Welcome to our community

Be a part of something great, join today!

Log in
  • 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 :)

Opinion's Please... rugged portable disk array with integrated UPS for on set use...

Evangelos Achillopoulos

Evangelos Achillopoulos

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 10, 2007
Messages
558
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Athens, Greece
Website
www.motionfx.gr
Disclaimer... for moderators and fellow forum members... This is a prototype project. Its not for sale yet. I don't have expected availability time frame... Don't ask about price I'm not allowed to discuss it... This is NOT an advertise.

I just want some opinions about the general Idea... I haven't finished the final design but this is a good prototype and its being build for my own work...

Its not for RED I suppose... In the future probably because of REDRAW 200...

So it weights 21 kilos of which the 7kilos is the Peli and the 9kilos is just the disks and the batteries... all the rest are 5 kilos... that was my best... it has 8 disks mounted in shock mounts that allow them to have a travel distance inside the box of 1cm in all directions... it passes to disks just the 15% of the shocks... So a non operational shock in the outside of 2000Gs results to the disks as 300Gs... It is IATA compliant as a carry on luggage and the Li-ion batteries are 95Wh each...

It has a raid controller that allows Raid6 (to lose it they have to fail three disks) with maximum throughput on each 4G fiber port of 360Mbytes/sec sustained R/W...

You can use it to carry 5.6Tbytes of data and be able to hook it on the grading 2K DI suite directly to Scratch, Lustre etc... no copy needed for throughput reasons...

You can use it as on set disk array for capture 2K uncompressed and it has > 4hours of run time on batteries... charging time is 1,5hour for all of them...

The system would be able to accommodate 16 SSD's with blazing fast throughput and additional durability...

Do you thing a device like this is going to be used in future either in the DI/post data move around or on set?

What would be the extra features that I have to add?

A portable Windows-PC/Hackintosh with i7 dual quad with Quadro FX, LTO-4, 2 x CF readers, in the same form factor as the disk array, with ability to work without a table, 4 hours runtime on batteries, with 1 x 16x, 3 x 8x PCi-e slots, an illuminated keyboard and a detachable LED TFT screen... would be a good companion to this as a data wrangler workstation?

FP_generic.jpg


FP_close_up_on-ups.jpg
 
Really depends on the pricing- i.e. compare it to something like the Codex digital. If you can do that better/cheaper you might have something. For my tastes I would never use anything that included a hackintosh, especially if that's my whole show on there because it's a hacked OS with zero support from Apple. So I'd consider making it an embedded OS or a Windows box or whatever. Last thing you want on an all-in-one storage solution is the potential for any sort of data loss issue. And like it or not, a Hackintosh is going to turn folks off.

Noah
 
I really like this and is VERY interested.

It looks to me as if there's an array of batteries on the side? If it is, make the "lithium" batteries removable and each small enough to have as carry on. Then the system can travel on airlines as well. Or make the battery power nimh although then it will most probably be to heavy.
 
Noah Kadner said:
So I'd consider making it an embedded OS or a Windows box or whatever. Last thing you want on an all-in-one storage solution is the potential for any sort of data loss issue. And like it or not, a Hackintosh is going to turn folks off.
Click to expand...

I know Noah... thats my problem... I want a Mac-Pro class portable in this fashion... I can't have it unless its a Hackintoh... Of coarse primarily will be Windows box... able to run Scratch... having AJA Xena 2K... Fiber Channel 4G (FC8G is coming fast)... But on the other hand I want to run FCS3...

Fredrik Callinggard said:
I really like this and is VERY interested.

It looks to me as if there's an array of batteries on the side? If it is, make the "lithium" batteries removable and each small enough to have as carry on. Then the system can travel on airlines as well. Or make the battery power nimh although then it will most probably be to heavy.
Click to expand...

Remember Fredrick... thats it, ready... Yep... the are four slots for 95Wh each... the batteries are hot swappable and fully complying as a carry on Li-ion... you can reverse them on slot in order to not be connected to anything... to comply totally to safe travel rules...
 
Well are you asking for something for your own personal use- then do whatever you want. If you're asking for an item you could sell or rent to others- then I would highly recommend against a Hackintosh as that will limit the amount of folks willing to put their trust i.e. their entire show into this box.

Noah
 
What Noah said -- and there are some reasonably (fairly) priced systems that are coming on line from several companies, one I remember from Silvarado.

In the system you describe, if I understand correctly, the LTO is basically your backup (along with the assumption of a very robust Raid 6) -- so your LTOs can be easily shipped out to other sites for protection. Right?

You may have a particular work flow you're trying to enhance, but I would say there is not a high demand to have an archiving data station work as an edit/finishing station all in one box. Nice idea, but often impractical and there are some compromises inherent that for many might negate any advantages. But good luck. Seems pretty ingenious.
 
What Noah said -- and there are some reasonably (fairly) priced systems that are coming on line from several companies, one I remember from Silvarado.

In the system you describe, if I understand correctly, the LTO is basically your backup (along with the assumption of a very robust Raid 6) -- so your LTOs can be easily shipped out to other sites for protection. Right?

You may have a particular work flow you're trying to enhance, but I would say there is not a high demand to have an archiving data station work as an edit/finishing station all in one box. Nice idea, but often impractical and there are some compromises inherent that for many might negate any advantages. But good luck. Seems pretty ingenious.
 
Looks like a very well built piece of kit, but I agree that the hackintosh makes it commercially 'problematic'

Have you considered re-housing the motherboard etc from a MacPro into your portable system design?

Not too many people have tried this kind of thing, but it may be worth looking into

Some people who have thought about it can be found here:
http://forums.macrumors.com/archive/index.php/t-706254.html

Dave
 
I did some research regarding the rehousing idea...

The MacPro motherboard fits to my system... apart from the power supply... which I have to re-design to take advantage of the battery array...

I was thinking that the rehousing it may also be truly illegal because it can be reverse engineering... you see to make the power supply I have to do that since I don't have the PSU spec as I have it for ATX2.03... How I'm gonna build the DC to DC power supply? Also there is a clause in the license that don't allow you to dismantle your machine and it is also violates the warranty and any applecare that you may have...

On the other hand there is no law system that will accept the Apples position that is Illegal to run there software to any other machine... since the software doesn't have any warranty on the first place (it is sold in "as is basis") and its being bought legibly...

As far as legality concerns the Hackintosh is more legal than the rehoused MacPro...

So if we want a MacPro we have to carry the monster with us along with monitors and UPS... or build a Hackintosh...

Or keep it Windows and have the power of 8 cores plus Quadro FX plus three 8x PCI-e slots free...

Would a tablet monitor be a good idea for user interface?
 
Isn't the hackintosh the same issue though that Pyrstar or whatever has run into with Apple? Since its illegal to house the OS X into any other system other then the actual ones sold by Apple?

Tablet would be pretty sweet though..the new mac one?(if its real)
 
I suggest a redesign to accommodate a legit Mac Pro desktop if you're married to the concept. No one is going to expect to throw this gig into a backpack but I can pretty much guarantee you no one serious about archiving would accept a rig built around a Hackintosh or a disemboweled Mac Pro either.

Or use a loaded 17" MBP, which is what a lot of DIT's use.

Noah
 
Noah, I'm thinking to do a Windows machine... but I will pay special attention and I will do a real effort to BE ABLE to run OSX... But I will not recomend it... neither sell it as such... I will have thought well documented how can it be done...

It will be for those that really want to use it and understand the risks...

For my personal use if it works I will probably use it...

Regarding the tablet I'm thinking this... http://www.wacom.com/cintiq/cintiq-12wx.php with windows pen extensions... and it has a lot of macro keys...
 
Well I'm just thinking, if footage can be placed onto this and then out to another comp...then going Windows and keeping the weight down etc. but the speed etc. up wouldn't be a bad idea...as I'm sure you can obviously transport RED footage to and from a Mac to a windows...
Am i correct in that assumption?

If thats the case...then windows...plus the tablet for an interface on the surface whilst the rest of the thing is housed isn't a bad idea, not to mention the fact that this tablet isn't actually too bad, was using it in the Apple store the other day just to see what it was like...fun to use, needs a bit of getting use to but obviously a few hours on it and its easy stuff...
 
If you run EFI or EFI-x it is hard for Apple to create a case unless the Install was modified or a License was not purchased. EFi is installed as a bootloader before the OS. Hackintosh is just another computer. no big deal.

I think this is a great idea, I build all my Macs from scratch and I'm able to Customize to my needs.
 
Imran Farouk said:
Well I'm just thinking, if footage can be placed onto this and then out to another comp...then going Windows and keeping the weight down etc. but the speed etc. up wouldn't be a bad idea...as I'm sure you can obviously transport RED footage to and from a Mac to a windows...
Am i correct in that assumption?
Click to expand...

Yes you are correct... with Gigabit iSCSI for Mac's... like a footage server... you can use it as the main wrangler PC, keeping all its redundancies, plus all the space to put two Rocket's for real time things and everyone can hook his MacBook and play with its 80Mb/s Gigabit iSCSI...

Imran Farouk said:
If thats the case...then windows...plus the tablet for an interface on the surface whilst the rest of the thing is housed isn't a bad idea, not to mention the fact that this tablet isn't actually too bad, was using it in the Apple store the other day just to see what it was like...fun to use, needs a bit of getting use to but obviously a few hours on it and its easy stuff...
Click to expand...

Yehh, I'm still thinking about it...

Alex Carr said:
If you run EFI or EFI-x it is hard for Apple to create a case unless the Install was modified or a License was not purchased. EFi is installed as a bootloader before the OS. Hackintosh is just another computer. no big deal.

I think this is a great idea, I build all my Macs from scratch and I'm able to Customize to my needs.
Click to expand...

I did some research and some phone calls to hear it first hand, at EU competition central in Brussels...

This is the problem Apple has, in order to rise a case against the EFI style dongles like Chameleon and EFI-x...

A copy from a recent article...

"Apple’s EULA is effectively tying its operating system to its hardware. Antitrust laws make it illegal to have “an arrangement or agreement in which a seller will sell a product to a buyer only if the buyer will also buy another product.” Before you dismiss that allegation out of hand, consider this 2007 case against IBM brought by hardware maker Platform Solutions Inc. (PSI). PSI alleged that by IBM tying the sale of its z/OS mainframe operating system to its mainframe hardware, it prevented PSI from entering into the mainframe market with its server products (which also ran Windows, UNIX, and Linux). IBM later bought PSI, possibly to settle the lawsuit. European company T3 also sued IBM for tying its operating system to its mainframe hardware, effectively giving it a monopoly in the mainframe hardware market, and preventing T3 from entering that market. Linux advocates went after Microsoft for a similar agreement with major PC manufacturers, because it was at the time impossible to purchase a PC without an operating system (specifically, Microsoft Windows). Microsoft’s argument was that this prevented piracy of Windows. The Linux advocates claimed that this was illegal tying, because they were planning to run Linux, not a pirated copy of Windows, and thus did not need a Windows license. As you may recall, Microsoft took a real beating for that (in the media if not in court). What makes Apple’s position so different?"

So what they told me is that the above statement is true...

I thing I will have the system build to accept OS-X, out of the box, with no tweaking... I will provide detailed steps how to setup it... (almost nothing, just run setup...) and if you guys want it you can have it... or else Windows could be, a good alternative...

So no integrated machine with OS-X... I want even sell OS-X... client would have to buy it... its just the machine that will be ready to accept it... so no case for Apple in what I will do... I will also offer a separated service, to install client provided software and hardware...

Imagine, i7 quad core 3.3G... with two PCIe x16 and two PCIe x8 free...

Thinking loudly...
 
Charles Angus said:
What about an Xserve?
Click to expand...

You talking about the OS-X license or the machine?

On the license its a different flavor of OS-X that I don't know the incompatibilities with FCP, Color etc...

For the machine it doesn't have the free slots that we need...

Plus the power supply reverse engineering that I don't want to do... since it violates the EULA hard...
 
Just a quick question, after reading Brook's thread and seeing that the laptop was not possible, do you think your set up would be able to accommodate the esata multiple CF card reader?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top