Larry Jordan speaks with Promise Technology at NAB 2014 - Moviola.com

Step 1: Markdown Article

Introduction

One of the hot topics here at NAB 2014 is the importance of storage as the industry transitions to a 4K environment. The need for adequate storage solutions has become essential, and Promise Technology offers several answers to consider. Elaine Quac, the Product Marketing Manager for Promise Technology, joined us to discuss their offerings.

Who is Promise Technology?

Promise Technology has been known as a RAID controller company for many years. However, over the past 25 years, they've specialized in storage subsystems optimized for video editing. They have a range of products catering to the needs of video editors.

Products for Video Editors

Promise Technology is well-known for their VRA x30 storage RAID mid-storage subsystems as well as their Pegasus RAID 5 and RAID 6 desktop storage. The Pegasus line, which launched late last year with the Mac Pro, is specifically designed for 4K editing. Its Thunderbolt 2 technology makes it one of the fastest desktop storage solutions available for 4K editing. The VRack A-Class is also optimized for multi-user video editing collaboration.

Why Choose Promise Technology?

Promise Technology offers a comprehensive range of storage solutions, from desktop options to mid-range systems, sourced from one provider. This versatility means users can easily collaborate both on-set and off-set. Certain trends, such as the utilization of SSDs (Solid State Drives) for optimizing performance, also set Promise apart. Additionally, Promise was first to market with Thunderbolt 2 technology, evident in their SandLink Bridge adapters and Pegasus 2 storage.

SandLink Bridge Adapters

The SandLink Bridge adapters support connectivity for devices like the Mac Pro or MacBook Pro. These adapters convert Thunderbolt 2 to 10Gb Ethernet or 10Gb fiber channel, facilitating increased performance and direct network connectivity.

New Announcements

At NAB 2014, Promise made three significant announcements:

1. M4 Pegasus Mini: A 2.5-inch form factor drive available in both spinning disk and SSD versions.
2. SandLink 2: With Thunderbolt 2 to 10Gb Ethernet or 8Gb fiber channel.
3. NAS Gateway: For VRack storage appliances providing LAN gateway access to 10Gb Ethernet for multi-user collaboration.

Performance and Pricing

The M4 Pegasus Mini performs at around 300 to 400 MB/s with spinning disks and can reach up to 1400 MB/s with SSDs. The spinning disk version is priced at $ 199 with availability starting in early Q2 of the year. SSD versions are still gauging interest without a confirmed price or shipping date.

The SandLink 2 Bridge Adapters are priced at $ 599 for the 10Gb Ethernet version and $ 899 for the fiber channel version.

Future Trends in Storage

Promise Technology anticipates an increase in storage performance and scalability needs as video resolutions continue to rise. There is also growing interest in hybrid environments that use both SSDs and spinning media for diverse applications such as video editing and streaming.

Learn More

For more information about Promise Technology's products, visit www.promise.com.

Elaine Quac, Product Marketing Manager for Promise Technology, provided these insights during the NAB 2014 event.

Step 2: Keywords

Keywords

• NAB 2014
• Promise Technology
• 4K environment
• RAID controllers
• Video editing storage
• Thunderbolt 2
• Pegasus RAID
• SandLink Bridge adapters
• VRack A-Class
• M4 Pegasus Mini
• SSDs
• NAS Gateway
• Multi-user collaboration

Step 3: FAQ

FAQ

Q: What is Promise Technology known for? A: Promise Technology is known for their RAID controllers and storage subsystems optimized for video editing.

Q: What is the Pegasus line? A: The Pegasus line includes RAID 5 and RAID 6 desktop storage solutions designed specifically for 4K editing, utilizing Thunderbolt 2 technology for high performance.

Q: What are SandLink Bridge Adapters? A: SandLink Bridge Adapters convert Thunderbolt 2 to 10Gb Ethernet or 10Gb fiber channel, enabling increased performance and direct network connectivity.

Q: What new products were announced by Promise at NAB 2014? A: Promise announced the M4 Pegasus Mini, SandLink 2 Bridge Adapters, and a NAS Gateway for VRack storage appliances at NAB 2014.

Q: What is the performance difference between spinning disks and SSDs in the new M4 Pegasus Mini? A: The spinning disk version performs around 300 to 400 MB/s, whereas the SSD version can reach up to 1400 MB/s.

Q: How much is the SandLink 2 Bridge Adapter? A: The SandLink 2 Bridge Adapter is priced at $ 599 for the 10Gb Ethernet version and $ 899 for the fiber channel version.