Post house MPC has become the first facility in the UK to adopt the 10-Gigabit Ethernet standard for a new network infrastructure. The installation was recently completed by the systems integration arm of root6. 10-Gigabit Ethernet will enable MPC to swiftly move data-intensive 2K and 4K film projects throughout its visual effects and post production departments, writes Fergal Ringrose.
The installation incorporated brand new technologies including OM3 fibre optic and CAT7 copper cabling. Both required root6 to train and invest in new tooling and appropriate Test and Measurement equipment. As the standards are still not ratified, root6_s testing and validation procedure had to be modified to demonstrate that the cabling performed to exacting 10-Gigabit specifications.
Phil Crawley, Head of the Systems Integration Team explained, _The switch to 10-Gigabit Ethernet is a huge order of magnitude and far removed from traditional television technology _ currently you_d be more likely to encounter an infrastructure like this at internet behemoths Google or MySpace. High-end post is a data-centric environment with a huge and seemingly endless appetite for bandwidth. It is certain that others will follow MPC_s lead in adopting this technology._
The installation was split into two parts over a four month period with the machine room and CAT7 copper preceding the fibre optic backbone throughout MPC_s Wardour Street facility. In total, 24 kilometres of fibre optic cable and 15 kilometres of copper were required.
