Bright Announces BrightDrive Astella Availability with FalconStor HyperFS

Small Post-Production Facilities Now Able to Build Powerful, Low-Cost Shared Media Workflows

Amsterdam, September 9, 2011: Bright Technologies, Inc., developer of advanced technology for shared media, is using IBC 2011 [booth #7.A10] to announce the availability of its new BrightDrive Astella media file server for post-production workflows using FalconStor’s HyperFS file system. The development widens Bright’s market and enables more post facilities to benefit from cost-effective shared storage.
BrightDrive Astella is an all-in-one-box media file server that enables small facilities or dedicated departments from larger companies to embrace the full functionality of Bright’s field proven file server technology at an affordable price point. By making it available for HyperFS, Bright is enabling customers to share content through Fibre Channel and Ethernet. In addition, because HyperFS has a single licensing scheme for Windows, Linux and Macintosh, BrightDrive Astella customers can benefit from increased cost efficiencies.

“We are always looking at ways to enhance customer experience through product developments and improvements with third party integration,” said Ed Rodriguez, President and Chief Architect of Bright Technologies. “With BrightDrive Astella now available for the HyperFS environment, post-production facilities with limited budgets can build extremely flexible, scalable and fast shared storage infrastructures for their creative workflows.”
BrightDrive Astella combines data storage, a meta-data server and the intelligence of BrightDrive all in one convenient ‘plug and play’ appliance. As with Bright’s full-sized BrightDrive G2 and G2 Pro media file servers used by customers worldwide, the Astella is compatible with all leading file-based media applications and file formats, making it easy to integrate with existing workflows. It is suitable for all types of file-based workflows requiring up to three media streams of 2K, including commercials, animation, DI, dailies and VFX, where operators share media between workstations.

BrightDrive Astella is an optimal aligned combination of hardware from Rorke Data and Bright’s media file server software. Rorke’s Aurora provides the storage on a 36bay enclosure including the meta-data server, while Bright’s server intelligence makes sure that system performance always stays at the highest possible level by continually maintaining and updating optimal file arrangement within the storage space. It includes Fibre Channel connectivity as standard and uses BrightClip™, Bright’s unique patent-pending recording technology that eliminates randomization and therefore prevents the degradation of system performance.

Availability
BrightDrive Astella for HyperFS is available from September 2011 from Bright Technologies and its worldwide network of business partners.