The A/V FS SAN high availability file system evolved from what we have been doing all these years and use key-value database technology.
Because we could not find a proper file system for Media and Entertainment we decided to develop A/V FS. As a SAN file system A/V FS uses standard the iSCSI protocol in all DDP products.
In addition the DDP10EF and HA DDP solutions can use the NVME-oF/RDMA protocol.
The high availability DDP solutions yet again go one step further and can also be delivered with Fibre Channel. For low bandwidth requirements and push/pull also SMB can be used.
A/V FS is a single file system. Do not confuse this with the phrase “single or one name space” . When that phrase is used it means that there are multiple file systems underneath the one name space. There are then often limitations, which are not there with a single file system.
Project based caching, the use of hard links and native Avid MediaFiles project sharing and bin locking support are only possible within one file system. The caching mechanism in A/V FS is unique. This will be discussed in more detail answering a next question.
Another special A/V FS feature is that any folder, subfolder, sub subfolder can be given volume properties. These are then called folder volumes and can be connected as a volume on the desktop on Macs and in My Computer on Windows and on Linux.
A third feature is that access right management is folder and not file based. Exactly what is needed when working in M & E. And last but not least because A/V FS is developed in house and runs on all DDP systems any support issue can be dealt with quickly and almost immediately.
