PRO TECHnology, the leading integrator of storage and high availability solutions in the Middle East, has signed an agreement with Al Jazeera International, the new 24 hour English language news and current affairs channel headquartered in Doha, to transform the TV station’s video network infrastructure by providing them with turnkey SAN (Storage Area Network) solution from Apple.
PRO TECHnology will equip Al Jazeera International with the state-of-the-art Apple Xsan, an enterprise-class SAN solution that permits multiple computers to concurrently access terabytes or even petabytes of storage on Xserve RAID over high-speed Fibre Channel. The solution will be mainly focused on Apple’s high-performance Xserve RAID storage from ingest and capture to final output, whether working in video and film, editing audio or creating effects and motion graphics.
The feature-rich Xsan will allow Al Jazeera International to digitize with zero dropped frames, flexibly edit content offline, use storage effectively, and set up complex situations quickly, besides permitting them to more easily set up and manage SAN. Other features of the solution include file-level locking, bandwidth reservation, and user quotas and authentication.
“We are pleased to join hands with a reputed TV station like Al Jazeera, which has caught global attention with its unique reportage of regional and international events,” said Jamal Maraqa, Managing Director, PRO TECHnology. “In choosing to implement our SAN solution, Al Jazeera has taken the lead in bringing to the Middle East high-end video storage solutions widely in use in major European TV stations.”
“With the implementation of Xsan, Al Jazeera can be assured of unmatched reliability and scalability of their video SAN storage. PRO TECHnology is also providing Al Jazeera with additional services in the form of technical support and spare parts for the equipment and redundancy of all systems,” Maraqa added.
Morgan Almeida, Director of Creative Design at Al Jazeera International said, “We had closely examined the merits of solutions from various providers before zeroing on Xsan, as we found it to offer superior performance and efficiency while being competitively priced. It was equally important that we partner with a reputed player to ensure smooth implementation of the solution as well as to make available relevant support services, and Pro Technology with its proven track record and technical expertise, proved the perfect choice. Senior executives from Apple’s European headquarters had visited Dubai during CabSat 2006 and recommended PRO TECHnology, which illustrates the market reputation they have come to build worldwide.”
By using Fibre Channel multipathing, in which two Fibre Channel cables connect a computer to the SAN, Al Jazeera can potentially achieve throughput of up to 400MBps, perfect for multiple editors working on a video project or a complete cluster that needs fast access to data to ensure each node crunches at full capacity.
PRO TECHnology’s contract with Al Jazeera International follows similar agreements with Decision Makers Channel and Showtime. PRO TECHnology provided DM Channel with 3 fully loaded editing stations with FCP studio, where all editors can share the Apple X-RAID storage through fibre channel connectivity, in addition to a turnkey solution for DM’s video editing stations, magazine publishing and normal office automation.
PROTECHnology provides comprehensive IT solutions for medium to large enterprises. The company’s solution offerings are as diversified as network infrastructure, remote access, complex storage, backup, high availability, mobility and digital graphics and printing solutions. PROTECHnology specialises in the implementation of efficient client/server network infrastructure and peer-to-peer network requirements. Utilising the latest techniques, PROTECHnology is able to reduce downtime, accelerate installation, and lower overall project costs.
About PRO TECHnology
PRO TECHnology delivers technologies, products and solutions that give the best IT solutions to both Corporate & Retail industries. The company has four distinct lines of business providing unique products and solutions to the respective industry segments such as: Storage, Archiving, Business and Mobility Solutions. Established in 1998, PRO TECHnology is headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and has branches in Jordan, Sudan, Iran & Libya. PRO TECHnology’s portfolio of world-class brands includes Apple, HP, IBM, Dicota, Qualstar, Nexsan, Storageflex, Symantec/Veritas, Lacie and Canto.
Presently PRO TECHnology works with 18 leading international brands in the Middle East and the Levant and the company’s vision is to collaborate with more powerhouse brands to become a comprehensive, all encompassing solutions provider.
