SAN alternative

[Chuck Johnson]

I'm looking for an alternative (i.e. cheaper) to a storage area network (SAN). I'm in a facility with 4 workstations running LE.
We would like to run all of our projects off of one drive, without having to transfer files between machines. I got a quote of over $20,000 from http://www.studionetworksolutions.com
Any cheaper alternatives out there?
Any way to fool Pro Tools to let me run off of a network drive? We can run other audio programs this way.

Thanks in advance...

[Cliffy_Boy]

We use NAS ( Network Attached Storage). For smaller setups ( we are 25 users) it does the job very well and costs only a few thousand. Check DELL.

[sikoniko]

hp has an msa1000 starter kit for 15k$. It comes with everything you need for a SAN except the hard drives, and the computer you attach it to. You can start off with 3 hard drives and add to the array as necessary.

[Shan]

Hi Chuck. I was in the same situation as you awhile back and have an excellent and cheap route that should cost you only a couple hundred. We have an Mbox, 001, and 2 002s with PC and Mac sharing the same SAN. Its a multybay Firewire 800 box (we could use firewire 400 but need the speed) and everything is networked thru firewire so that we can work on the same sessions. Also use this great software by Unibrain . Its called Fireshare. FireShare enables sharing any FireWire disk among multiple computers.You can use up to 64 PC(s), Mac(s) and FireWire disk(s) via FireWire and share the same storage using local hard drive speeds. You can create an awsome Firewire 800 SAN for very little. We use it to work on the same sessions, share the same sample library etc. You can even audition stuff in real time in le before you import it. Importing tracks from other sessions on other computers is instant etc. It will make your team very productive. I will never use ethernet again. Firewire 800 Networks and SANs rock.

Shan

[Chuck Johnson]

Cliffy boy...
which model #? Doesn't it show up as a mapped drive (which pro tools doesn't like)? can multiple users work at the same time?

Thanks,
Chuck

[Chuck Johnson]

Shan,
thanks for the info, but I contacted the company and they said only one user at a time can access the storage, which won't work for us...
Thanks,
Chuck

[Shan]

Shan,
thanks for the info, but I contacted the company and they said only one user at a time can access the storage, which won't work for us...
Thanks,
Chuck

I see what you mean. I think Avid has a system you might be looking for. Keep us posted.

Shan

[Cliffy_Boy]

Powervault 745N. It shows as a Drive in our setup. We don't run apps or use it for Protools so I can't answer.

[Shan]

Maybe try this program.

Shan

[Bastiaan]

The system by AVID is Unity. I think it works for protools aswell, and this system just works. I work at a post-facility where they have a nice Unity-setup for 17 AVID-Symphonies, 4 audio post-studios and one DVD-department and it is all handled without a glitch. Very VERY price though i think....