Starlight Networks Inc has launched a new system which turns an 80486 EISA bus computer into a digital video application server capable of supporting up to 20 simultaneous users on a personal computer running MS-DOS or Windows, or on Macintosh computers. Called StarWorks, the software-based product is compatible with digital video systems including Intel Corp’s Digital Video Interactive, QuickTime from Apple Computer Inc, AVI from Microsoft as well as MPEG and JPEG. It is compatible with applications under several network operating systems including NetWare, AppleShare and LAN Manager and with Network File System. Additionally, the company claims that this functionality is achieved without affecting other applications on the local area network. The Mountain View, California-based company’s system consists of video application server software and video network interface software for desktop computers.
Based on real-time Unix
It is based on a real-time Unix operating system, and provides facilities including video storage management, and video session and stream management functions claimed to ensure reliable delivery to the desktop over Ethernet networks. To enable it to support simultaneous users, it uses arrays of Winchester disk drives and a Streaming RAID algorithm, with the data stored across the arrays. The company claims that the maximum of 20 users can access the same video simultaneously, even at different starting times. The desktop video network interface incorporates a specialised networking protocol – dubbed the Media Transport Protocol – which handles the streaming data requirements, while preserving compatibility with network protocols and operating systems. Although StarWorks is claiming that its architecture can support any type of network, the initial release is being aimed at Ethernet users, including both 10Base-T and thin Ethernet. The system relies on network segmentation using star topologies and multiple Ethernets to ensure adequate network bandwidth – in its largest configuration, the maximum is 25Mbps. It’s available this month, and initially the company is to sell the software bundled with a video application server only – the Starlight MediaServer, which is based on a 50MHz 80486 EISA computer – other than for volume purchases. It is priced according to the number of simultaneous users, and the amount of video storage required: as a guideline, the company says that a system configured for 10 simultaneous DVI users with 3Gb of storage will cost around $23,500, while a 20 simultaneous DVI user version with 6Gb of storage will be around $39,500. From the second quarter of next year, however, Starlight Networks will be selling the software separately. StarWorks-12, which supports up to 12Mbps (representing up to 10 simultaneous standard-rate DVI users) is to cost $10,000 while StarWorks-25, which supports up to 25Mbps or 20 simultaneous standard-rate DVI users, is $19,000. The product is upgradable to StarWorks-60, which is under development currently, and which will be able to support a maximum of 50 users. The company has not said what international pricing or availability is to be.
