Studio Network Solutions EVO Nearline 96TB 16-Bay NAS Server (16 x 6TB) - 16BNL96TB

Product Overview

The Studio Network Solutions EVO Nearline 96TB 16-Bay NAS Server is a purpose-built SNS EVO Nearline shared storage system designed for the secondary tier of a tiered media storage architecture. Housed in a 4U rack-mount chassis with sixteen 6TB drives, it provides high-capacity, lower-cost storage for completed projects, reference media, and large archive-ready libraries that still require occasional access. As a nearline storage for post-production solution, it delivers the same EVO OS platform and software suite as the primary EVO line, enabling consistent workflows across online and nearline tiers within a facility.

Product Description

The EVO Nearline 16BNL96TB fills the gap between primary online shared storage and deep cold archive — the tiered media storage server tier that holds completed deliverables, client-approved masters, and long-form reference files that are accessed regularly but not actively edited. Sixteen 6TB drives in a 4U chassis deliver 96TB of raw nearline capacity on the same custom Linux EVO OS that powers the full EVO line, ensuring consistent management, user access controls, and integration with existing facility infrastructure. The EVO Suite ships with the system: ShareBrowser MAM provides metadata-based search and proxy access across the nearline library, Slingshot automates ingest and migration workflows between tiers, and Nomad enables remote access to nearline content without a VPN. RAID 5 and RAID 6 are both supported, allowing administrators to configure the appropriate protection for long-term storage reliability. Dual on-board 10GbE ports provide network connectivity, expandable to 1, 10, 25, or 100GbE as facility infrastructure requires. Up to four expansion units can be added, scaling total raw nearline capacity to 2.4PB — appropriate for large broadcast archives and multi-season production libraries. A spare drive is included with the HDD configuration to reduce downtime during a disk replacement event. Three redundant 650W power supplies (1300W total, 100–240VAC) operate at 353W typical with 718W peak draw. This is the recommended secondary media storage NAS for facilities running the EVO ecosystem who need a structured, searchable nearline tier before committing content to cold archive or LTO tape. The 16BNL96TB is classified as nearline storage and is not optimized for primary editing workloads.

Key Features

• Nearline-Optimized Architecture — Designed for the secondary storage tier: completed projects, reference media, and pre-archive libraries that require periodic access without primary edit performance demands.
• 96TB Raw Capacity — Sixteen 6TB drives in a 4U chassis provide high-density nearline storage for large media libraries.
• EVO Suite Included (Unlimited Users) — ShareBrowser MAM, Slingshot, and Nomad ship at no per-seat cost, enabling consistent workflows across online and nearline tiers.
• Expandable to 2.4PB — Up to four expansion units can extend total nearline capacity to 2.4PB raw, supporting large broadcast and production archives.
• RAID 5 and RAID 6 — Both options available; RAID 6 recommended for long-term nearline reliability against dual-drive failure.
• Dual 10GbE On-Board — Standard connectivity for nearline access over existing network infrastructure, expandable to 100GbE.
• Triple Redundant Power — Three 650W PSUs (1300W total) provide N+1 redundancy for continuous nearline availability.
• Spare Drive Included — A replacement HDD ships with the system to minimize rebuild time after a disk event.
• ShareBrowser Nearline Search — Metadata-driven browsing and proxy access allows teams to locate and retrieve nearline content without manual file hunting.
• AD/LDAP Integration — Centralized directory support for consistent user permissions across primary and nearline storage tiers.

Typical Applications

• Post-production facilities using tiered storage workflows (online → nearline → archive)
• Broadcast archives storing completed program masters and reference cuts
• Film and television production companies managing multi-season libraries
• Facilities migrating content off primary storage to make room for active projects
• AV integrators deploying structured media lifecycle infrastructure
• Corporate media departments archiving finished deliverables with searchable access

Technical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the difference between EVO Nearline and the standard EVO shared storage server?

The EVO Nearline is optimized for the secondary storage tier — completed projects, reference media, and pre-archive libraries. It is not intended as a primary editing server. The EVO standard line (8-bay, 16-bay) is designed for primary online editing workloads. Nearline configurations use higher-capacity, lower-cost drives to maximize per-TB value at the secondary tier.

Q: Can editors access nearline content while actively working on primary storage?

Yes. ShareBrowser MAM provides metadata-based search and proxy access across both primary and nearline tiers, so editors can locate and retrieve nearline content without leaving their NLE.

Q: How much can this system expand?

Up to four expansion units can be added, scaling raw nearline capacity to 2.4PB — appropriate for large broadcast archives or multi-season production libraries.

Q: Is the EVO Suite software included?

Yes. ShareBrowser MAM, Slingshot, and Nomad are all included at no additional per-user cost.

Q: What RAID levels are supported?

RAID 5 and RAID 6. RAID 6 is recommended for nearline configurations given the importance of long-term data integrity.

Q: How many power supplies does this system have?

Three redundant 650W PSUs (1300W total) provide N+1 redundancy, meaning the system continues operating if one PSU fails.

Q: Can remote staff access the nearline storage?

Yes. Nomad supports remote access over standard internet connections, making nearline content available to distributed teams.

Q: Does this system integrate with Active Directory?

Yes. The EVO OS includes native AD and LDAP integration for centralized user management across both primary and nearline storage.