What network and storage a year of images will need
Size a year of images from one real day’s file size, times the working days, times the days you will keep them. Do not buy disks from “about a few terabytes.”
To size a year of images, take one real day’s file size, multiply by the working days, then multiply by the number of days you will keep them. Do not buy disks from a supplier’s “about a few terabytes.” Retention days follow the contract. If the contract does not state them, the plant sets a number and writes it down.
Why it is judged this way
Full width, high resolution, and little compression can fill a disk in a day. First let the system store one hour at the production settings and see how much that takes, then multiply. If the network cannot carry the write, the camera drops images or slows down. Storage and the network are the same budget.
What to compare
| What you see | What to call it | What not to do |
|---|---|---|
| You have one hour of real volume | A year can be estimated | Use the capacity printed in a brochure |
| The contract states the retention days | Buy for that number of days | Keep everything forever with no disk for it |
| The network cannot keep up with the write | Upgrade the network first | Only add disks |
At job change or when a roll is opened
- Store one hour at the production settings and measure the size.
- Multiply by the running time and the contract days.
- Check that the network can keep writing.
