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As the requirement for media workspace aware system scalability increases, Apace FileManager (FM) provides the flexibility and data portability to automate the process of workspace transfer between different arrays of the system via internal system bus or between multiple Apace storage server platforms over 10GE or GE backbone. The peer to peer inter or intra array system transfer and validate of media data increases the transport speed and reliability while it decouples the intercommunication between different arrays of Apace storage servers from hampering the network traffic and physical storage devices. Additionally, it enables offload, backup and quick restore of media data at workspace level between the Apace multiple storage servers and platform types, namely, vStor (Online editing network storage) and eStor (Near-line network storage).

Intra-system FileManager services: (Within same system access) Apace Storage servers offer different storage types such as Solid State Flash (SSD) and/or Hard Disk Drive (HDD) and/or mix of file and block based implementation. Especially in the cases of SSD/HDD Hybrid systems and iSCSI mix, FM offers the ability to define an automation mechanism to facilitate use of SSD as primary and HDD as a backup storage bucket offering extreme performance and streamlined access to capacity needed leveraging from SSD and HDD attributes respectively.

Inter-System FileManager services: (Between Two System access) For this case, FileManager is configured to access and transport workspaces between different arrays of different systems in support of SSD and HDD based topologies. Typically a 10GE backbone connectivity is recommended that can offer peer to peer connectivity between two Apace vStor and/or eStor storage servers or for large system count, dedicated 10GE backbone switch can be deployed. As such, the traffic of content moving between Apace platforms does not interfere with the client node/workgroups front end traffic.

Cluster FileManager services: (Multi-System file management) For larger than two system topologies, Cluster File Manager(CFM) offers advance workflows for workgroup transport and content monitoring and archiving systems. As all accesses are web based and at the workspace level, CFM offers ability to make decisions at the workspace level not only transport but other services such as file age monitoring, etc. for content on the Apace storage cluster.

The advantages of this approach are:

a) Workspace aware workflow

b) Ability for setting up system resiliency policies for hot workspace protection via mirroring

c) To make workspace/ dataset portable and storage independent

d) Policy based automation for transfer of data within and outside system

e) Mobile file management

f) Best practice use for system and storage resources based on task at hand at the workspace level. For example allocating fast SSD resources to work in process workspaces while migrating finished projects to raid 6 protected deep HDD based resources within the systems cluster.