FAQs
Q1.
What is a CD/DVD Server?
Q2.
Why use a CD/DVD Server?
Q3.
What CD/DVD Servers are available from Avantis?
Q4.
Why not use a standard file server to share CDs?
Q5.
Why use a network attached storage (NAS) server solution?
Q6.
What is the performance of Avantis CD/DVD servers?
Q7.
How does the data transfer speed compare with other CD/DVD
networking solutions?
Q8.
How many CDs/DVDs can be stored on an Avantis CD/DVD server?
Q9.
What does ‘Guaranteed Minimum Capacity’ mean?
Q10.
How many users can access an Avantis CD/DVD server?
Q11.
Which CD-ROM and DVD formats are supported?
Q12.
Can I use an Avantis CD/DVD server to share DVD movies across
the network?
Q13.
How does the use of an Avantis CD/DVD server effect software
licensing?
Q14.
Do Avantis CD/DVD servers include a CD-Writer for CD archiving?
Q15.
What network environments are supported by Avantis CD/DVD
servers?
Q16.
Can CDs be accessed via the web using an Avantis CD/DVD server?
Q17.
Is additional software required to run Avantis CD/DVD servers?
Q18.
What security options are offered with Avantis CD/DVD servers?
Q19.
How can Avantis CD/DVD servers be expanded in capacity?
Q20.
What is the standard hardware warranty for Avantis CD/DVD
servers?
Q21.
Is there a software maintenance package available to cover
the cost of software updates?
Q22.
What services are available with Avantis CD/DVD Servers?
Q23.
What is the Avantis Support Pack?
Q24.
What Extended Warranty Options are available?
Q25.
What on-site maintenance contracts are available from Avantis?
Q1. What is a CD/DVD Server?
A. A CD/DVD server allows multiple users on a network to
share CD-ROM and DVD based information simultaneously. CDs
are stored centrally on fast hard disk drives on the CD/DVD
server rather than on individual PCs allowing rapid access
to all types of CD or DVD. All Avantis CD/DVD servers are
dedicated NAS (network attached storage) appliances and provide
a smarter and easier way to network CDs than using a file
server or CD Tower.
Q2. Why use a CD/DVD Server?
A. A CD/DVD server provides easy, quick and cost-effective
sharing of CD and
DVD information across a local area network. The major benefits
are:
• CDs can be shared by hundreds of users simultaneously
• No need to physically hand out CDs or DVDs
• Eliminates problems of lost, scratched and damaged
discs
• Enforces software licensing, helping to reduce costs
• Faster access to multimedia than using a CD-ROM drive
• Access to CDs can be centrally managed and controlled
Q3. What CD/DVD Servers are available from Avantis?
A3. Avantis OpenCD –
A high performance CD/DVD networking solution. Two products
are available in this range with varying performance and capacity
options; OpenCD.Campus and OpenCD.Enterprise.
Q4. Why not use a standard file server to share CDs?
A4. Avantis CD/DVD servers provide a dedicated ‘thin
server’ solution for sharing CDs and DVDs. This means
there is a reduced load on the file server as valuable
processor time, memory and disk space are not allocated to
CD-ROM sharing tasks, and overall network performance is significantly
enhanced.
The Avantis CD/DVD networking approach also guarantees compatibility
with all CD/DVD formats. Using a standard file server, more
than 50% of CD/DVD
applications cannot be networked or accessed by mapping to
shared network drives.
Q5. Why use a network attached storage (NAS) server
solution?
A5. NAS devices connect directly to a network and provide
an effective and simple approach to sharing resources across
a network. NAS takes the overhead of resource sharing away
from the existing network servers as the appliance operates
independently of other servers on the network. Connecting
and configuring a NAS appliance is straightforward and fast.
Typically, NAS appliances need no screen or key board to install
– initial set-up is via DHCP. Avantis servers can also be
configured from a secure Appliance Manager application via a
screen and keyboard. Once
running, NAS appliances are administered from a web browser
such as Netscape or Internet Explorer.
Q6. What is the performance of Avantis CD/DVD servers?
A6. The performance of Avantis CD/DVD servers depends
upon the model chosen and the network to which the server is connected. OpenCD Campus will typically support
up to 90 users on fast ethernet (100mbps) whilst OpenCD Enterprise can support more than 100 concurrent users and more than 50 concurrent
video (AVI) clips when connected on a good Gigabit ethernet network.
Q7. How does the data transfer speed compare with other
CD/DVD networking solutions?
A7. As Avantis CD/DVD servers are optimised for CD/DVD
sharing, the data through put is faster than most others solutions
available. The Avantis OpenCD Enterprise range offers a single
user data rate of up to 8 Mbytes/sec and a 10 user data rate
of 7 Mbytes/sec (typical). This compares to a single user
date rate of less than 5Mbytes/sec and a 10 user data rate
of just 400 Kbytes/sec for a CD tower solution.
Q8. How many CDs/DVDs can be stored on an Avantis CD/DVD
server?
A8. Avantis offers a range of CD/DVD server storage capacities
from 10 to 600 CDs (Guaranteed Minimum Capacity). All Avantis
CD/DVD servers can be capacity expanded.
Q9. What does ‘Guaranteed Minimum Capacity’
mean?
A9. The Guaranteed Minimum Capacity is the storage capacity
using full 650MB
CD-ROMs. The typical CD/DVD storage capacity will be much
greater than the GMC as not all CDs are fully written and
may contain less than 650MBs of data.
Q10. How many users can access an Avantis CD/DVD server?
A10. The number of users that can access an Avantis CD/DVD
server depends on the model chosen and the network type. For OpenCD.Campus and OpenCD.Business a 100 seat license is included (upgradable) and for OpenCD.Enterprise an unlimited seat license is included in the price.
Q11. Which CD-ROM and DVD formats are supported?
A11. Avantis provides a guarantee to support 100% of
CD and DVD formats. This includes the following formats: CD-ROM,
CD-DA (audio), High Sierra, ISO-9660, Joliet, Video CD, CDi,
CD-R, CD-ROM XA, CDi Bridge, Photo CD, Enhanced Music CD,,
CD-RW, Packet CD, UDF 1.02, Multi-Session, DVD, DVD-Video
(when not CSS encoded), DVD-Audio, Web-DVD, Connected DVD
plus may copy protected formats including SafeDisc.
Q12. Can I use an Avantis CD/DVD server to share DVD
movies across the network?
A12. Due to licensing restrictions it is not possible to
load a DVD-Video Movie to an Avantis CD/DVD server.
Q13. How does the use of an Avantis CD/DVD server effect
software licensing?
A13. Most CD-ROM publishers are aware of the emergence
of Network CD/DVD Server solutions. These publishers are usually
happy to discuss a reasonable license fee for the multiple
use of their CD-ROMs across a network. Avantis CD/DVD servers
provide you with a method to monitor and limit the maximum
number of simultaneous users that can access each CD-ROM on
the CD/DVD server. This allows you to satisfy publishers that
you are adopting a professional and honest approach to software
licensing. Avantis cannot be held responsible for violations
of publishers licensing restrictions.
Q14. Do Avantis CD/DVD servers include a CD-Writer for
CD archiving?
A14. Writing information to CD-R or CD-RW is not supported
using an Avantis CD/DVD server. Reading information from all
CD formats is supported however.
Q15. What network environments are supported by Avantis
CD/DVD servers?
A15. Avantis
CD/DVD servers support Windows 95/98/Me, NT4.0, Windows 2000, XP and Windows 2003 Server. Avantis CD/DVD Servers may be accessed from Windows Vista but there is not currently a version of the Avantis Client for Vista. Other operating system support available by using
SMB/CIFS client for MAC, Unix, Linux.
Q16. Can CDs be accessed via the web using an Avantis
CD/DVD server?
A16. All html formatted CDs can be accessed and launched
immediately from the web browser interface.
Q17. Is additional software required to run Avantis CD/DVD
servers?
A17. Avantis CD/DVD servers require no additional file
server software, drivers or
special configuration software. All servers are supplied with
Avantis Client (Virtual Drive™) client software for 100% CD/DVD
compatibility. This is an optional
installation for OpenCD servers only. Please note that the Avantis Client software is not currently available for Windows Vista.
Q18. What security options are offered with Avantis CD/DVD
servers?
A18. Avantis CD/DVD servers can be used to restrict access
to individual CD/DVD titles and limit the number of simultaneous
users to comply with licensing
restrictions. Avantis servers come with three different security
modes; Open Access, MS Workgroup for manual user/group entry
and MS NT Domains for full integration with existing domains
including trusted domains and MS ADS.
Q19. How can
Avantis CD/DVD servers be expanded in capacity?
A19. Avantis CD/DVD servers can be upgraded by the addition
of extra hard disk capacity.
The hardware upgrade for
these products can only be undertaken at Avantis.
Q20. What is the standard hardware warranty for Avantis
CD/DVD servers?
A20. Avantis offers a one year return to base warranty
as standard on all
CD/DVD servers.
Q21. Is there a software maintenance package available
to cover the cost of software updates?
A21. Yes. Avantis has expanded its Support Pack family
of services with the introduction of 'Software Maintenance'.
After purchasing software maintenance, customers are entitled to download
any software updates which become available for their server
for the duration of the maintenance agreement.
This service should be ordered at the time of purchase of
the CD/DVD server. For customers who do not take out a Software Maintenance
agreement, there is a 'Single Software Upgrade' charge.
Q22. What services are available for Avantis CD/DVD servers?
A22. In addition to the one year return to base warranty
supplied free of charge with all Avantis products, Avantis
offers a range of optional service and maintenance products. These products come under the heading of the 'Avantis
Support Pack' and include Extended
Warranty Options and Software Maintenance Contracts which will provide new versions of software automatically.
These services can be purchased
separately. In addition, Avantis provides free e-mail technical support, as well as free access to the Avantis
Online Support Centre.
Q23. What is the Avantis Support Pack?
A23. The Avantis Support pack includes two additional services that may be purchased with any server. Please see Q22 above.
Q24. What Extended Warranty Options are available?
A24. Extended warranties allow the customer to extend
the normal 1 year
return-to-base warranty for up to two more years. The warranties
include parts and labour, and the cost of return shipment
from Avantis.
Q25. What on-site maintenance contracts are available
from Avantis?
A25. Avantis Systems does not provide on-site maintenance services. However we may be able to put you in touch with a company who can provide this service to you. Please call sales.
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FAQs
