purposes?

 

[Marc Wielage]

I believe at Cinesite, we used sci-fi characters: Yoda, Threepio, Vader, Klaatu, stuff like that. One problem with numbers is that they initially make sense, but then computers start getting moved around to different parts of the building, completely upsetting the order.

I think organizing the servers​ is a bigger problem, since this is where the files are constantly going to and coming from.

 

[Simon Dunne]

BUILDING-FLOOR-DESK-NAME

LA-0-001-E14
NY-2-014-A07

E for Edit
A for Artist...or whatever works for you. There's no right or wrong....but when you start needing to remote in, or someone moves kit when you're not there, or you need to tie in licences to a machine, this helps A LOT! It will make things MUCH easier in the long run.

Write up your standard, implement it and STICK to it. Same for networked printers etc.

 

[Hans von Sonntag]

From an IT perspective it makes sense to name the machines after their IP address. 01 for 168.178.10.01 and so on. If you are into sailing or flying you may want to use the navigational alphabet, eg. Delta for 168.178.10.04 or Foxtrot for 168.178.10.06.

Hans

 

[M.Halsell]

The parsing method we use is department descriptors and the last IP octet address, ie:

- Billing_003
- Editorial_022
- Art_027
- CnfrcRmTV_101
- GnrlPrntr_103

so forth and so. Each department is given a range of IP addresses, soit keeps things neatly tucked in. So the acronym is largely symbolic, but the IP octet allows a quick drill down.

The device descriptor is printed or label on the CPU or printer in an obvious location, so the user can put in a quick and accurate tech support ticket.

 

[Jarek Zabczynski]

I believe at Cinesite, we used sci-fi characters: Yoda, Threepio, Vader, Klaatu, stuff like that. One problem with numbers is that they initially make sense, but then computers start getting moved around to different parts of the building, completely upsetting the order.

I think organizing the servers​ is a bigger problem, since this is where the files are constantly going to and coming from.

Agreed…while the numbers thing logical may sound. Fun names best are.

 

[Marc Wielage]

Agreed…while the numbers thing logical may sound. Fun names best are.

I've wracked my brain to remember how they named the servers and computers at ILM, but I was only there 3 months and they had me chained up in just 2 different rooms, so I'm not sure how they did it there. But Cinesite/Hollywood was definitely sci-fi names. They were indeed memorable. "I've got a render running on Vader, and the backup of Mysteron will be done in an hour."

 

[Jarek Zabczynski]

I've wracked my brain to remember how they named the servers and computers at ILM, but I was only there 3 months and they had me chained up in just 2 different rooms, so I'm not sure how they did it there. But Cinesite/Hollywood was definitely sci-fi names. They were indeed memorable. "I've got a render running on Vader, and the backup of Mysteron will be done in an hour."

I've been in the server rooms down there…not sure about the naming, but the power buttons say "Arm" and "Fire"