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System Director Functionality
The System Director maintains all information about the file system. The System Director is either embedded on
a Controller in an Engine, or runs separately on a System Director Appliance. In any Avid NEXIS configuration,
there is only one System Director. If the System Director is embedded, the first Engine configured in a multi-
Engine system runs the System Director for the entire system.
The embedded System Director can manage up to four Media Packs.
The System Director Appliance can manage more than four Media Packs, up to the limit described in the Avid
NEXIS ReadMe, with either the Avid NEXIS | FS Extended license or the Avid NEXIS | FS Advanced license.
The System Director Appliance cannot be used with an Avid NEXIS | PRO.
The System Director:
• Manages the metadata by storing directory information and file attributes.
• Provides a location to coordinate file access modes (read/write), file locking, range locking, performance data
collection, logging, file lookup, and directory change tracking for client systems.
• Provides the following information:
- Identity of all connected storage systems
- Information about the drives, power, cooling and Controllers in the configuration
- Names of workspaces
- Lists of users and groups within the system
The System Director does not store client data (media files); these are stored on the Media Packs (drives) within
one or more Engines. System Director metadata is mirrored on the system drives in the Engines or in the System
Director Appliance.
System Directors, workgroup servers, and clients must all be synchronized with a common time of day. For
information on setting the Network Time Protocol (NTP), see “Software Installation and System Setup” on
page 33.
POST LEDs Shows the boot progress of the controller. If the controller fails to boot, the LEDs
show the stage in which the error occurred.
Controller identification label Indicates the Controller type, which specifies in which Engine it can be used. See
“Types of Controllers” on page 12 for more information.
Controller Release Latch Disconnects the Controller from the backplane for removal from the Engine (see
“About Controller Failures” on page 57).
Data Interface ports (SFP+) Connects the Engine or System Director Appliance to a network switch (see
“Connecting the Hardware to a Switch” on page 29).
For a single port connection to a switch, use the left port (gx0). If using link
aggregation (NIC teaming), connect both ports (gx0 and gx1) to one or more
switches.
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