Data is a massive problem. It is a problem because our need for more and more storage on our various devices continues to grow as does our need to quickly share all this information with others. That is why companies such as Seagate call their products storage solutions, and their latest exciting innovation is the Lyve Drive. This is a complete enterprise system that will take you from endpoint to the edge to the core.
Getting to the Edge
Unfortunately, it’s still not possible to take a picture or 4K video, have it automatically and flawlessly transferred to a computer without thinking, ingested into your chosen storage device, and then have it ready to edit. The Lyve Drive family aims to make this process as easy as possible and even manage to make transporting hundreds of terabytes of data simple. You always have to start at the endpoint, and that is where Lyve Drive begins with a series of CFexpress cards. Pop them in your camera of choice, say a Canon C500 Mark II or Nikon Z7, and start capturing.
Once you have your card filled up, you need to get the Lyve Drive Card Reader. This is self explanatory as you just put your cards in and prepare to ingest directly using the Lyve Drive Thunderbolt 3 Connector. The cool thing here is that you pop that card reader into the Lyve Drive Modular Array to start creating a serious backup and workflow system. The array can hold up to four devices and can be hot swapped when needed. Using a JBOD setup, the Modular Array can be configured with whatever drives you may need. Meaning you can take the data from your cards, and then drag-and-drop them when you need them. The Lyve Drive Toolkit software can help manage this process.
Once you have your files copied over, you can immediately pop out the drive, place it in the Lyve Drive Cartridge Shipper and send it off site, whether that is to your editor or to a data center. During that transfer process, you may also opt to copy your files to the Lyve Drive Mobile Array, a rugged, sealed six-bay array. This is where you might keep your media for dailies or editing on location. There is also a Lyve Drive Array Shipper that fits either type and will keep your data safe.
There’s also a slightly different approach you may want to take for on location offloading: the Lyve Drive Shuttle. Essentially a LaCie Rugged BOSS for professionals, this device can store up to 16TB of data on HDDs or SSDs and has inputs for direct copying of files from your cards and other media without the need for a computer. It’s a tough device and features an E-ink display to show you copy status or set up as a shipping label so you can immediately get your footage moving. Don’t worry, built-in encryption tools will keep your data safe.
Another piece I think needs a mention are the Lyve Drive Cartridge and Array Mounts. This will help you place your hard drives safely and securely where they need to be. This could be an installation to collect data for autonomous driving, or a nicely set up desk space. You can do whatever you want.
Core Enterprise Storage
Now that you have gotten to the edge, or a little bit further along, you may want to start thinking of core storage solutions. Luckily, standard sizes and a high-speed connector will help you manage all this data as you scale up your installation. This is the moment for the Lyve Drive Rackmount Receiver. Configured to work in standard rackmounts found in data centers, this receiver can fit two Lyve Drive Arrays. This is where your final data will end up and can then be shared and backed up as needed. Once you get through this step the arrays and cartridges can be cleared and prepared for reuse.
The seamless connectivity and well-designed shipping solutions will make the process of transferring and shipping data a much less worrisome experience. The Seagate Lyve Drive will be coming soon and should find a home with plenty media and entertainment workflows.
What do you think of the Lyve Drive? Want to revamp your storage setup to include this system? Let us know your thoughts in the Comments, below, and follow B&H Explora for the latest news from CES.
0 Comments