[rescue] Sun 711

[Shawn Wallbridge]

As soon as we compress the video, the whole project goes out the window. We
are trying to get as high of quality image as possible. It can not be
compressed at all. We are trying to minimize filmouts (sending data files
(10bit Cineons) down to LA, having them output to film (with a laser, cool!)
and renting a theater to watch them at about $5k each time).

Tiff's are just the standard file format (for us). When we render, we render
to tiff's or targa's (unless it's an R&D test, then it's jpegs).

It is possible with x86, you just need big ass hardware. Many people are
doing it www.hdboxx.com is just one.

shawn

-----Original Message-----
From: rescue-admin at sunhelp.org [mailto:rescue-admin at sunhelp.org]On
Behalf Of Gregory Leblanc
Sent: Wednesday, May 01, 2002 6:27 PM
To: rescue at sunhelp.org
Subject: RE: [rescue] Sun 711


On Wed, 2002-05-01 at 16:07, Shawn Wallbridge wrote:
> Yup. x86. No choice. The software only runs under Windows.
>
> Basically this is going to be a video playback machine. 2048x1556
> uncompressed tiffs x 30fps. Steady. It CAN'T drop frames or it is useless.
> The 'plan' so far is.....

I don't have any faith that x86 can do this.  :-(  I've not tried a lot
with uncompressed video on x86.  However, given what I know about x86's
capabilities, CPU power, and video decompression are a LOT more
available than I/O bandwidth.  I know, this isn't at all what you're
trying to do, but I think you're going to be a lot more likely to get
what you stated above using some sort of compressed video than you are
"streaming" tiffs a 30fps.

But, since that's not what you asked for, I'll comment in a more useful
fashion (if I can).

>
> Dual 1.6GHz Athlon MP's on a Tyan Tiger MPX (64/66)
> 2GB Ram
> 2xU160 RAID controllers
> 16-24 36GB 15k Cheetah's

These drives claim to be able to deliver 50MB/sec, though I'd think that
assuming 40MB/sec would be a lot safer.  16-24 drives means that you'll
almost certainly be maxing out the SCSI bus bandwidth before any drive
can't keep up any more.

> Radeon 8500 (I have no idea why ATI)
> 24" Sony monitor
>
> I am just trying to find something to put the drives in. I would like to
get
> a couple 711's, but I need to know if they will operate at U160 or not (I
am
> checking docs.sun.com now).

Are the 711's JBOD?  If so, and if they don't have an internal
terminator, then you should be OK.  U160 SCSI is wide LVD at 80MHz.

> I was thinking FC-AL, but then I need to find an enclosure, cards that can
> do 150MB/s (I have no clue about FC-AL). And ensure my boss that I can get
> it all working.

I don't know that you'd be any better off with FC-AL, actually.  You'll
want to keep your cables as short as possible, and make sure that you
use a good quality LVD terminator, and really good quality cables.  The
whole thought of this makes me nervous.  :-)  Ack, I know, I'm a
pessimist here, but I can't help it, I hate x86 whenever high-bandwidth
IO is required.
	Greg

--
Portland, Oregon, USA.