This was the most impressive thing that I saw at the whole of NAB.

The forthcoming Apple Xsan file system will allow mutiple media servers to share huge files off of one storage center. I know this doesn't really sound like anything new but it is, the new part is that each server can share the same exact file without any lag AND the bigger the file, the better. Xsan does not work well with small files.

This translate directly into a network of video servers sharing up to 10 10bit uncompressed 4:2:2 NTSC or PAL files which translates into over 20 compressed files depending on your compresion. This means that you could feasibly have 4 servers running 4 simultaneous layers of compressed content off a Single Dual U320 SCSI 10gb etnet XSAN file system and switch.

The setup of an Xsan file system includes either a server or virtual server, an Xsan Switch, and 2 or more clients G5s with Fiber Channel cards at $500 ea. They can be G5's or Xserves, no matter. The Switches have both Fiber channel and ethernet. Xsan will make use of 10GB ethernet technology.

Apple's Xsan file system will retail for $999. The Xsan switches will likely range from $3500 to $10,000 to start and quickly fall as it is not proprietary technology. Xsan and Motioni both won for best of show at this years NAB.

Christian