Unity ISIS

Lore & Background

Avid Unity ISIS was introduced in October 2005 as a successor to Avid's Unity system, which could hold 20 terabytes for up to 60 clients. The new Unity ISIS could hold 64 terabytes and be used by as many as 100 clients at once. David Schleifer, Avid vice president for technology and work groups, stated that content could be retrieved at 50 gigabytes per second, making HD files possible. CBS News planned to use the system as it upgraded to a digital newsroom concept. Competitors at the time with smaller systems included Quantel, Grass Valley, and Omneon.

In January 2007, WBZ-TV in Boston, Massachusetts switched to a tapeless system, using a 64-terabyte ISIS system capable of storing 2200 hours of content. The system's 'infinitely scalable' nature, according to Schleifer, means that in theory storage is unlimited because individual systems can be linked to each other; each time a new system is added, data moves from the existing system to the new system so that both have the same amount of information. 'Intelligent Storage' refers to advancing beyond the idea that a central server must be accessed each time a file is desired, a type of system that limits the number of users at a time.

Senior product manager Andy Dale noted that 16 'blades,' or circuit boards, make it possible for many users to access the system at once. System components—engines, switch blades, storage blades, and power/cooling units—can be changed without work stopping. Individual units can make decisions themselves, improving productivity for the entire system. Since broadcasters need their video files at all times in a world of 24-hour news, and since there are more of them needing such access, the ability to retrieve such files instantly is no longer a luxury. Sharing of systems cuts costs and allows data to be backed up in the event a possible problem is detected.

Reader's Guide

The significance of Avid Unity ISIS lies in its role as a successor to earlier storage systems for broadcasters, addressing the growing need for high-bandwidth, scalable storage in a 24-hour news environment. By supporting uncompressed HD files and allowing up to 330 clients simultaneously, it enabled broadcasters to move toward tapeless workflows, as seen with WBZ-TV's switch in 2007. The system's architecture, with hot-swappable components and decentralized decision-making, reduced downtime and improved productivity. Its 'infinitely scalable' design, where linked systems automatically balance data, allowed storage to grow without theoretical limits, while 'intelligent storage' eliminated the bottleneck of a central server. This approach cut costs and provided backup capabilities, making instant file retrieval a practical reality for broadcasters. The system's introduction in 2005 positioned it against competitors like Quantel, Grass Valley, and Omneon, and its adoption by CBS News highlighted its relevance in the transition to digital newsrooms. The ability to store 430 hours of uncompressed HD or 8300 hours of compressed HD demonstrated its capacity for demanding video workloads, reinforcing its legacy as a specialized tool for the broadcast industry.

Did You Know?

• Avid Unity ISIS stands for 'Infinitely Scalable Intelligent Storage.'
• The system can store 430 hours of uncompressed HD or 8300 hours of compressed 50-megabyte-per-second HD.