This chapter describes the StudioCentral Library configurations and the tasks required to install, configure, and support them:
StudioCentral can be used in a distributed configuration, where many users store assets in centralized repositories. This lets multiple users work on assets under the version control and security of StudioCentral.
This section describes the following StudioCentral configurations:
In the single-server configuration, which is shown in Figure 4-1, an SGI server running the IRIX operating system is the host machine for StudioCentral. The StudioCentral repository and other core software, the third-party database, and the filesystem content server(s) are all located on a single server. This server is part of a network that can include Windows and/or Macintosh computers, other servers, and Web clients. Assets that are stored in StudioCentral can be accessed by users on the network.
The StudioCentral Configuration Tool, which is part of the StudioCentral Admin Tool, is used to install and configure the StudioCentral configuration shown in Figure 4-1. It provides an easy-to-use web-client interface. Using the tool to install and configuring a basic, single-server configuration is described in the StudioCentral Library Installation and Configuration Guide (007-3319-nnn).
StudioCentral has the ability to run in a fully distributed environment on multiple server systems. The most common multi-server configurations are:
StudioCentral with a Remote Content Server
StudioCentral with a Remote Database
StudioCentral with a Remote Content Server and Database
Each of these configurations is described in this section.
Installation and configuration of a multiple-server configuration requires a knowledgeable system administrator or integrator, as some manual configuration of StudioCentral services is required. (The StudioCentral Library Installation and Configuration Guide describes how to do this.)
In this configuration, shown in Figure 4-2, an SGI server running the IRIX operating system is the host machine for StudioCentral. The StudioCentral server software, the third-party database, and a filesystem content server are all located on a single server. Due to storage requirements, a second content server is located on another IRIX host machine connected to the same network. Assets that are stored in either StudioCentral content server can be accessed by users on the network. An example of a remote content server is a MediaBase content store.
Whether the remote content server is a Kasenna MediaBase content server, a content server for a third-party archival storage system, another filesystem content server, or any other content server, it is customary to configure StudioCentral to have a local filesystem content server as well as a remote content server. This allows the administrator to configure a basic StudioCentral configuration (using the web-based Configuration tool) and then to add an additional content server manually on the remote machine.
In this configuration, shown in Figure 4-3, an SGI server running the IRIX operating system is the host machine for StudioCentral. The StudioCentral server software, and one or more filesystem content server(s) are located on a single server. Due to storage requirements, the third-party database is located on another IRIX host machine connected to the same network.
In this configuration, shown in Figure 4-4, an SGI server running the IRIX operating system is the host machine for StudioCentral. The StudioCentral server software, and one or more filesystem content server(s) are located on a single server. The third-party database is located on another IRIX host machine, where a remote content server is also located. Both servers are part of a network that can include Windows and/or Macintosh computers, other servers, and Web clients.
This section lists the procedures required to install, configure, and administer StudioCentral. The section is organized by administrative function. In some environments, one individual may be responsible for all functions; in others, more than one individual may be responsible. When more than one individual is involved, it is important to coordinate the administrative tasks for the successful installation and operation of StudioCentral.
The StudioCentral administrator is responsible for the overall installation and operation of the StudioCentral servers and clients. This individual performs the following tasks:
installs, configures, and operates the StudioCentral servers (with help from the database administrator)
installs and configures the StudioCentral clients (with help from the database administrator)
creates and manages StudioCentral users and their security privileges
creates IRIX users
creates database users (with help from the database administrator)
updates and maintains content server configuration files
performs queries and data management on assets
scans log files to troubleshoot problems
starts and stops the StudioCentral services
adds and manages StudioCentral datamodels
The database administrator is responsible for the database management system that is used with StudioCentral. This individual is also responsible for helping the system administrator during the installation and configuration of StudioCentral. The following tasks are performed by the database administrator:
helps install, configure, and maintain the Informix or Oracle database management system used by StudioCentral
defines the initial database configuration
uses a StudioCentral script to create the StudioCentral schema file
manages database user IDs for the database(s) used in StudioCentral
modifies and tunes the database for performance and reliability
establishes and performs database backup and maintenance procedures for failure recovery of data