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pgsengstock
Could work for Apple
Joined: 14 Nov 2007
Posts: 45
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 Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 2:17 pm Post subject: |
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This is quite a shock to us. When we first built our SAN, it was right before Apple pulled the plug on the Xserve RAID. After they did, we found ourselves with rapidly failing hardware and no source for parts. A year and a half ago, we revamped our SAN with all Active Storage hardware. It's been running great, and we've only had a few issues where we needed to get support involved. Now that they've closed their doors, though, I'm afraid we'll end up in the same place as we were with our Apple hardware. Fortunately, it doesn't look like they're using custom firmware on their drives, so as long as I can still get some that are compatible, we shouldn't be in too much trouble.
I wish all the best to the engineers and other folks from AS who were displaced. It was great working with you guys, and we're certainly sorry to see you go. |
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robert.herzan@av
JBOD
Joined: 26 Jan 2013
Posts: 1
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| Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 10:03 am Post subject: Rorke Support for Active Customers |
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| [Removed due to too much marketing.] |
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abstractrude
Xsan Master
Joined: 13 Mar 2008
Posts: 864
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| Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2013 4:00 am Post subject: |
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| How lame is that quantum press release. Such typical crap from those guys. Hey quantum ur partner failed and u put out a press release with marketing crap and say we can't help? Typical quantum nonsense. |
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Shanesky
JBOD
Joined: 27 Jan 2013
Posts: 1
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| Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2013 4:24 am Post subject: Active Storage Support |
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For the time being... we can help with support issues, get replacement drives, controllers, power supplies, firmware updates etc. Just incase anyone needs something in an emergency situation, feel free to reach out to us. We do not have the resources to honor active's awesome "no charge" part replacement on their warranties however we can see what we can do as far as hard drive and other RMA's.
We are still standing behind the Active Storage product.
http://skytech.tv/services/active-storage-support/
Shane Sokolosky
Skytech Media Solutions, LLC
780 Roosevelt
Irvine CA. 92620
Office : (818) 533-8759
Fax: (760) 645-7087
shane@skytech.tv
Skype: skytech.shane
Last edited by Shanesky on Sun Jan 27, 2013 2:10 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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bs3375
Could work for Apple
Joined: 02 Jul 2008
Posts: 47
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| Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2013 8:11 am Post subject: |
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| abstractrude wrote: | | How lame is that quantum press release. Such typical crap from those guys. Hey quantum ur partner failed and u put out a press release with marketing crap and say we can't help? Typical quantum nonsense. |
To be fair to Quantum, they can't support ActiveSAN. ActiveSAN is not the same as roll your own. Active altered the base code and inserted their own software layer to provide HA in a similar fashion to Xsan.
There is a whole legal aspect your're forgetting. ActiveSAN was an appliance that was password protected. That password was only available to employees of Active. Even though many Active employees now work for Quantum, if they provided Quantum with said password or an end user without permission from Active they open themselves up to lawsuit. And remember Active was privately backed. We have to assume that the privately backed investors closed Active because they weren't getting a return on their investment (aka they were losing money). If they saw a chance to recoup their losses by suing Quantum, they would. Investors care about money, not people.
My interpretation of the press release was that they want to help but don't know how and/or can't because Active's investors have roadblocked them. I believe that once integrators like myself start working with clients to convert their ActiveSANs to RYO we'll see how much Quantum is really willing to help.
FYI I am not some Quantum fanboy. I know they can be difficult to work with at times whether an end user, reseller or integrator. I am however a fan of their filesystem.
Sent from my iPhone |
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aaron
Site Admin
Joined: 19 Mar 2005
Posts: 405
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| Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2013 9:02 am Post subject: |
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I posted the Quantum PR on the home page because it is intimately linked to the Active failure. Not only are they the OEM partner, but they have hired a number of the former Active staff (browse LinkedIn for an example or two. I've heard that around a half dozen or more have moved to Quantum. Just as important is the clear statement that Quantum has NOT purchased Active, contradicting earlier rumors. (There is marketing BS in there too, but you've got to expect that, right?)
As for the reasons for the shutdown, I'm quite curious about that. History may be a guide: anyone as old as me remember Micronet?
_________________
Aaron Freimark
http://www.tekserve.com/vcard/af.vcf |
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shawnbti
JBOD
Joined: 24 Jan 2013
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2013 10:06 am Post subject: |
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| Heard there is custom firmware on controllers (accusys) and enterprise class SATA Drives (hitachi) - so not sure if off the shelf replacements will be recognized. just FYI |
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hutchenstein
JBOD
Joined: 08 May 2012
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2013 9:47 am Post subject: RIP |
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Good luck to anyone at Active (or was at Active). All a good bunch of people to deal with. Lets hope you've not been hurt in the crossfire.
Hope this all blows over and someone buys what's left so it can be re-badged and continue being supported.
I guess we'll have to wait until the vulture-lawyers pick the bones clean to see what's left. |
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abstractrude
Xsan Master
Joined: 13 Mar 2008
Posts: 864
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| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2013 11:27 am Post subject: |
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| Aaron funny you brought up Micronet... Anywho I disagree with quantum's stance. They are in unique position to reach out to ActiveSAN customers and help. The ActiveSAN volumes can easily be transferred to any Quantum StorNext controller or M330/660. They have people working for them that know all of Active's customers and I think an activeSAN style product will help quantum. Anyone use an M330 and want another? |
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TuberMagPico
Knows DNS is the answer
Joined: 08 Apr 2008
Posts: 30
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| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2013 4:33 pm Post subject: |
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The parent company by the name of Intel still mentions them as one of there portfolio companies..
QTM will hold a Q3 Conf Call on the 30th, got an alert on that.. |
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aaron
Site Admin
Joined: 19 Mar 2005
Posts: 405
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TuberMagPico
Knows DNS is the answer
Joined: 08 Apr 2008
Posts: 30
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| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2013 5:02 pm Post subject: |
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Touché
saw Alex's Linkedin profile change to 'Experienced storage executive driven to make complex media workflow solutions easy' but not mentioning Quantum... |
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gm7cadd9
JBOD
Joined: 21 Nov 2010
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 1:31 am Post subject: Re: Quantum Hires Alex Grossman |
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I didn't see an accompanying press release, but according to linkedin, Quantum also picked up Active co-founder Skip Levens.
What's odd is the timing, we're trying our best not to be too reactive and let the dust settle a bit, but the sharks (read: salesmen) smell the blood in the water and we are being cold called and courted by all sorts... including people at Quantum.
This puts us in an awkward position, Quantum is a massive company (compared to what Active was anyhow) and it seems the tail may not be aware of what the head is up to. The team I worked with at Active are ALL at Quantum and we are working towards resolutions, yet we are still being pitched by new people at Quantum. I feel a certain entitlement to keep working with my existing team, and I feel like I am being pitched by a used car salesman when Quantum sales reps enter the fray.
Currently I am leaning towards retiring our Active MDCs in favor of an M330, but keeping the mRAIDs/Expansions. Quantum is going to get our money one way or another, they are all just battling over who gets to put their name next to the sale. |
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method
JBOD
Joined: 26 May 2011
Posts: 1
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| Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 5:16 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | many on the Active Storage team recognized this as a fit and approached us about joining the Quantum team. Quantum decided to add a substantial portion of the Active Storage field team to join our efforts effective immediately. |
LOL! Yeah that sounds exactly how it must have gone down. Wow.
What do they say, victors write the history books... |
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undercover
Could work for Apple
Joined: 14 Jan 2010
Posts: 57
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| Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 12:45 pm Post subject: M330 -> M440 |
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Hey guys, I talked with someone from Quantum the other day (looking to replace 2008 XServe MDCs), and he said that the M330 is retiring this Spring, and is basically being replaced by the M440, and the price difference between them is basically nothing.
I'm still considering Mac Pros or Mac Minis though because the price difference is like $30k + annual support.
I never got around to purchasing Active, but man, I sure am going to miss them  |
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