ProMAX Systems just announced ProMAX NVMe Enterprise, a new NVMe U.3 server specifically designed for video editors. I was intrigued by this new technology, so, I emailed Taylor Hodgetts, VP of Operations for ProMAX, to learn more.
Larry: Taylor, how would you describe ProMAX Systems, the company?
Taylor: Promax is a dedicated group of tech enthusiasts striving to provide the best video production workflow solutions for over 20 years.
Larry: Please describe this new server.
Taylor: The ProMaX NVMe Enterprise is a high-density, high-performance, end-to-end video workflow server in a small package. Capable of speeds exceeding 30,000 Megabytes per second and storing 600 Terabytes of data all in 2U of rack space.
Larry: There are business servers from Synology and Qnap, and video servers from EditShare and OWC, among many others. Why should video editors consider your system?
Taylor: Video production is our focus. We have designed the highest-performance solutions to simplify workflows for over a decade. Our sales and support staff understand the technical needs of video editors and can provide help from design to implementation and beyond.
Larry: For which type of editing is this server optimized?
Taylor: Our main target is post-production. However, this server is suited for nearly any video production task with its flexible, high-performance storage and various possible networking configurations.
Larry: NVMe is known for its blistering speed, but servers use Ethernet to talk to each computer, and Ethernet is not particularly fast, nor optimized for large files. What computer-side bandwidth should we expect from this system?
Taylor: Our standard for client connections is 25GbE Fiber, and in real-world testing can sustain over 2,000 Megabytes per second of playback speed. This seems to be the current sweet spot of individual client performance and number of simultaneous clients.
Larry: How do different codecs, frame sizes or frame rates affect performance?
Taylor: All of these factors can have a significant impact on performance. Our goal with this server is to provide a high-performance ceiling to eliminate most potential bottlenecks on the server and networking side. That said, a significant difference exists between the demands of a codec like R3D on a workstation and an uncompressed RAW.
Larry: How many simultaneous video streams does this support?
Taylor: This supports:
Larry: What is an optimal number of connected editors, and how does the number of users affect bandwidth?
For 25GbE between 4 and 16 editors per server, we recommend one 100GbE uplink per 4 users. Each server can support up to 4 100GbE connections; for 10GbE, up to 40 editors with one uplink per 10 editors. These servers also support unified server management, joining multiple servers, and scaling performance and storage.
Larry: What type of switch does this system require?
Taylor: While this server can be customized to fit various network environments, and we have no specific restrictions on the manufacturer, our current go-to is the Aruba 8325-48y8c. This switch comes with 6 uplinks of 100GbE and 48 25GbE client connections.
Larry: Can this server fit into an existing network, or does it require a stand-alone network?
Taylor: Yes, this server can be integrated into existing networks. We recommend that the high-speed connections of both the server and workstation be configured on their own isolated VLAN and with as few physical switch hops as possible, ideally with everything on the same physical switch.
Larry: How is the system priced?
Taylor: The price ranges from $75,000 with 60TB of usable storage and our first tier of components to over $170,000 with 600TBs of usable storage and top-tier components.
Larry: What question should I have asked that I did not?
Taylor: What other long-term benefits exist for an NVMe server over a SAS HDD or SSD server?
With only 6 drives in a 2U NVMe server, you can have the same amount of usable storage as a 16-bay server filled with 8TB drives in RAID6. These 4 NVMe drives will be more than twice as fast as the SAS drives. You can also expand the storage up to 600TB usable space without additional rack space or equipment aside from dropping in more drives. To do the same with SAS drives, you would need multiple chassis and likely 4 times the amount of rack space.
Larry: Here you get a chance to write a one-paragraph commercial for this system. What would you say?
Taylor: Introducing ProMAX NVMe Enterprise, the cutting-edge 2U NVMe U.3 Video Editing Server – the ultimate powerhouse for video editors seeking unparalleled performance and efficiency. Elevate your creative workflow with unprecedented bandwidth, allowing you to seamlessly edit, render, and produce high-quality content without compromise. This server’s lightning fast NVMe U.3 interface ensures blazing read and write speeds, unleashing the full potential of your editing capabilities. With 16 or 24 bays at your disposal, you’ll have ample storage for massive video files, enabling you to focus on your creative process without the hassle of storage limitations. Say goodbye to lag and hello to a new era of video editing excellence. Invest in the future of content creation with our state-of-the-art video editing server – where speed, capacity, and innovation converge for an unmatched editing experience.
Larry: Taylor, thank you very much for your time and answers!
