New SGI Computing and Storage Solutions Help Broadcasters and Production Facilities Collaboratively Manage Content Across Their Enterprise, Increasing Productivity and ROI
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SGI Showcases New Collaborative Management, Digital Archive and News and Sports Production Solutions at NAB 2006
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., April 24 -- Leveraging its expertise in providing Information Technology (IT) infrastructures designed to efficiently manage massive amounts of data for broadcast and post-production workflows, Silicon Graphics takes digital content management to the next level with new collaborative management solutions at NAB 2006, April 24-27 in Las Vegas.
Making their NAB debut (Booth# SL3764) are new SGI(R) systems that together serve as shared computing and storage resources enabling customers to create the highest quality content through collaborative management of their media throughout their enterprise:
-- SGI(R) Altix(R) 4700 server, the first 64-bit Linux system with a blade design that allows true flexibility allowing users to configure any combination of blades -- including Intel(R) Itanium(R) 2 processors, co-processors, memory, storage, I/O and graphics -- as their needs and technology change.
-- SGI(R) RASC(TM) RC100 blade with Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) for the SGI Altix 4700. Reconfigurable Application-Specific Computing (RASC) processors can be programmed for codecs and image processing, watermarking, motion estimation, and data conversion. It gives developers another path for accelerating key time-consuming algorithms for Digital Intermediates or transcoding for broadcast.
-- SGI InfiniteStorage 6700, the next-generation 4Gb Fibre Channel high-performance storage system provides 2.5GB/s throughput, making it ideal for digital cinema applications and SAN-based digital content infrastructures.
-- SGI InfiniteStorage 10000, a high-density disk storage system addresses the needs of users who demand massive amounts of online storage. It provides more terabytes per square foot, and fast retrieval of archived data at a price per terabyte that is comparable to a tape library.
Collaborative management solutions provide the next level of digital workflow enabling multiple users and departments across facilities to work simultaneously on the same content -- increasing productivity and ROI.
In its NAB booth, SGI and its partners will be highlighting solutions that address the collaborative management requirements for digital archive, production workflow and news and sports production -- at the affiliate and league level.
Digital Archive
-- SGI and Ardendo digital media asset management solution manages metadata throughout the complete lifecycle of the content integrating digital islands and workflows
Production Workflow
-- Content Preparation
o Pixel Farm's PF Clean(TM) takes advantage of SGI's scalable serving and shared storage products, enabling the streamlined collaborative preparation of scanned 2K and 4K content for digital intermediates
o Pixel Farm's PF Play(TM) is a flexible and powerful solution for film preview, review and approval and offers a truly multi-platform collaborative working environment.
-- Shared Infrastructure
o SGI RASC RC100 Blade is Reconfigurable Application-Specific Compute Technology which provides parallel processing for dramatic application speed-up and integrates directly into system memory for improved FPGA performance and limitless scalability.
o NAS Manager provides enterprise-class file services at workgroup prices, is targeted to deliver better price/performance than typical small workgroup filers, and also delivers enterprise-class features usually only found in much larger and more expensive filer appliances.
-- File System Management
o SGI(R) InfiniteStorage Shared Filesystem CXFS is a shared filesystem for SANs which removes the LAN bottlenecks in data sharing, backup and administration from any data intensive workflow; reduces "Total Cost of Ownership" of a SAN by eliminating file duplication and the time it takes to move large files; and significantly enhances the overall workflow productivity where large files are shared by multiple applications in a data workflow.
o DataFrameworks(TM) offers high-level storage and file-system management software, utilizing SGI's three-level hierarchical storage approach: online, nearline and offline.
News and Sports Production
-- NBA Entertainment (NBAE) uses centrally stored media and projects, which are freely assigned to editors enabling NBAE to deliver content to other sports and media outlets. SGI's solutions have enabled NBAE to improve their time-to-air significantly by using an optimized digital workflow: edit-while-ingest and server-based editing.
-- TV Magic's i/o is an automated non-linear post-production and playout system for news. The turnkey solution will feature the SGI(R) InfiniteStorage NAS 330 for scalable, shared storage and archive options. In addition to the NAS 330, the complete i/o system, includes a 360 systems video server, two Apple Final Cut Pro editing workstations and Sundance NewsLink Automation system.
SGI Systems Integration for Customer Workflows
Also in the booth will be a number of interactive kiosks that provide an in-depth look at some of SGI's recent Professional Services implementations -- real world examples of the Collaborative Management systems. These presentations include business cases and results, workflow, implementation details and the role of SGI products and professional services for broadcasters and post-production customers. SGI has helped these customers implement their vision as they transition to digital workflows, providing them with solutions and expertise which enable them to manage multiple projects simultaneously and get their content to air or to cinema release ever faster.
-- Advanced MXF Content: Completely scalable system for growth and flexibility with true MXF based workflow. The system connects digital islands, enabling content sharing.
-- Ascent Media: SGI server, storage and networking technology are at the heart of Ascent Media Group's new state-of-the-art facility in Burbank, Calif. SGI products, solution design and services specifically address the problems of faster turnaround in a 4K data-centric media environment.
-- CIRIS: By leveraging SGI server and storage solutions with Ardendo technology, CIRIS customers are able to store, search, browse and access video data and other content remotely. SGI's scalable architecture allows CIRIS to rapidly grow their storage without any barriers.
-- Crawford: A complete digital workflow: from ingest to uplink. System can track assets any time, any place
-- EFILM has more than 200TB of SGI(R) InfiniteStorage TP9400, TP9500 and SATA storage for color grading and dust busting for up to twelve 2K resolution films simultaneously. SGI systems enable 2K content to be shared by multiple artists without costly and time consuming copying of files.
-- EuroNews: SGI(R) InfiniteStorage Data Migration Facility (DMF) data life-cycle management software on a NAS 2000 manages 50TB tape, providing a reliable, cost-effective integrated infrastructure supporting ingest, editing and broadcast archives.
-- NBA Entertainment: SGI InfiniteStorage solutions allow NBA Entertainment broadcast engineers to catalog and store all the action from every NBA game as it occurs.
-- ProSiebenSat.1: Extends production storage; Integrates with leading Media Asset Management systems and non-linear editors.
SGI InfiniteStorage systems and servers will also be found in various partner booths including Snell & Wilcox, Thomson Grass Valley, Exavio and Autodesk.
For the latest SGI announcements at NAB, please go to the SGI NAB 2006 Virtual Press Kit posted in the SGI Newsroom at www.sgi.com/newsroom/virt_presskit/nab06.
SILICON GRAPHICS | The Source of Innovation and Discovery(TM)
SGI, also known as Silicon Graphics, Inc., is a leader in high-performance computing. SGI helps customers solve their computing challenges, whether it's sharing images to aid in brain surgery, finding oil more efficiently, studying global climate, providing technologies for homeland security and defense, enabling the transition from analog to digital broadcasting, or helping enterprises manage large data. With offices worldwide, the company is headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., and can be found on the Web at www.sgi.com.
NOTE: Silicon Graphics, SGI, Altix, XFS, the SGI cube and the SGI logo are registered trademarks and RASC, CXFS and The Source of Innovation and Discovery are trademarks of Silicon Graphics, Inc., in the United States and/or other countries worldwide. Intel and Itanium are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.
