Accusys ExaSAN A16S3-PS review
Is this furiously fast storage array the future for HD video editing?
The affordable ExaSAN A16S3-PS beats Thunderbolt 2 hands down for performance making it a top candidate for 4K video editing.
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Excellent performer; Innovative PCIe 3.0 connectivity; Good value; HBA and QSFP cable included
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Snapshot synchronisation is very slow
Ready to go
You're ready to go straight from the box as the kit includes an Accusys Z2M-G3 dual-port HBA card and a 2 metre QSFP copper cable. Capacity can be increased massively as the array controller has a mini-SAS expansion port that accepts up to three Accusys 16-bay A16S3-SJ disk shelves.
If you feel the need for more speed, you can connect another A16S3-PS array to the second port on the HBA. By striping RAID across both systems, Accusys claims you can push maximum speed up to 5,000MB/sec.
For a large array, we found operational noise levels surprisingly low although it's not something you'd want on the desk next to you. No problem, though, as you can replace the supplied QSFP copper cable for a longer optical version and Accusys offers 10, 30, 50 and 100 metre cables.
The RAIDGuardX app simplifies array creation and offers a lot of interesting features
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