File-based workflows face internal traffic choices and external
bandwidth limitations. From direct attached storage (DAS) and
network attached storage (NAS) to storage area networks (SANs)
and beyond, broadcasters have a variety of choices for IT plant
infrastructure. Each approach has its advantages and
disadvantages, but each solution must handle large files with
low latency — and no excuses. Broadcasters do not have the
luxury of latency often encountered on the Internet. Whether it
is a live shot from across town or footage for an upcoming
package, a station's IT infrastructure has to deliver every
frame every time. The move to an IT-based infrastructure for
broadcast facilities coincides with the continuing trend toward
file-based content acquisition. Tape is still a dominant media
for acquisition, but its days are numbered. File-based workflows
that begin with acquisition and continue through distribution
are becoming the norm. When it comes to designing a plant, it's
about creating a workflow first and