Welcome < Configuration < Content Stores

Content Stores

Content Stores in Zetta^® allows the user to specify a location to store media and backup files. Using the content stores, redundant locations can be setup. For every store created the media and backup files are synchronized to each store, allowing for an off-site duplicate or backup of the files. If a file is accidentally or maliciously deleted from one store the synchronization will automatically recover the file from the other stores.

When a Zetta sequencer player queue's an asset, it first looks to the Local Audio Store for the audio, if not found it then looks to the first priority media store, if not found it looks to the next priority media store (redundant) and so on. Finally, if configured, it will look to the Zetta Cloud Store. If the audio is not located in any store the sequencer will skip the audio asset.

When Zetta is integrated with Zetta Cloud through Site Replication a Zetta Cloud Store is shown in the Content Stores.

Click any area in this image for help

Click any area in this image for help

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Content Stores Toolbar

The toolbar across the top of the Content Stores window can be used to add, delete or save a content store.

	Refresh - The Refresh button will refresh the Content Stores window. This will remove any unsaved changes.
	Add Store - The Add Store button is used to add a content store.
	Remove Store - The Remove Store button is used to delete a selected store.
	Advanced - The Advanced button has a drop-down allowing the user to Generate file for the selected store. The files generated can have absolute paths or relative paths. These files can be opened in a text editor application. Many third party tools (e.g. Total Commander) can be used to verify file consistency of all audio files in the content store. Example paths: Absolute Path = \\ZettaServer\Storage1\0\98~1-01 Call Me.mp3 Relative Path = 0\98~1-01 Call Me.mp3 When selected, the user will be prompted to save the file to a folder. Additionally, the user can select Force Full Synchronization to force a synchronization of the selected store.
	Save All - The Save All button is used to save a new or changed store.

Content Stores Details

The Content Stores window is divided into two sections. The top pane displays the configured stores with the priority and path. The bottom pane contains the configuration information for the selected store. See the Local Audio Storage tab in the Computer Configuration to setup the Local Audio Store. See the Detail tab to setup the Audio Store Playback Priority for each computer.

For every Media Store created the audio is synchronized to each store. Therefore, if the drives of a store fail, Zetta can still play audio from the secondary store or cloud store. Once the drive is restored any missing media and backup files will be synchronized to the new drives by the computer that is selected as the Managed by computer. If all the stores are accidentally deleted contact RCS Support for assistance.

Priority

The Store Priority can be change using the arrow buttons in the Store Priority column to the left of the Name of the store in the top pane.

Active

The Store can be set to Active or Inactive.

Name

Each Store can be named with a unique name to identify its purpose.

Description

The Description is used to expand on the name of the store to give it more meaning.

Managed By

The Managed By selection is used to select the computer responsible for handling the content store synchronization process in Startup Manager. When there are two or more stores, this computer is responsible for synchronizing the files in the stores. This computer must have access to the Storage Path(s) specified. When there is a green check next to the 'Managed by' computer that means the computer in online and a tooltip will show "Computer online" when the mouse is hovered over the green check. When there is a red x  next to the 'Managed by' computer that means the computer in offline and a tooltip will show "Computer offline" when the mouse is hovered over the red x. To quickly locate the computer needed, simply start typing the name in the Managed by field to filter down the list of computers.

Storage Path

The Storage Path is the UNC path to the location of the shared folder to store the media files or database backups. Use the Update Credentials button to open the Updated credentials window to enter a valid Windows Username and Password. This allows the site to secure the assets in a location where only Zetta and the site administrator have access. Simply create the Storage path folder share and give the account, only used by Zetta, Full Control to the share location. Then add that account to the Update Credentials window.

When windows Credentials are added a lock appears next to the Storage path in the list. If the credentials saved in Zetta are incorrect (password was changed on the Domain/Windows account being used) the row shows an alert with a red background.

To remove the credentials, open the 'Update Credentials' window and clear both the username and password fields.

When there is a green check next to the 'Storage path' that means the storage path is accessible and online and a tooltip will show "Storage path validated" when the mouse is hovered over the green check. When there is a red next to the 'Storage path' that can mean the Storage path is not accessible and offline or the username/password is invalid. A tooltip will show "Username/password is invalid", "Storage path not accessible" or "The location does not exist: (with location)" when the mouse is hovered over the red . 

Space Available

The Space Available shows the amount of free space available in the specified path.

Audio Store settings

The Audio Store settings are used to configure the store to be used for audio files. This includes the audio files and xmarks files.

Use for Audio Files - This option tells Zetta to use the selected store for Audio and metadata files associated with the Assets. When this is selected for the Zetta Cloud Store audio files will be synced to the Zetta Cloud. This allows for missing or corrupt audio files to be automatically recovered from the Zetta Cloud Store.

Use as Playout Source - This option is available for the Zetta Cloud store only and is only visible when Zetta is integrated with Zetta Cloud. This option tells Zetta to use this store as a source for the audio files associated with the asset events scheduled in the Logs, Hot Keys, Stacks etc. When this is selected for the Zetta Cloud Store, if audio for an Asset is missing from the local Content Stores, Zetta can stream the audio directly from the Zetta Cloud Store.

Purge audio file handling - The 'Purge audio file handling' will delete any audio files older than the parameter set for the store or the (RecycleBin) folder of the store. The 'Purge audio file handling' is not shown for the Zetta Cloud Store. Audio files are not purged from the Zetta Cloud as part of the Disaster Recovery feature. This setting has three options.

1. Don't use Recycle Bin (purge immediately) - The 'Don't use Recycle Bin (purge immediately)' option will tell Zetta to immediately purge any audio files that are deleted manually from the file system. Zetta will also purge audio files for any assets with an expired Kill Date, from the file system, when Schedule Maintenance runs.
2. Keep in Recycle Bin for x days - This option will tell Zetta to move the audio file for an Asset that has a Kill Date in the past or has been manually deleted, to a recycle bin folder that is named with the purged date (i.e., "\\audioserver\contentstore\(RecycleBin)\2022-12-21\1\660\1660616~1973 - James Blunt.wav"), then purge the contents of the folder (and the folder itselef when it is empty) after x number of days from the purge date during Schedule Maintenance.
3. Keep in Recycle Bin until total size exceeds x GB - This option will tell Zetta to purge any audio files in the recycle bin folder when the total size of all the files in the recycle bin exceeds the amount of space in gigabytes specified. Zetta will not delete all the files (empty recycle bin) but will remove an amount of files big enough to drop the size below x GB.

Backup Store settings

The Backup Store settings are used to configure the store to be used for Zetta database backups.

Use for database backups - This option tells Zetta to use the selected store for backups of the Zetta database.

Purge backup file handling - The 'Purge backup file handling' will delete any backups older than the parameter set for the store or the (RecycleBin) folder of the store. This parameter can be set to one of the following options:

1. Don't use Recycle Bin (purge immediately) - The 'Don't use Recycle Bin (purge immediately)' option will tell Zetta to immediately purge any backup files that are deleted manually in the Restore window from the file system. Zetta will also purge any backups from the recycle bin when Schedule Maintenance runs. 
2. Keep in Recycle Bin for x days - This option will tell Zetta move the backup that has been deleted to a recycle bin folder that is named with the purged date (i.e., "\\backupserver\contentstore\(RecycleBin)\2022-12-21\9\9054~Manual_Oops_20210610111457_5.21.1.168_.bakzip"), then purge this folder after x number of days from the purge date during Schedule Maintenance.
3. Keep in Recycle Bin until total size exceeds x GB - This option will tell Zetta to purge any backup files in the recycle bin folder when the total size of all the files in the recycle bin exceeds the amount of space in gigabytes specified. Zetta will not delete all the files (empty recycle bin) but will remove an amount of files big enough to drop the size below x GB.
4. Keep Last x backups - This option will keep the last backups up to the number specified keeping the newest backups first.

Note: Backups in the Zetta Cloud Store are shown in the Restore Database window but are only used in Disaster Recovery situations.

Content Stores Directory Structure in Windows

The directory structure in windows divides the amount of files into additional directories for increased speed when accessing windows. Zetta also maintains the deleted or unneeded files in a (RecycleBin) folder, thus allowing the user to retrieve files that may have been deleted by mistake. This structure is similar to the structure used for the Local Audio Storage.

The File Path column can be inserted into the Library module to show the location of the file.

Example:

If the File Path for the asset in Zetta is \\RCS1\Zetta\Storage1\6\6210~dynamite.mp3

The Storage Path of the primary media store is used as the path: \\RCS1\Zetta\Storage1\

Zetta creates a separate numeric folder for each 1,000 files. This is to speed up network access to the files. The numeric folder represents the value of the resource ID divided by 1000: 6

The Media Filename is built using the resource ID from the database (6210 in our case), tilde (~) and then original file name (dynamite.mp3): 6210~dynamite.mp3

The files in the RecycleBin are stored based on the selected purge handling. (i.e., Keep in Recycle Bin for x days will look similar to this "\\audioserver\contentstore\(RecycleBin)\2022-12-21\1\660\1660616~1973 - James Blunt.wav").

Content Stores Step-by-Step Topics

This section will detail the steps needed for configuring and using Content Stores in Zetta. A Store can be configured to store just the media files and a separate store for the backup files or the stores can be configured to hold both the media files and backup files.

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Configuring a Store for Audio Files

1. Go to Configuration Menu, click Content Stores
2. Click the Add Store  button.
   
3. Enter in a Name for the Content Store
4. Optionally, enter a Description for the Content Store.
5. Select the computer that will manage the store from the Managed By drop-down list.
6. Specify the Storage Path location or browse to the shared directory for the Content Store.
7. Click the Update Credentials button to enter a valid user name and password to access the Storage Path.
   
8. Select Use for audio files in the Audio Store section.
9. Optionally, select the Purge audio file handling option. Then select the setting for when Zetta should purge the audio in the Recycle Bin.
   • Don't use Recycle Bin (purge immediately)
   • Keep in Recycle Bin for x days
   • Keep in Recycle Bin until total size exceeds x GB
10. Click Save to save changes.
11. Access the Startup Manager window by double-clicking on the  icon in the System Tray:
12. Click the Stop All button for each service.
13. Once all the services have stopped, click the Start All button for each service. 
14. Ensure all the Content Management Services start.

Configuring a Store for Backup Files

1. Go to Configuration menu and click Content Stores
2. Click the Add Store  button.
3. Enter in a Name for the Content Store.
4. Optionally, enter a Description for the Content Store.
5. Select the computer that will manage the store from the Managed By drop-down list.
6. Specify the Storage Path location or browse to the shared directory for the Content Store.
7. Click the Update Credentials button to enter a valid user name and password to access the Storage Path.
   
8. Select Use for database backups in the Backup Store section
9. Optionally, select the Purge backup file handling option. Then select the setting for when Zetta should purge the backup files.
   • Don't use Recycle Bin (purge immediately)
   • Keep in Recycle Bin for x days
   • Keep in Recycle Bin until total size exceeds x GB
   • Keep Last x backups
     
10. Click Save .
11. Repeat for each Backup Store.
12. Access the Startup Manager window by double-clicking on the  icon in the System Tray:
13. Expand the Content Management Services section to verify the services for the content stores created start. If the services do not start automatically, click the Stop All button for the Content Management Services group.
14. Once all the services have stopped, click the Start All button. 
15. Ensure all the Content Management Services start.

Configuring a Redundant Store

For every Store created the files selected, Audio/Backup, are duplicated to each store, allowing for an offsite duplicate of the files.

1. Go to Configuration Menu, click Content Stores
2. Click the Add Store  button.
3. Enter in a Name for the Content Store.
4. Optionally, enter a Description for the Content Store.
5. Select the computer that will manage the store from the Managed By drop-down list.
6. Specify the Storage Path location or browse to the shared directory for the Content Store.
7. Click the Update Credentials button to enter a valid user name and password to access the Storage Path.
8. Select Use for audio files in the Audio Store section.
9. Optionally, select the Purge audio file handling option. Then select the setting for when Zetta should purge the audio in the Recycle Bin.
   • Don't use Recycle Bin (purge immediately)
   • Keep in Recycle Bin for x days
   • Keep in Recycle Bin until total size exceeds x GB
10. Select Use for database backups in the Backup Store section
11. Optionally, select the Purge backup file handling option. Then select the setting for when Zetta should purge the backup files.
    • Don't use Recycle Bin (purge immediately)
    • Keep in Recycle Bin for x days
    • Keep in Recycle Bin until total size exceeds x GB
    • Keep Last x backups
12. Optionally, use the Priority arrow buttons to set the order of priority for the stores. See the Local Audio Storage tab in the Computer Configuration to setup the Local Audio Store. See the Detail tab to setup the Audio Store Playback Priority for each computer.
13. Click Save to save changes.
14. Access the Startup Manager window by double-clicking on the  icon in the System Tray:
15. Click the Stop All button for each service.
16. Once all the services have stopped, click the Start All button for each service. 
17. Ensure all the Content Management Services start.

Configuring a Zetta Cloud Store

When Zetta is configured for Zetta Cloud Site Replication a Zetta Cloud Store is created. Backups sent to the Zetta Cloud Store can be used for Disaster Recovery.

1. Add a Zetta Cloud Site in Site Replication Manager.
2. Go to Configuration Menu, click Content Stores
3. Select the Zetta Cloud Store.
4. Edit the Name for the Content Store.
5. Optionally, enter a Description for the Content Store.
6. Select the computer that will manage the store from the Managed By drop-down list.
7. Select Use for audio files in the Audio Store section. When this is selected for the Zetta Cloud Store audio files will be synced to the Zetta Cloud. This allows for missing or corrupt audio files to be automatically recovered from the Zetta Cloud Store.
8. Select Use as playout source. When this is selected for the Zetta Cloud Store, if an audio asset is missing from the local stores, Zetta can stream the audio directly from the Zetta Cloud Store.
9. Select Use for database backups in the Backup Store section
10. Optionally, select the Purge backup file handling option. Then select the setting for when Zetta should purge the backup files.
    • Don't use Recycle Bin (purge immediately)
    • Keep in Recycle Bin for x days
    • Keep in Recycle Bin until total size exceeds x GB
    • Keep Last x backups
      
11. Click Save to save changes.
12. Access the Startup Manager window by double-clicking on the  icon in the System Tray:
13. Click the Stop All button for each service.
14. Once all the services have stopped, click the Start All button for each service. 
15. Ensure all the Content Management Services start.

Welcome < Configuration < Content Stores