DNA Evolution: Architecture to Scale in Size and Performance

DNA Evolution is built on a scalable and clustered architecture. In the above diagram, we describe the basic elements that make up a DNA Evolution deployment. The above boxes represent components rather than physical systems. DNA Evolution consists of the following basic components:

1. The Master Server

The master server hosts both the controller and an archive server. The controller components acts as a policy engine and acts as a single point of management across all archive clients, servers and locations. It presents a web management interface and stores preview files, indexes and a database of all content archived. The master server connects via a low bandwidth, secure IP connection to all other components in a DNA Evolution environment. The other components (clients, other servers) connect to the master server to receive run information and submit progress, end of run status. All components heartbeat the master server conveying their connectivity status and health. The master server runs on a Linux appliance that is supplied with every DNA Evolution install. In addition to hosting the controller, the master server also hosts an archive server acting as a network gateway for clients to perform archive and restore operations from tape.

2. The Slave Server

The slave server hosts purely an archive server and acts as a gateway for clients to perform archive and restore operations from tape. Tape hardware can be connected via SAS or FC connections. Also an archive server can manage multiple tape drives and autoloader/libraries. The archive server connected to LTO-5 tape hardware and uses LTFS (Linear Tape File System) to perform IO on the tape. It receives policy commands from the master server and clusters with the master server. There is no upper limit on the number of archive servers that can be added to an environment.

3. Archive Client

The archive client is software that runs on end user supplied hardware. An archive client can run on a laptop, desktop or on a SAN client e.g. Media Composer connected to an Avid Unity/ISIS. Archive clients can run on Windows, Mac or Linux systems. They communicate with archive servers over an intermediate high speed LAN connection 1Gb/10Gb.

4. The Archive Client W/ Direct-Connect LTO-5/Nearline Disk

The archive client can also be configured to directly write to LTO-5 or Nearline disk as a target without having to using ethernet as a transfer medium. However this mode is currently supported only for Mac clients connecting to one or more standalone LTO-5 tape drives. Autoloaders and libraries are not supported in this configuration. Any type of Nearline disk (NAS, SAN) can be configured as a target directly from the client.

5. Management Network

All DNA Evolution components (master server, slave servers, clients) all connect and talk over a low bandwidth management network. This can be over a LAN or WAN. This management network uses a secure protocol for discovery, job policy, progress and other management related information.

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Built on LTFS/LTO-5	Connect Disk or Tape Nearline
DNA Evolution is built to maximize LTO-5 and LTFS. LTO-5 enables 1.5 TB tapes with 140 MB/sec performance. LTFS provides end users direct access to tape, like a hard-drive. DNA Evolution exposes this benefit to end users via direct drag-and-drop restores, direct play out, partial restores and long term access.	DNA Evolution can move content from online SANs to disk or tape Nearline. This provides the benefit of selecting a Nearline based on your performance, cost and reliability needs. DNA Evolution is designed to be heterogeneous, with the ability to connect to multiple storage systems. For a complete list, refer to the DNA Evolution products section.
Archive, Snapshot (Backup), Migrate	Retrieve Projects, By Search or Sequences (AAF, XML)
DNA Evolution runs in three modes enabling archiving, snapshots and migration. Archive is useful for protecting raw footage and exported sequences. Snapshots offer instant recovery during a project, while migration offers the ability to migrate media based on activity.	DNA Evolution can retrieve entire projects from Nearline to online storage. Alternatively, DNA Evolution enables editors to retrieve specific sequences. DNA Evolution supports both AAF (Avid) and XML (Final Cut) based retrievals.
Web-based Management	Previews, Metadata Search, Browse
DNA Evolution provides a single point of management via a globally accessible web interface. The web interface enables archiving, retrievals, search, browse, tape management, device management, user and group management.	DNA Evolution archive clients can upload extracted metadata, generated previews (*) to the controller. Once uploaded, the content can be browsed, played, downloaded and searched for via the DNA Evolution web interface.
Restore via Web Or Browse, Play Directly From Tape	Checksums For Delete Management, Tracking, LTFS
DNA Evolution enables a number of ways to retrieve media from tape. End users can retrieve via the web, creating file lists via search, AAF or XML. Additionally, DNA Evolution also allows tape to be directly browsed over the network enabling media to be played or dragged for restore.	DNA Evolution utilizes checksum and delete algorithms. These algorithms are built for LTO-5 tape and the newer LTFS file system. Delete algorithms ensure media is truly on tape before being deleted from primary disk or removable media.
Advanced Tape Management	Multi-location deployment and management
Tape Grouping: Assign tapes to archives ensuring that tapes are not over-written or used by multiple archives Tape Spanning: Intelligently spans data across multiple tapes for both archives and restores. Does not span individual files to ensure consistency.	Designed to scale across locations, the DNA Evolution architecture allows multiple archive servers, clients and locations to be managed from one controller. The enables a global archive that can be searched and accessed across your organization.
Email Alerts (Tape Changing, Errors, Warnings)	High Performance Media Transfers with Throttling
DNA Evolution allows for email alerts to be setup for changing tapes in standalone drives, alerts for failed transfers or alerts for other warnings.	Unlike unstructured IT data and databases, media files pose different challenges. DNA Evolution is tuned for media files enabling intelligent incremental transfers, sequential reads and sequential writes for higher performance.

• DNA Evolution
• DNA Sync

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