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How’s Your NVMe?

CMMA Blog

With so many technologies touting faster speeds, NVMe is surely top of mind for many who are trying to determine its advantages.  You may already have been using it for quite some time in your personal devices like a laptop or tablet, and only now looking at it to help meet the demands of the performance-intensive workloads in your datacenter.  And of course, NVMe will certainly do that.  In fact, NVMe can provide performance that’s orders of magnitude faster than traditional flash storage. NVMe is perhaps the hottest storage technology right now, and for good reason.

Another advantage that you may not yet be aware of, is how it can help save infrastructure costs.  How is that?   For shared storage environments where direct user access to data is needed, you have some choices. NVMe not only supports Fibre Channel but also Ethernet.  We’re all familiar with FC-SANs.  And we’re very comfortable with that technology since it became more broadly integrated in the late ‘90s.  That’s the 1990s, as in the previous century!  And Fibre Channel is still well-used and beneficial in many use cases, and that’s a credit to that networking technology.

However, the
other option covered here is Ethernet – and this networking topology creates
the possibility for a new frontier. One in which high-throughput, low-latency,
and lower costs can all be reaped.

And especially when the NVMe storage system needs to be shared and connected to the outside, that’s when things can become really interesting, and really fast! 

This is where incorporating RDMA (Remote Direct Memory Access) into the architecture comes in. RDMA is a game-changer by providing predictable, ultra-fast network performance. The key is that RDMA provides direct access between clients and remote NVMe storage devices, without going through the network stack or CPU.  This translates into real gains in performance and reduced latencies.

The benefit? RDMA networking technology
can deliver SAN speeds over a less expensive ethernet network
infrastructure. 

If this sounds interesting to you, and you’d like to learn more about how to meet the increasing demands of shared workloads at scale, check out our ‘NVMe, RDMA and Other Emerging Technologies ’ White Paper. This is a technical primer that provides information about shared storage with NVMe, workloads that are a good fit, along with topology comparisons and RDMA options. And it all starts with NVMe based storage, which increasingly serves as primary storage in many-tiered storage applications where real-time requirements exist. 

Quantum’s F-Series NVMe storage servers were designed for the highest-performance workloads with the highest availability requirements. Visit our Quantum F-Series NVMe Storage page to learn more about how Quantum is enabling customers to process higher-resolution content with screaming fast performance, while at the same time reducing both storage and network infrastructure complexity and costs. Taking the first steps today by beginning to integrate faster technologies will give you the leap needed to keep up with productivity and a competitive edge within your industry.

To view our Partner blog, click here

Brightcove’s Q4 2019 Global Video Index: Connected TVs gain; sales & marketing smartphone videos up 62%

Brightcove

Brightcove’s just-released Q4 2019 Global Video Index (download the complete report here ) found a big increase in the time spent viewing streaming video on a pair of devices — smartphones and connected TVs.

The increase on screens at opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of size seems out of character with the streaming world, but it may simply be an example of evolution. Where we once talked about the democracy of screens, that whatever screen at hand was the one we were most likely to choose to watch, viewers have evolved and now use mobile devices to source content and connected TVs to consume it.

Tablets and desktop computers are losing ground, meanwhile, with computers taking the biggest hit, a decline in video views of more than 10%.

Online news becomes a staple; especially in crises

If there’s any doubt streaming video has become mainstream across the world, how consumers are getting news related to the coronavirus outbreak should put an end to it.

Data from Brightcove shows streaming media/entertainment and streaming news numbers are riding a surging wave of viewing, almost certainly driven by the coronavirus crisis.

Whether it’s social distancing prompting consumers to camp out in front of screens to watch streamed entertainment, or a need for the latest news that has viewers checking in on developing stories more often, Y/Y streaming numbers have seen big gains.

In the first two weeks of March, for example, the amount of time spent viewing news video increased 14% from the previous year, while the actual number of videos viewed jumped more than 31%.

On March 13 alone, when U.S. President Donald Trump declared a national emergency, time viewing news online increased 47% from a year ago and the number of news videos views jumped nearly 66% – the highest total for a single day in Q1 for the past two years.

Broadcasters used to be the go-to source for developing news stories, but the COVID-19 crisis has shown that consumers increasingly turn to streaming news sources for the latest updates – as well as in-depth coverage of news that’s important to them. With streaming, news providers can update news on the fly, provide broader, deeper coverage, and pull in points of view from around the globe. And, they don’t need to worry about fitting reports into arbitrary time slots. They have the flexibility to tell a better story.

Q4 2019 Global Video Index sees rise in time watched

Time watched overall during Q4 increased by nearly a quarter, up 23% Y/Y, according to the Q4 2019 Global Video Index. Connected TVs saw time watched more than double globally, up 114% from a year ago, with smartphones rising 30% and tablets up 6%. Only computers saw a decline in time watched, about 2%.

Australia/New Zealand saw time watched on connected TVs increase 173% with North America seeing a significant increase in time watched on smartphones, more than 53%.

Marketing & Sales see rise in mobile use

In Q4, smartphones were the name of the game for marketers trying to reach consumers online. More than 62% of all marketing video views were on mobile devices globally.

Asia-Pac saw an even higher percentage of marketing video on smartphones, 82%, up from 55% the previous year. ANZ increased to 55%, Europe was at 62%, Latin America 61% and North America 53%.

Computers saw the second largest share of retail and marketing video views in every region with tablets trailing and connected TVs even further back. While smartphones earned a bigger share of video views in every market, computers lost share. Asia-Pac saw computer’s share of video views drop by more than 50%, Japan/Korea saw computers fall behind smartphones for the first time, as did North America. MENA saw smartphone share grow to 49%, pulling even with computers during the quarter. In every other region smartphones surpassed computers.

Tablets slipped in every region and connected TVs saw limited growth. But connected TV share is likely to add pace over time as viewers continue to look to the big screen for content, more premium content makes its way onto CTVs and marketers follow.

Engagement (time spent), meanwhile, with retail and marketing video on smartphones is up in every market: Asia-Pac (+380%); ANZ (+41%); Europe (+78%); Japan/Korea (+12%); LatAm (+52%); MENA (+91%); and, North America (+71%).

The bottom line

As the Global Video Index showed, Q4 traditionally has been a quarter of growth for OTT with the holidays driving viewing time on new devices and company’s racing to get content and platforms into the public eye.

But Q1 this year could see significant change as the coronavirus begins to have an impact on how critical information and news is shared around the world.

The true measure of just how far streaming video has come will be even more apparent in Q2, as large portions of the world’s population begins to “shelter in place” to slow the spread of the virus. Will the amount of streaming video consumed increase? Of course it will.

Stay tuned… and stay well.

To view our Partner blog, click here

Microsoft Teams and Surface Hub 2S: Collaboration Tools for Today and Tomorrow

AV Everywhere

Today, nearly five million people in the U.S. are working remotely . Well before the coronavirus disrupted work as we know it, we were being told that remote work was an essential part of doing our jobs and that remote workers would dominate the workforce . The proliferation of remote work articles popping up in the wake of COVID-19 have made this an even more salient feature of our work lives. Millions of people around the world have had to adjust to a new way of working — a way that requires them to be at home but perform as if they were in the office. 

One of the tools getting high-profile coverage  is Microsoft Teams . Whether I’m in the office or working from home, I use Teams many times a day. It’s how colleagues chat me up with ideas and suggestions. It’s how I share editable documents that a specific work group can view and edit. It’s where I can scroll through a conversation to refresh my memory about where we left off a certain project or deliverable. And it’s where I attend video meetings with colleagues to brainstorm, share ideas, and get work done in real time. Let’s look in greater detail at how Microsoft Teams helps me — and can help you — work from home and anywhere else.

How to Work Remotely With Microsoft Teams

For the past couple of weeks, Microsoft Teams has taken on more prominence and importance as my colleagues and I work outside the office. Working remotely doesn’t have much meaning or benefit unless we’re being productive. And Microsoft Teams is supporting that productivity. Since so much of the work we produce is the result of collaboration , it’s easy to see why Microsoft calls Teams its “hub for teamwork.” You could click a link and see the kind of features and capabilities it offers. But for me — I hope for you as well — the best way to share what Microsoft Teams can do is to speak from experience.

Like you, I work on a lot of projects that involve collaboration with a wide range of colleagues. Within Microsoft Teams, I can create (or be added to) a group that is named for a particular project. For example, we formed one project to gather content for our forthcoming podcast. Within these dedicated virtual spaces, we can add files that anyone can edit and download. We also added a section for conversation topics. To those topics we can attach our names and notes so that we know who has responsibility for recruiting guests and scheduling their appearances. It’s a great way for me to remind myself what I’ve done, still have to do, and my deadline. 

Another great reminder is the Posts tab, which includes the typed chats we’ve had about a topic. I frequently reference these conversations if I need to refresh my memory about what was discussed so that I know to work on a task or follow up with someone about theirs. This persistent chat is visual proof of our brainstorming, questions we’ve asked and answered, and announcements we’ve made to each other.

And speaking of visuals: It’s easy to jump into a video call with anyone in my contact list, which includes everyone in the company and anyone that I add. Once in a call, I’m two clicks away from recording the session, an essential tool when I’m interviewing a partner for one of AVI-SPL’s white papers . For most of these meetings, at least one attendee needs to share their content in the Teams window for all to see and understand. Another great feature: how easy it is schedule a Teams meeting from Outlook. I can schedule meetings from within the Microsoft Teams window, but I’m a creature of habit and I’m used to using the Outlook calendar. Whichever way you prefer, know that Teams accommodates your work style.

It’s worth noting that I’ve used only a fraction of Microsoft Teams’ capabilities. There’s plenty of apps that you may find helpful to support your work style or needs, including Stream, Wiki, OneNote, and a host of other built-in Office 365 applications.

I know I’ve given only a taste of what Microsoft Teams can do. Talk to one of AVI-SPL’s experts and you can ask about a host of other features like third-party solutions, the ability to integrate workflows, and the Teams developer platform that works with your business apps. If you choose, we can also take a deep dive with you into important benefits like security, manageability, and compliance, along with the room devices from our manufacturer partners that bring Microsoft Teams into the meeting space. With all I’ve shared, I’d be remiss to not include this overview of its key features:

  • Works across desktop, mobile, browser and a wide range of devices
  • A digital whiteboard (which I’ve never used til I started writing this post. It was a breeze to start.)
  • AI capabilities
  • Interoperability with other video systems
  • The features that ensure a quality audio and video experience
  • Actionable IT analytics

There’s much more to cover, but here’s the takeaway that I hope resonates with you: whatever industry you’re in, Microsoft Teams can improve your operations and processes when it comes to work and collaboration.

How to Be Productive in the Office With Surface Hub 2S

As we get back into the flow of on-site meetings and collaboration sessions, we’ll want to be in the same conference rooms and huddle spaces to connect with people who are in those areas or working from other locations. I don’t have the personal experience with Surface Hub 2S that I have with Microsoft Teams, but I’ve seen the demos — enough to know that it’s the kind of tool that you want in your office when it’s time for groups in and out of the workplace to get together on a shared, high-resolution canvas. And it’s not just any digital canvas, but one that has all the power of the Windows 10 operating system and has the great Microsoft Teams software built in. Going back to what I said earlier about the value of familiarity and comfort in the way we work: This is another way that Microsoft is delivering that kind of experience.

Surface Hub 2S is an interactive device that acts as a meeting platform, digital whiteboard, and so much more. Bring it into a conference room, huddle room or open area and you’ve created a space for teamwork. That includes the ability to use Microsoft Teams to collaborate with remote workers, replicating the great experience you’re used to from your PC. It also includes video conferencing so you can see your teammates while working on shared content in real time. Here are just a handful of the features that make the Surface Hub 2S so valuable:Surface Hub 2S image

  • 4K camera and 4K screen
  • Wireless content sharing
  • Microsoft Whiteboard
  • Window 10 OS
  • 50-inch display size
  • Cart or wall-mount installation

The Surface Hub 2S is the tool you’ll want to have to bring your remote teams together, work from anywhere in the office, and have an easy, fluid collaboration experience among the talent that drives your company’s success.

Talk to AVI-SPL’s Advocates About Microsoft Teams and Surface Hub 2S

If you’re new to Microsoft Teams or Surface Hub 2S, or you’re new to remote collaboration, there are experts at AVI-SPL who are ready to answer your questions and give you guidance . Whatever questions you have, ask them, as our representatives can discuss:

  • Product demos
  • How to migrate from Skype for Business to Microsoft Teams
  • Planning and designing an enterprise-wide Teams launch (including network assessment, device strategy and migration planning)
  • Microsoft Teams meeting-room configuration with certified devices (Crestron, Poly, Yealink, Logitech, and others)
  • Training and adoption services
  • Room system and device management
  • How Microsoft Teams can help your specific industry
  • Integrating the Surface Hub 2S into areas across your enterprise

It can seem like a lot to take in, but keep in mind that all of these features and benefits are meant to serve your clear goals: better team collaboration and a better way of organizing you and your teams’ work. I would venture that a lot of us are looking forward to the day we can get back into the office and have that in-person experience. But for those of us who are set up to collaborate from home, we know how easy it is to be just as productive and contribute just as much from wherever we choose to set up our personal devices. Our current circumstances will pass; what will remain is the freedom, flexibility, and support that tools like Microsoft Teams and Surface Hub 2S bring to our work lives.

To view our Partner blog, click here

Employee Communication During a Crisis

CMMA Blog

Communication
is king

Together,
we are facing an unprecedented global crisis. COVID-19 has changed every single
aspect of our lives. And since this is a business blog, I’ll do my very best to
focus on how it’s changing the way we work.

Communication—without
a doubt—is one of the most important elements to managing a crisis. Whether
you’re disseminating information, or a recipient of the information provided, how
the message is delivered sets the tone for a lot more than you realize.  

The reality

How you
handle COVID-19, can make or break employee engagement. The actions you take as
a business today, have the potential to shift your culture forever. The words
your leaders speak can either reflect your company’s values or diminish them altogether.

Here’s
why. Employees are scared (even if they say they aren’t!) because there is so
much we don’t know. Also, they’re not just your employees. They are wives,
husbands, parents, children, caregivers and maybe even patients.

But
why?

As an
employer, you need to do everything you can diminish uncertainty in this
uncertain world. You must communicate what you know, and how it impacts your
business with sensitivity.

Explain
what it means to every employee and outline your expectations of them. Address
any changes you’re making to deadlines, compensation or policies (i.e. work
from home). Give them specific calls to action. Whatever you do, do not leave
them guessing.

With that
said, focus on the facts related only to your business. Do not comment or
speculate on what will happen in the future—leave that to the experts. Refer
employees to reputable outside resources for the things not in your immediate
control. For example, link to tips and information on COVID-19 from the World Health Organization or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (if
you’re in the United States).

When and
how often you communicate with employees is entirely up to you. You know your
business—and employees—better than anyone else. But when things are changing by
the minute, overcommunicating is better than not communicating at all.

Creating
a great experience

In times
of crisis, great leaders—and companies—emerge. Clear, consistent and frequent
communication is vital. To recap thus far, don’t leave employees guessing.
Don’t leave room for uncertainty. Use this moment in time to solidify who you
are as a company.

TeamsFree

After you
determine what you’ll communicate and how often, think about how you will
communicate. Yes, the mechanics matter. My advice is to use whatever communications
channel—email, messaging platform or enterprise social networking—you use every
day. That’s where employees will be looking for your messages. But it’s also
important to consider the overall employee experience you want to create.

So much
of communication is nonverbal. Body language and facial expressions matter.
They increase understanding and establish a better perspective of what the message
means for the viewer. That’s exactly why video is emerging as the most
effective way to communicate when you can’t meet in person.

In fact, a recent Wainhouse Research survey found 82% of those surveyed described video as an effective tool for communicating work-related information.1

Here’s a
little more food for thought. With more and more people working from home right
now, they might feel isolated or disconnected. Video is one way you can keep
employees engaged and connected. So, if you’re not already using video, it is
something you should consider.

Companies
like Microsoft
have made it easier than ever to record, share and watch videos. It’s as easy
as using your computer’s camera to record a message you can send to employees.
And for today, that’s exactly what you might need to do—from your home office.

Distributing
the video

Let’s go
one step beyond why, when and how you should communicate. If you use video to
deliver business communications or employee training, you need to consider how
it might impact your network.

But this
is where it gets tricky. Today, many of us are working from home. As a result,
we’re probably not using the corporate network. We’re using the public
internet.

When
everyone is in the office—or your employees are at your place of business out
of necessity—it’s a different situation altogether. High-quality video eats up
a lot of bandwidth, and most corporate networks aren’t sized to handle it. The
more you scale, the more your network becomes stressed.

To help
paint a picture, it takes approximately 20,000 mbps of bandwidth to webcast to
10,000 people.2 Just imagine what that would do to your network (and
the rest of your business applications). All of a sudden, your network has to
handle 20,000 mbps extra data. Everything slows like a busy highway during rush
hour.

withwithoutecdn 1024x517 1

For
example, let’s talk about what’s happening at medical facilities today. The
COVID-19 situation is changing by the hour, and leaders need to keep medical
staff up to date. Just imagine what could happen during a shift change at a
large hospital group. Everyone logs in and watches a video message from the
head of infectious diseases at the same time. All of a sudden, massive amounts
of data are travelling the network, slowing down access to critical systems
such as electronic health records.  

An
enterprise content delivery network (eCDN) can minimize network congestion
created by both live and on-demand video. By managing video distribution behind
the firewall, you protect your business operations while delivering an
uninterrupted, glitch-free experience to the people watching.

Read more
about Ramp’s eCDN software here or contact us for a free consultation
to assess your video network .

A
final word

Thank you to everyone who is on the front lines caring for others and working tirelessly to stop the spread of COVAD-19. We know you’re making a sacrifice to keep us safe, and we hold you in the highest regard.

1 Survey Insight: Gauging the Effectiveness of Video as an
Enterprise Communications Tool, Wainhouse Research

2 For
this calculation, we’re assuming one video stream is equal to 2mbps.

The post Employee Communication
During a Crisis appeared first on Ramp .

To view our Partner blog, click here

5 Tips to Supercharge Your Home Office Video Setup

CMMA Blog

With COVID-19 impacting global work environments, millions of employees are transitioning to a new normal – working from home. One of the biggest challenges of teleworking is learning to effectively communicate using live video. Whether presenting to customers or collaborating with teammates, it is essential that your virtual meetings are just as effective as those you would normally hold in-person.

In our new video, Kollective Technology’s Chris Gower, provides five tips to supercharge your home office video setup. We cover:

  1. The importance of holding calls in a controlled environment
  2. How to adjust your video setup to show off your best, most professional side
  3. Advice on how to choose the right backdrop or effect
  4. Tips to improve lighting and overall visibility
  5. Why audio quality is critical to successful call

If you would like to learn more about live video communication for enterprise companies, Kollective is offering a free video strategy consultation with one of our experts. Get started doing video today with help from our video strategists.

Learn more and sign up for an EVS Consultation today.

The post 5 Tips to Supercharge Your Home Office Video Setup appeared first on Kollective Technology .

To view our Partner blog, click here