Storage / sharing solution - video

Hey all,

I have a customer with around 10 video-editing stations (mostly laptops, some desktops, all Windows XP); the company has mostly avi files (some up to 100GB), and is looking for two things. Firstly, they are looking for a storage solution. Right now, they are using this self-built rig (basically, a computer with some hard drives in it) that they connect to the individual computers (with FireWire) whenever they need to back something up. There is no network available there, so I am toying with setting everything up wirelessly and hooking up a NAS device (something similar to this one: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,2247633,00.asp ). My main concern is speed... 54Mbps over wi-fi isn't exactly FireWire speed... With the laptops, this wouldn't be so much of a problem (as they could walk the laptop to the NAS and hook it up directly), but the desktops...?

Anyone have any other suggestions? Anyone familiar with video storage?

Secondly, the company is looking for a quick way to share (small) files between computers. Should I just set up filesharing, or are there more elegant solutions that allow 10 computers to easily share files? I'm kind of thinking that the NAS could also take care of this (I'd give everyone a folder on the NAS, the sender just uploads it there, the receiver downloads it there)...

Anyone have any ideas? Thanks!

is there NO option to wire a network in ?
then to set up a domain there ?

awkward to sort, easy to maintain
it IS a business
advise them to invest a little to protect their assets

From what I understand, they're leasing the place, and cutting holes in the wall isn't an option... Maybe they'll go for simply laying the cables on the floor!

Put the cables along the wall. 54Mbit isn't going to cut it.. Especially if two or three people try moving big files at the same time.. It'll be fine for the smaller filesharing things.

I suggest looking at a gigabit network, it isn't that much more expensive compared to 100Mbit these days. At least put the server/NAS on gigabit.

I think I would have to highly recommend laying cables on the ground too... or you could buy a bunch of those 3M (http://ace.imageg.net/graphics/produ...-986369reg.jpg) sticky hook things that you could remove and at least get the cables stuck on the wall. I know its not the best looking but you really arent going to get the speed out of wireless.

I think wireless really starts to throttle around 8 users anyway. Especially with only 1 AP and not being a commercial grade one.

As far as storage, the device you were looking at seems fine to me

I guess I'm going to have to suggest wires... not looking forward to wiring a place like that, though :s

So, I guess I'll be looking for (at least) a router with 1 gigabit port (to connect to the NAS) and eight or so 10/100Mbps ports?

Hi

I agree with the remarks above.

As per a specific NAS device:
I like synology[1] products. They do provide some supplemental
functionality compared to the Iomega one. Rs407[2] or Cs407[3]
might be interesting for you.


Cheers.


[1] http://www.synology.com
[2] http://www.synology.com/enu/products/RS407/spec.php
[3] http://www.synology.com/enu/products/CS407/spec.php