SNS Announces Major New Release of SANmp Sharing Software, Version 3.0

Free upgrade brings redesigned GUI and significant new features for Fibre and iSCSI SAN sharing.

St. Louis, Missouri – February 10 2009 – Studio Network Solutions (SNS), a premier provider of post-production storage systems for audio and video, today announced the immediate availability of SANmp® version 3.0, a significant new release of its leading volume-sharing software for Fibre Channel and iSCSI SANs.

SANmp enables computers to concurrently share massive amounts of data over high-speed Fibre and iSCSI Storage Networks, resulting in a dramatically faster workflow since all users can capture, record and edit directly onto their storage system, eliminating the need to copy files locally. SANmp requires no servers or metadata controllers, which makes it a perfect choice for companies that need a SAN sharing solution that requires minimal administrative overhead. SANmp is simple to install and use, meaning it can transform a SAN into a shared storage system within minutes.

“We have listened to our users’ comments about how they work with SANmp and what improvements they wanted to see. SANmp version 3.0 incorporates many of our users’ feature requests, as well as enhanced performance and improved usability. There’s also a major redesign of the user interface, with much attention given not only to the visual aspects of the UI, but also to make it incredibly intuitive and responsive. All SANmp users can benefit from this free upgrade,” said Eric Newbauer, Vice President of Studio Network Solutions.

New features of SANmp version 3.0 include:

• Completely redesigned Admin and Client GUIs that provide a greatly enhanced user experience and make SANmp even easier to use. For example, users have faster access to the most important information about the SAN and, in addition to the Classic view, can now take advantage of the more intuitive layout of the new Group view

• Redesigned drive icons for the Mac Desktop that now offer a helpful at-a-glance indication of the status of the mounted volumes

• New tool tips and shortcut key combinations making it possible to operate SANmp without ever touching a mouse

• Complete separation of the command line interface (CLI) and GUI. Users can now launch the CLI and GUI totally independent of one another

• Compatibility with OS X Tiger and Leopard, Windows XP (32-bit and 64-bit), Windows 2003

• Supports major Mac/PC applications including Final Cut Pro, Premiere Pro, Avid and Pro Tools.

SANmp version 3.0 is available as a free upgrade to all current SANmp users. This latest new release of SANmp can be purchased through SNS resellers worldwide. Version 3.0 is also now included with other SNS products, such as the new EVO® shared storage system, and the Ellipse® Fibre Channel HBA/SANmp bundle.

Passengers get interactive with new arts and culture display “Windows on St. Louis” exhibit showcases local attractions (St. Louis) Lambert-St. Louis International Airport is giving arriving passengers new incentives to stop and explore before they grab their bags. The Airport unveiled a new 130-ft long exhibit in the Main Terminal Baggage Claim called “Windows on St. Louis,” which offers visitors a chance to get more in touch with what makes St. Louis a great destination.

Lambert donated the glass-walled gallery space to six local arts or cultural destinations that have each filled a “window” with art, sculptures, photographs and memorabilia to tell their unique
stories.

“We wanted to help promote our arts and culture scene,” said Lambert Director Richard Hrabko. “The exhibit is just a slice of what St. Louis has to offer, but it’s a vibrant and engaging display that has already encouraged visitors to explore and sight-see places they didn’t know about
before.”

The “Windows on St. Louis” exhibit will be on display through December 2009.

Lambert is the 30th busiest airport in the U.S. as ranked by Airports Council International-North America. Lambert serves nearly 15 million passengers a year with an average of 300 daily departures to 72 national
and international destinations. For more information on flights and services at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, log onto www.flystl.com.

SNS Announces v.2 of its EVO Storage System, Compatibility with Xsan.

OS Updates, New Features, Increased Performance, New Configurations St. Louis, Missouri – September 11, 2009 – Studio Network Solutions (SNS), a premier provider of post-production storage products for video and audio workgroups, today announced Evo version 2, bringing major new features and increased performance to its  shared storage system. Evo v.2 is available immediately.

The Evo storage array, which offers Fibre Channel, 10Gb iSCSI SAN and NAS in one box, is shipping with a major upgrade of its OS to version 2.0. The new Evo is positioned to meet the needs of customers who want to upgrade their existing SAN, as well as customers who are looking for a new shared storage system.

Topping the list of enhancements, Evo v.2 can now be used with Xsan, metaSAN and other SAN sharing software.

The system is now available with or without SANmp sharing software. This makes Evo a more attractive, less expensive upgrade for customers who already have Xsan or other file sharing software. Customers who don't yet have sharing software can also benefit from this new configuration, as Evo can now be ordered with free trial licenses of SANmp.

"Customers who already own Xsan, StorNext or metaSAN can simply integrate Evo into their existing shared network without buying additional software," stated Gary Holladay, President of SNS. "And new SAN customers can benefit immediately by delaying their purchase of sharing software – they can install Evo today and try SANmp absolutely free for up to two months, then purchase SANmp, Xsan or other software at a later time. Either way, the per-seat cost of SAN software is completely avoided, or at least deferred, which is most helpful at a time when everyone is closely watching costs."

Evo v.2 introduces core improvements, GUI enhancements and performance increases. Among the list of optimizations is a new and highly effective read-ahead engine, which allows each volume to be tuned specifically for various applications. For example, using Final Cut Pro, the base Evo, which includes eight SATA disks, supports uncompressed HD or up to 15 streams of DVCProHD playback. Pro Tools users also benefit from these optimizations – the eight disk base system alone supports multiple users doing the Pro Tools maximum number of audio tracks at any sample rate over Fibre Channel or Ethernet.

The new Evo v.2 base system includes Fibre Channel, iSCSI and NAS, eight SATA disks, four direct-connect Fibre Channel SAN ports, two Ethernet SAN/NAS ports (GbE) and the SNS globalSAN iSCSI initiator for OS X. Four full licenses or free timed licenses of SANmp v.3 volume sharing software for Mac/PC are also available. Up to six computers can attach directly into the base Evo using Fibre Channel and Ethernet without a switch.

The base Evo can expand to accommodate more storage capacity (up to 32 disks with an expansion chassis), additional users and increased performance. It offers Fibre Channel and Ethernet port upgrades for direct connection of up to ten computers without a switch. A 10Gb Ethernet option is also available for users who require maximum bandwidth.

Evo’s integration of SAN and NAS enables workstations and laptops to edit, share and review projects, media and other large files using the most appropriate connection type for the assigned task. The Evo shared storage system is compatible with Final Cut Pro, Avid, Adobe Premiere Pro, Pro Tools, and most similar applications for Mac and Windows. It is compatible with most popular Fibre Channel HBAs, as well as the SNS globalSAN and Microsoft iSCSI initiators.

Evo is incredibly versatile – among its list of advanced features it offers the ability to bridge existing Fibre Channel storage over iSCSI or NAS. Bridging offers customers the capability to re-purpose their older storage, such as an Xserve RAID, and extend it over long distances with Ethernet.

OS version 2.0 is a free upgrade to all Evo users and can be obtained by contacting SNS technical support.

Visit SNS at IBC, September 10th - 14th in location 7.A08g, where the company will be demonstrating EVO along with Square Box Systems, makers of the popular CatDV media asset database and video logging product family.

For more information on EVO or to see a web demonstration, please contact SNS or visit www.studionetworksolutions.com