Transcript
Fuji TV wanted improved data storage. HP provided the picture perfect solution “With archiving applications that save data over the long term, there’s a big advantage with tape. If stored properly, it’s clearly more secure than storing on an optical disk or hard disk. There’s a proven record with tape for long-term storage of video.” Kiyoshi Arai Department manager for the Technology Development Office, Development Business Centre and Facilities Operation Department, Fuji Television Network, Inc.
HP customer case study: Japanese broadcaster builds an archive environment with a HP LTO-5 Ultrium 3000 SAS Tape Drive and LTFS functionality Industry: Media, Broadcasting
Objective
Business benefits
Needed to refresh its existing tape archiving solution to take advantage of new efficiencies, product simplification and increase the volume of data storage.
• More efficient work flow with designers now able to perform backup and restore operations themselves, freeing up system engineers for other projects
Approach
• Significantly reduced time taken to complete archiving, improving business productivity • High capacity tapes enable the storage of multiple projects, reducing cost by using fewer tapes
Reviewed existing products in the marketplace and decided to continue with tape archiving, choosing a HP LTO-5 Ultrium 3000 SAS Tape Drive with Linear Tape File System (LTFS) functionality.
Fuji Television Network Inc. (Fuji TV) is Japan’s leading TV broadcaster. Formed in 1959, it is based in Tokyo but operates through 28 regional affiliates. It also broadcasts Japanese entertainment, news and sports content in Europe and North America.
IT improvements
A major challenge in the broadcasting industry is the digitising and archiving of video content. Fuji TV has led the industry in this area. Previously it had used a LTO-2 tape library to archive not just broadcast material, but raw footage and animation data.
• Enabled designers to archive and retrieve computer graphic files to and from a single LTO-5 cartridge through simple drag and drop, improving efficiency • Stored on the desktop, computer graphic files appear in the same way as a disk directory listing, providing faster access to data • Expanded individual tape storage capacity 650 per cent from 200 GB to 1.5 TB • Increased data transfer speed 247 per cent from 144 GB/hour to 500 GB/hour • Realised an environment in which designers can directly access archived work
Unfortunately, with data levels rising by a factor of six over the space of a couple of years, the system had become increasingly unwieldy. LTO-2 tape media has a storage capacity of only 200 GB, making it difficult to fit one project on one tape. Archiving processes had become complex with human error impacting the system’s efficiency.
Tape, as easy to use as a hard disk
Building an archive environment
Fuji TV began searching for a solution, but was determined to stick with tape.
“During the demo and after the simple operation explanation from HP, we felt comfortable with it in just a few hours,” says Kentaro Toyama, computer graphics system engineer, Fuji TV. “Operation is very easy with no need for special training. We felt confident it would be a good fit.”
“With archiving applications that save data over the long term, there’s a big advantage with tape,” says Kiyoshi Arai, department manager of the Technology Development Office Development Business Centre and Facilities Operation Department, Fuji Television Network, Inc. “If stored properly, it’s clearly more secure than storing on an optical disk or hard disk. There’s a proven record with tape for long-term storage of video.” At this point, HP introduced its HP LTO-5 Ultrium 3000 SAS Tape Drive, incorporating Linear Tape File System (LTFS) functionality. It was apparent that this solution could be operated without the need for a specialist engineer; Fuji TV asked for a demo. LTO-5, the fifth generation of LTO, supports new dual partition functionality. HP LTFS uses this functionality, to divide LTO-5 tape media into an index area for recording file names, data size and storage location and a data storage area. HP LTFS makes tape self describing, file-based, and easy-to-use providing users with the ability to use standard file operations on tape media for accessing, managing and sharing files with an interface that behaves just like a hard disk. Also, with LTO-5, tape storage capacity is significantly expanded to up to 1.5 TB of uncompressed data. The uncompressed data transfer speed is also accelerated from LTO-2’s 144 GB/hour to LTO-5’s 500 GB/hour.
Before introduction Previously, a system engineer would receive a request to backup to, or retrieve from, a tape device. The file would be copied from a file server to a backup server, and from there, dedicated software would be used to write or restore the file to/from a tape. Under the new system, the designers themselves are able to perform backup and restore operations. It is now possible to drag and drop files directly to a tape from a file server. Fuji TV has made the system even easier by customising user icons on the desktop, making it possible for anyone to mount, unmount and format a tape cartridge without the need for special training. By copying files directly to the tape drive, designers are able to perform archiving operations on their own, freeing system engineers from the burden of archiving.
“When archiving or retrieving data, users aren’t conscious of the tape drive at all. This is the biggest change. I think the designers also feel a little less stress too. I’ve heard them say that things have become more convenient and easier” Yosuke Nakayama Computer graphics system engineer, Fuji TV.
It has significantly reduced the time taken to complete archiving operations and reduced the strain on IT resources. Arai says that since LTO-5 handles a large capacity, the time wasted by designers adjusting data volumes has decreased dramatically: “Despite our busy schedules, we had to select the data to save to be able to fit within the LTO-2 capacity. There were times when a whole day would be used up by this work. With LTO-5, we just quickly remove the unnecessary data.”
“We manage a dedicated system for modifying and processing location shoots so going forward we may be able to use the HP LTO-5 for archiving this data as well.”
This demonstrably increases productivity. Also, with the high capacity LTO-5 tape, it is possible to store multiple projects together, meaning fewer tapes are used. “From the producer’s perspective, cost is the top concern. Introduction of the HP LTO-5 Ultrium 3000 SAS Tape Drive will make producers happy too,” says Arai. He is now looking at expanding the archiving operation.
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Current HP driver, support, and security alerts delivered directly to your desktop For information on HP LTO Ultrium media products, visit: hp.com/go/ltomedia For device compatibility, visit: hptapecompat.com For more about HP LTO Ultrium, visit: hp.com/go/ultrium For more about HP LTFS technology, visit: hp.com/go/ltfs For more about HP LTO tape drives and tape automation, visit: hp.com/go/tape For more about HP Tape Assure, visit: hp.com/go/tapeassure © Copyright 2012 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein. Follow HP Storage Media:
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