Unity ISIS
Encyclopedia
Avid Unity ISIS is a storage system for video files used by television
broadcasters developed by Avid Technology
. ISIS stands for "Infinitely Scalable Intelligent Storage."
of bandwidth
for each engine, and 10 gigabyte
connectivity, allowing uncompressed
files. 330 clients can use the system at once, with total storage of 384 terabytes
, or 196 terabytes capable of being used with mirror mode, meaning that data is always stored twice, but in random locations rather than using specific pairs of drives. This is sufficient for 430 hours of uncompressed HD
or 8300 hours of compressed 50-megabyte-per-second HD.
"Infinitely scalable," according to David Schleifer, Avid vice president for technology and work groups, means that, in theory, storage is unlimited because individual systems can be linked
to each other. Each time a new system is added, he says, the data moves from the existing system to the new system in such a way that the two systems have the same amount of information. "Intelligent Storage" refers to advancing beyond the idea that a central server
must be accessed each time a file is desired. This type of system limits the number of users at a time. Senior product manager Andy Dale says 16 "blades
," or circuit boards, make it possible for many users to access the system at once. The system components--engines, switch blades, storage blades, and power/cooling units--can be changed without work stopping. Individual units can make decisions themselves, improving productivity for the entire system.
Since broadcasters need their video files at all times in a world of 24-hour news, and since there are more of them needing such access, the ability to retrieve such files instantly is no longer a luxury. Sharing of systems cuts costs and allows data to be backed up in the event a possible problem is detected.
planned to use the system as it upgraded to a digital newsroom
concept. Competitors at the time with smaller systems included Quantel
, Grass Valley
and Omneon
.
In January 2007, WBZ-TV
in Boston, Massachusetts switched to a tapeless system, using a 64-terabyte ISIS system capable of storing 2200 hours of content.
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
broadcasters developed by Avid Technology
Avid Technology
Avid Technology, Inc. is an American company specializing in video and audio production technology; specifically, digital non-linear editing systems, management and distribution services. It was created in 1987 and became a publicly traded company in 1993...
. ISIS stands for "Infinitely Scalable Intelligent Storage."
Capabilities
Isis Version 2.0 has 400 megabytesMegabyte
The megabyte is a multiple of the unit byte for digital information storage or transmission with two different values depending on context: bytes generally for computer memory; and one million bytes generally for computer storage. The IEEE Standards Board has decided that "Mega will mean 1 000...
of bandwidth
Bandwidth (computing)
In computer networking and computer science, bandwidth, network bandwidth, data bandwidth, or digital bandwidth is a measure of available or consumed data communication resources expressed in bits/second or multiples of it .Note that in textbooks on wireless communications, modem data transmission,...
for each engine, and 10 gigabyte
Gigabyte
The gigabyte is a multiple of the unit byte for digital information storage. The prefix giga means 109 in the International System of Units , therefore 1 gigabyte is...
connectivity, allowing uncompressed
Data compression
In computer science and information theory, data compression, source coding or bit-rate reduction is the process of encoding information using fewer bits than the original representation would use....
files. 330 clients can use the system at once, with total storage of 384 terabytes
Terabyte
The terabyte is a multiple of the unit byte for digital information. The prefix tera means 1012 in the International System of Units , and therefore 1 terabyte is , or 1 trillion bytes, or 1000 gigabytes. 1 terabyte in binary prefixes is 0.9095 tebibytes, or 931.32 gibibytes...
, or 196 terabytes capable of being used with mirror mode, meaning that data is always stored twice, but in random locations rather than using specific pairs of drives. This is sufficient for 430 hours of uncompressed HD
High-definition television
High-definition television is video that has resolution substantially higher than that of traditional television systems . HDTV has one or two million pixels per frame, roughly five times that of SD...
or 8300 hours of compressed 50-megabyte-per-second HD.
"Infinitely scalable," according to David Schleifer, Avid vice president for technology and work groups, means that, in theory, storage is unlimited because individual systems can be linked
Data link
In telecommunication a data link is the means of connecting one location to another for the purpose of transmitting and receiving information. It can also refer to a set of electronics assemblies, consisting of a transmitter and a receiver and the interconnecting data telecommunication circuit...
to each other. Each time a new system is added, he says, the data moves from the existing system to the new system in such a way that the two systems have the same amount of information. "Intelligent Storage" refers to advancing beyond the idea that a central server
Server (computing)
In the context of client-server architecture, a server is a computer program running to serve the requests of other programs, the "clients". Thus, the "server" performs some computational task on behalf of "clients"...
must be accessed each time a file is desired. This type of system limits the number of users at a time. Senior product manager Andy Dale says 16 "blades
Blade server
A blade server is a stripped down server computer with a modular design optimized to minimize the use of physical space and energy. Whereas a standard rack-mount server can function with a power cord and network cable, blade servers have many components removed to save space, minimize power...
," or circuit boards, make it possible for many users to access the system at once. The system components--engines, switch blades, storage blades, and power/cooling units--can be changed without work stopping. Individual units can make decisions themselves, improving productivity for the entire system.
Since broadcasters need their video files at all times in a world of 24-hour news, and since there are more of them needing such access, the ability to retrieve such files instantly is no longer a luxury. Sharing of systems cuts costs and allows data to be backed up in the event a possible problem is detected.
History
Avid Unity ISIS was introduced in October 2005 as a successor to Avid's Unity system, which could hold 20 terabytes for as many as 60 clients. Unity ISIS could hold 64 terabytes and could be used by as many as 100 clients at once. Schleider said content could be retrieved at 50 gigabytes per second, making HD files possible. CBS NewsCBS News
CBS News is the news division of American television and radio network CBS. The current chairman is Jeff Fager who is also the executive producer of 60 Minutes, while the current president of CBS News is David Rhodes. CBS News' flagship program is the CBS Evening News, hosted by the network's main...
planned to use the system as it upgraded to a digital newsroom
Newsroom
A newsroom is the place where journalists—reporters, editors, and producers, along with other staffers—work to gather news to be published in a newspaper or magazine or broadcast on television, cable or radio...
concept. Competitors at the time with smaller systems included Quantel
Quantel
Quantel is a company based in the United Kingdom and founded in 1973 that designs and manufactures digital production equipment for the broadcast television, video production and motion picture industries...
, Grass Valley
Grass Valley (company)
Grass Valley, previously known as Grass Valley Group, is a privately held company based in California, USA. Grass Valley produces technology for the video and broadcast industry. On January 29, 2009, Thomson announced its intention to sell the Grass Valley business unit...
and Omneon
Omneon
Omneon develops and markets video server and computer storage products for companies that produce and distribute audio and video content for television and the Internet. Founded in 1998, the company is reported to have a wide range of clients in the television broadcast sector from around the...
.
In January 2007, WBZ-TV
WBZ-TV
WBZ-TV, virtual channel 4, is a CBS owned-and-operated television station, located in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. WBZ-TV's studios and office facilities, shared with sister station WSBK-TV , are located in the Allston-Brighton section of Boston, and its transmitter is located in Needham,...
in Boston, Massachusetts switched to a tapeless system, using a 64-terabyte ISIS system capable of storing 2200 hours of content.