Delivering ultimate performance with maximum efficiency
ELEMENTS BLINK - BeeGFS native client for Windows and macOS
The optimal solution for connecting to the high-performance BeeGFS file system.
Ultimate performance meets ultimate practicality
ELEMENTS BLINK enables block-level storage access, allowing Windows and macOS workstations to harness the full performance of the BeeGFS file system. Unlike FUSE-based file system implementations, ELEMENTS BLINK is developed as a real kernel-level driver integration, offering superior performance. Compared to NAS protocols, you can expect significantly higher throughput, lower latency, and a more stable connection. This ensures you can fully utilize the maximum performance of the BeeGFS file system.
Multi-platform support
Originally, the BeeGFS native client was exclusively available for the Linux operating system, but now, ELEMENTS is changing the game. In collaboration with BeeGFS, we’ve developed ELEMENTS BLINK which is a native client for Windows and macOS.
ELEMENTS BLINK has been specifically developed with the unique demands of media and post-production workflows in mind. This ensures you receive maximum performance, and the essential application support needed for the industry’s rigorous workflows.
Delivering unmatched efficiency and flexibility
Using ELEMENTS BLINK maximizes your storage environment and network infrastructure by delivering a more performant and stable connection. It alleviates the CPU load typically associated with NAS protocols, offering a significant upgrade over FUSE-based file system drivers. As a real kernel-level driver, it outperforms alternatives and integrates seamlessly with Ethernet technology, allowing you to choose between BeeGFS or NAS protocols without altering your existing infrastructure
A next-Gen file system powered by open architecture
BeeGFS is a file system engineered for concurrent access and cluster applications, offering outstanding stability and performance under high I/O loads or complex patterns. It’s the preferred choice for many TOP500 supercomputers. Since integrating BeeGFS into media workflows, we’ve built systems ranging from 100 terabytes to multiple petabytes, delivering exceptional performance, even setting new records in the SPEC SFS performance benchmark. This cutting-edge performance, combined with ELEMENTS BLINK native client, empowers you to tackle even the most demanding media workflows with ease.
Make full use of the maximum bandwidth and reach the physical limits of your Ethernet connection!
Easily connect any number of macOS or Windows clients and benefit from block-level storage access without the need for expensive Fibre Channel infrastructure.
Choose between connecting via ELEMENTS BLINK or NAS protocols, all without altering your existing infrastructure.
When discussing shared storage performance for media workflows, it’s crucial to consider not only the maximum internal performance of the storage environment itself but also how that performance is delivered to the connected computers on the network. Traditionally, post-production facilities faced a choice between two options:
Compared to file-level storage access using NAS network protocols, ELEMENTS BLINK provides higher throughput, lower latency, and a more stable connection. It delivers block-level storage access via Ethernet instead of the more expensive Fibre Channel, which reduces implementation costs. This setup also offers greater flexibility in how you connect to your storage, allowing you to use your existing infrastructure without needing to alter your setup or manage multiple networks.
BeeGFS is a preferred file system for many TOP500 supercomputers, known for its high performance through transparent data striping across multiple storage nodes. It also distributes file system metadata across several servers, making it ideal for concurrent access and cluster applications. This design ensures excellent stability and performance under high I/O loads and patterns.
The performance of BeeOND, a cloud-based, on-demand version of BeeGFS, was validated by the Azure HPC team. It achieved a groundbreaking one terabyte per second in cloud-based parallel file system performance, with 1.46 TB/s in read speed and 456 GB/s in write speed.
BeeGFS is a file system of choice for a number of TOP500 supercomputers. It achieves high performance by transparently striping user data across multiple storage nodes. Furthermore, it can distribute file system metadata across multiple metadata servers. In other words, BeeGFS is specifically designed for concurrent access and cluster applications and delivers excellent stability and performance in situations of high I/O loads or patterns.
The performance of BeeOND (a cloud-based on-demand deployment of BeeGFS) was even tested by the Azure HPC team, demonstrating the first-ever one terabyte per second cloud-based parallel file system. To be exact 1.46 TB/s of read performance and 456 GB/s of write performance.
BeeGFS is engineered to bypass architectural bottlenecks and locking issues in clusters, enabling smooth and linear scaling at both the metadata and storage levels. This design allows for „on-the-fly“ scaling of both capacity and performance, making it suitable for environments ranging from small clusters to large enterprise systems with thousands of nodes.
A key advantage of BeeGFS is its exceptional support for hybrid storage environments. It facilitates the creation of high-performance and cost-effective systems by allowing different storage mediums to be integrated into multiple storage pools. This flexibility enables you to leverage the unique benefits of each storage type, achieving an optimal balance between performance and cost. As a result, BeeGFS helps build future-proof hybrid solutions that adapt to evolving needs and workloads.
BeeOND is an on-demand deployment BeeGFS, designed to integrate seamlessly with cluster batch systems, enabling the creation of temporary parallel file system instances for individual jobs. These BeeOND instances offer a fast and convenient temporary buffer while offloading I/O loads from your primary storage cluster. This setup allows for flexible expansion of your file system’s capacity and performance, leveraging the benefits of cloud storage. Once your requirements are fulfilled, BeeOND instances can be swiftly removed, providing an efficient and adaptable cloud-based solution.
BeeGFS originated as a research project at the German Fraunhofer Center for High-Performance Computing, aimed at addressing performance-intensive applications like HPC, AI, and Deep Learning. It has been pivotal in notable projects, such as the first black hole visualization in April 2019, and has become a key component in the workflows of NASA, Shell, and the Max Planck Institute. BeeGFS is also the file system of choice for several TOP500 supercomputers. Now, ELEMENTS is introducing this high-performance file system to the Media and Entertainment industry.
BeeGFS is developed under an Available Source model, offering two editions. The Community Edition is free and self-supported, with its source code publicly accessible. The Enterprise Edition, which includes additional features and full support from ThinkparQ, is the version implemented by ELEMENTS.