More tools for PC DVD:
CD Net For NT Aids DVD Management
By Chuck Moozakis
The emergence of DVDs in the enterprise is causing some data administrators to scratch their heads as they assess how they can manage these new storage repositories in their networks.
Few doubt the versatility of the disks. With capacities of 4.7 gigabytes -- more than seven times the 650-megabyte capacity of CD-ROMs -- DVD could be the media that lets enterprises more fully utilize optical tools in the storage mix.
Meridian Data maintains it has overcome the challenge of managing these high-capacity disks with its release Tuesday of CD Net version 4.0 for Windows NT. The network management package is tailored to help administrators oversee how DVDs are used across networks and intranets, according to Lori Hinton, product manager at Meridian Data, in Scotts Valley, Calif.
"With this version, we have tried to make it easy for users to access the data and also to help administrators see all the drives across their networks to determine how the applications are being used," she said.
CD Net 4.0 includes administrative tools for configuring DVD and CD resources, establishing enterprisewide access points, and granting or denying users access across all NT-supported network topologies. Diagnostic tools let administrators manage the disks on their networks. By monitoring the usage of each disk, Hinton said, administrators can maximize the deployment of disks for network users.
The adoption of DVDs will continue to accelerate as producers begin to use the disks to distribute multimedia applications, training videos, and reference information, she said.
Besides the administrative tools, CD Net 4.0 also features DVD caching, which lets companies store DVD frequently requested data on hard drives for higher access speeds. Meridian's caching algorithm enhances multimedia application performance by as much as six times, thus assuring smoother media playbacks, Hinton said.
Finally, CD Net includes Meridian's Slingshot technology, which permits point-and-click intranet access to DVD and CD applications. Changes to disk libraries are automatically synchronized with the HTML Web page display, letting administrators manage intranets in which subscription libraries are maintained on DVD and CD-ROM.
CD Net is priced at $1,495 for an unlimited server license with 100 client licenses. A jukebox management option is offered at $1,995. Current users can upgrade to 4.0 for $495. |
