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PrimeArray CD/DVD servers are "Virtual" Jukeboxes - Much Faster and More Flexible than Actual Jukeboxes
PrimeArray CD/DVD servers are "virtual" jukeboxes, and are the best way to host CD and DVD resources for users to share over your network. With a network CD/DVD jukebox you get...
- The fastest possible access to your CD/DVD data over the network - speed that puts jukeboxes to shame.
- Simultaneous access for multiple users - no waiting in line.
- Access to many discs at a time - far more than you could fit into a jukebox.
- Capacity sized to your needs, from 1 to 4,000 discs.
- Enhanced reliability because there are fewer moving parts - unlike a jukebox, which has many moving parts that can break down.
CD/DVD Servers Deliver Improved Performance and Value Compared to a Jukebox for Sharing CD/DVD Content Over a Network.Do you have CD-ROM or DVD-ROM discs with material that you want to share with users over your network? They could be software programs, computer-based training, or subscription updates. Are you tired of being the CD librarian? Tired of looking for lost discs? Tired of replacing damaged discs? Perhaps you archive data off to DVD and want that data online for occasional access.
If so, you need a network attached CD/DVD sharing solution. For years, people would share small numbers of discs using a CD tower. They would load larger collections into a jukebox for sharing. CD/DVD servers have replaced towers and jukeboxes for most applications.
Software and Hard-Disk Caching Beats the Jukebox - Hands Down!
CD DVD servers use software and hard-disk caching to automatically and rapidly store ISO images of the CD-ROMs or DVD-ROMs. Any number of users can quickly and easily access the material they need when and where they need it. If you like, you can map a drive to a disc or group of discs for foolproof access.
These devices connect directly to your network saving the cost of a separate server and network software license. Each unit comes with software to facilitate adding, replacing, updating, managing and deleting titles easily. The software copies the exact disc image to the hard drive for users to access. The original CD or DVD can be put in a safe place for backup.
The hard drive storage not only provides a wider range of capacities (current models range from a few discs to thousands), but also delivers faster retrieval and better support for multiple users. The cost per disc of these caching (hard drive) devices is considerably lower than with a tower.
CD & DVD Server versus a Regular Server or a Jukebox
You might ask why you shouldn't just copy the CDs or DVDs to your server. Do you really want to bog down your expensive server, which has many other tasks to perform, with storing and accessing discs? Just because you have a server doesn't mean loading it up comes without costs. The sooner it's full, the sooner you have to buy another expensive server. It is more economical to get a special purpose CD/DVD server to manage this task. A CD/DVD server copies an exact image of the disc rather than simply copying the data, so it is identical to accessing the disc itself, only faster.
Loading and sharing out a disc on a general purpose server takes a number of steps. This is fine for one or two discs, but is a real chore for large collections or subscriptions where new discs are coming in each month to replace old ones. With the CD/DVD server, you stick the disc in the reader and it does the rest. The drive will pop open ready for the next disc (two and a half minutes for a full CD).
A true jukebox on the other hand holds many CDs or DVDs in a tray, or carousel. When a disc is requested, a robotic mechanism physically locates the disc and mechanically loads it into an optical reader. Loading the discs is quite rapid, but accessing them is anything but. With its many moving parts, access speed and reliability can be an issue. PrimeArray does not sell this type of jukebox.
Let's compare network CD/DVD servers vs. jukeboxes across a range of attributes:
- Capacity. Jukeboxes hold a fixed number of discs. For those with only a handful of discs to share, its overkill. For those with many hundreds of discs, it may require multiple jukeboxes. CD/DVD servers on the other hand can be configured to each customer's specific needs, from just holding just a few to holding several thousand discs. They're all in one place and there's only a single system to manage.
- Access Speed. Accessing data from the CD/DVD server's hard drive can be up to ten times faster than from an optical drive. Add to that the time it takes a jukebox to load the disc into a reader and the CD/DVD server user might be done with his tasks by the time a jukebox user is getting his data!
- Simultaneous Users. One of the reasons for getting a network storage device to hold discs is so multiple users can use a disc at the same time. The hard disk access in the CD/DVD server provides far better response for multiple users.
- Multiple CD/DVD Access. With its one or perhaps two optical readers, the jukebox will only allow that many titles to be viewed at one time. Whereas in the server, a single user or multiple users can access multiple titles simultaneously.
- Reliability. Few moving parts means leads to greater reliability, lower maintenance and more uptime.
- Ease of Access by Users: With a CD/DVD server, titles can be categorized into logical groupings. Drives letters can be mapped to individual discs or groups of disc for easy access.
- Seat Licensing Control: Some software titles might come with a specified number of seat licenses. PrimeArray CD/DVD servers will allow the administrator to set limits for the number of simultaneous access to specific discs.
- Access Control: An organization might want to limit access or control access to various groups of discs. PrimeArray CD/DVD servers will enable the administrator to restrict access to any disc or group of discs. PrimeArray systems will also integrate with Active Directory to facilitate this task.
- Cost. At a price that is competitive with, and perhaps lower than jukeboxes, CD/DVD servers provide far greater value for virtually all CD or DVD hosting applications.
Note: CD/DVD servers are not designed to handle audio CDs or copy- protected DVD movies.