SANtech Tech Blog

Postcast soon to be released

2011-03-07T21:03:00.000-08:00

There has been an update to the postcast.tv site (http://www.postcast.tv) with a new countdown timer.
We've also been informed that they are on their way to completing their software, what we've heard from them is that the Postcast software is going to help people organize and collaborate on projects and productions by allowing users to share assets over the internet. Here's some of their marketing info:

What is Postcast?
Postcast is an elegant and intuitive way of sharing your creative endeavors with your clients. Postcast provides you with the tools to gather immediate feedback and on-going communication with your clients in regards to current projects.
Postcast is an internet based FTP application that allows you to present media of all kinds to your clients over the web and allows them to comment on assets. Comments on video and audio assets can be made by specifying an in and out point based on timecode of the video or audio.
Postcast was made to be used a communication tool between you and and your clients, allowing you both to upload assets such as video files, audio files, graphics, documents, and virtually any file type that you may need to get the project completed.

So were sure in a few months there will be an update to their website at http://www.postcast.tv

Stay tuned!

Apple Releses OS update 10.5.8

2009-08-05T17:43:00.000-07:00

Looks like a release just before Snow Leopard hit's the shelves, here are some of the improvements.

• Upgrades Safari to version 4.0.2.
• Improves the accuracy of full history search in Safari 4.
• Resolves an issue in which certain resolutions might not appear in the Display pane in System Preferences.
• Dragging an Aperture image into Automator now invokes an Aperture action instead of incorrectly invoking an iPhoto action.
• Resolves an issue that could prevent importing of large photo and movie files from digital cameras.
• Improves overall Bluetooth reliability with external devices, USB webcams and printers.
• Addresses an issue that could cause extended startup times.
• Improves iCal reliability with MobileMe Sync and CalDav.
• Addresses data reliability issues with iDisk and MobileMe.
• Improves overall reliability with AFP.
• Improves overall reliability with Managed Client.
• Improves compatibility and reliability for joining AirPort networks.
• Improves Sync Service reliability.
• Includes additional RAW image support for several third-party cameras.
• Improves compatibility with some external USB hard drives.
• Includes latest security fixes.

And a link to apple download page

iPhone 3.1 Beta 3 Is available for download

2009-07-27T12:52:00.000-07:00

Here's a link to the developer site,

http://developer.apple.com/iphone/

If your a developer you'll have access.

Active Storage XRAID support on Xsanity

2009-07-22T14:18:00.000-07:00

Last month Xsanity opened a new forum to help support the XRAID by Active Storage.

Here's the link to the new forum

Active Storage Forum on Xsanity

Seagate offers fix, free data recovery for bricked Barracudas (taken from The Tech Report)

2009-01-16T22:15:00.000-08:00

Seagate offers fix, free data recovery for bricked Barracudas
by Cyril Kowaliski — 3:54 PM on January 16, 2009
(Article reposted from The Tech Report)

Well, how about that. Seagate has acknowledged the bricking issue surrounding Barracuda 7200.11 hard drives, and it's trying to make things right by offering a firmware fix and data recovery services. Here's the full statement we received from company spokesman Mike Hall:

Seagate has isolated a potential firmware issue in certain products, including some Barracuda 7200.11 hard drives and related drive families based on this product platform, manufactured through December 2008. In some circumstances, the data on the hard drives may become inaccessible to the user when the host system is powered on*.

As part of our commitment to customer satisfaction, we are offering a free firmware upgrade to those with affected products. To determine whether your product is affected, please visit the Seagate Support web site at http://seagate.custkb.com/seagate/crm/selfservice/search.jsp?DocId=207931.

Support is also available through Seagate's call center: 1-800-SEAGATE (1 800 732-4283)

Customers can expedite assistance by sending an email to Seagate (discsupport@seagate.com). Please include the following disk drive information: model number, serial number and current firmware revision. We will respond, promptly, to your email request with appropriate instructions. There is no data loss associated with this issue, and the data still resides on the drive. But if you are unable to access your data due to this issue, Seagate will provide free data recovery services. Seagate will work with you to expedite a remedy to minimize any disruption to you or your business.

For a list of international telephone numbers to Seagate Support and alternative methods of contact, please access http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/about/contact_us/

*There is no safety issue with these products.

The free data recovery for already-bricked hard drives seems like a nice touch, especially considering the cost of third-party services. According to the knowledge base entry, though, the issue may affect a fairly large number of drive models—not just the 1TB four-platter drive we talked about earlier this week. Seagate recommends that users with 1.5TB, 750GB, 640GB, 500GB, 320GB, and 160GB Barracuda 7200.11 drives, along with some Maxtor and ES.2 models, all install the firmware update.

Update: Seagate has amended its statement to remove the following sentence: "Retail products potentially affected include the Seagate FreeAgent® Desk and Maxtor OneTouch® 4 storage solutions." We've put up the new statement above.

Active Storage Testing with XSAN and Qlogic 1/20/09

2009-01-16T21:42:00.000-08:00

To all those interested, we will be taking a trip to Active Storage Inc. along with some friends at Qlogic coming up next week! We'll be able to see there new 4GB RAID in action with XSAN and put it to the test with a variety of different video applications (such as Final Cut Pro, Building 4 Media's Fork, etc.) and configurations. Along with their iPhone configuration application, there's a lot to look forward to. More news to follow, we'll be blogging some of our findings after the visit so stay updated.....

New Promise / Apple Firmware update 1/6/2009

2009-01-15T17:26:00.000-08:00

This firmware was released 1/6/2009 as a note to anyone with Promise Storage bought exclusively through Apple authorized channels.

http://www.promise.com/support/download/download2_eng.asp?productId=199&category=firmware&os=6

Also take note of the Terms and conditions of this download. (here's a copy taken from Promise Technology's site)

*****WARNING! *****READ & CLICK AGREE BEFORE TRYING TO DOWNLOAD*****
This firmware update will ONLY function properly on VTrak units designed for Max OS X and sold through Apple authorized sources.

This update is NOT compatible with VTrak E-Class systems sold through Promise authorized channels.

Subsystems sold exclusively through Apple authorized channels can be identified by checking the TLA# on the product label or your purchase invoice and matching against this list

0Q -00-07-03
0X-00-07-03
AE-00-07-03
AM-00-07-03
AQ-00-09-03
BE-00-09-03
BJ-00-09-03

If your VTrak subsystem does not have one of the identifying TLA#s then it is NOT COMPATIBLE with firmware version10.05.2270.01

Loading VTrak firmware version 10.05.2270.01 on incompatible VTrak systems could AFFECT PERFORMANCE, RENDER THE PRODUCT UNUSABLE AND RESULT IN LOSS OF YOUR DATA.

IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO COMPLY WITH THIS WARNING AND ONLY DOWNLOAD THIS FIRMWARE IF COMPATIBLE WITH YOUR VTRAK UNIT. Promise Technology, Inc. will not be liable for any damages or costs incurred as a result of your failure to comply with this warning.

I agree that I have read the WARNING posted about downloading firmware version 10.05.2270.01

I agree that I will not hold Promise Technology, Inc. liable for any damages or costs resulting from my failure to follow these warning instructions correctly

I have read and understand this update.

The list of fixes this Firmware update provides is included with the download there are a few too many to list here on the blog, but one of the main issues some integrators were having trouble with early on has been addressed,

1. 17315, 16602: Fixed network stack issue causing performance degradation when network cables are not attached to both controllers.

The firmware update is defiantly recommended.

Shane Sokolosky
Consultant / Systems Engineer /
XSAN for Video Apple Certified Technician
Apple Consultants Network - Storage Area Networks

SANtech.TV
17518 Von Karman Ave.
Irvine, CA. 92614

Welcome to the SANtech Tech Blog

2009-01-14T23:14:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the SANtech Tech Blog. We started this blog to share our musings about the various goings-on in the SAN world -- from the latest Xsan developments, to the release of new storage products such as the ActiveStorage products that rival the Xserve RAID and Promise VTrak, to the musings of the Storage Area Network technical support specialist. This affords us the ability to post about things that are perhaps a bit less formal than you'd see on our website and allow us to be a bit more free to talk about things.

Here's a bit more about what we do:

SANtech is a service and support company focusing on Post Production workflow and equipment. We are Apple Certified Xsan Pro Video Technicians and can consult on projects of any size from implementation to launch as well as provide ongoing support. SANtech will optmize your workflow to manage projects and media more effeciently by providing you with the right tools and knowledge to get the job done.

Why would somebody want to hire SANtech?

SANtech can handle the technical side of things involving shared storage and post production, from getting applications such as Final Cut Pro to work seamlessly in a multiple seat environment so you can seamlessly share your assets -- video, graphics, animations, and meta data, with all the members of your creative group, thus allowing you more time actually being creative... There are many reasons to get SANtech involved with any size project.