The Implementation Process

Our process will consist of seven steps:

1.	Plan, select, and acquire the necessary components.
2.	Install hardware inside and outside the computer.
3.	Install/update storage drivers and software (if necessary).
4.	Create RAID sets or volumes.
5.	Install FCP (if necessary).
6.	Install capture device drivers.
7.	Configure FCP to use the new storage and capture hardware.

We'll follow this somewhat formal method, since our choices of hardware are profoundly rich and diversified.

Let's start with a simple planning exercise, to guide you in selecting the hardware. We won't advocate one option over another, but hopefully you'll find the information helpful in making your selection.

Next, we'll power down the machine and install the appropriate internal devices. These most often come in the form of PCI cards installed in the PCI or PCI-X slots in your Mac. We'll then attach the storage device to the Mac as well.

After that, we'll install any drivers or software needed to drive your storage. In some cases, your chosen storage system won't need any additional drivers or software, so you'll be able to skip this step.

Then we'll use Disk Utility to set up the storage hardware to make the HFS+ (Hierarchical File System, the Mac OS file system) volumes that will store your uncompressed frames.

If the system is brand-spankin'-new, you'll then install FCP as outlined in Lesson 10 of this book.

Penultimately, we'll install the necessary device or deck control drivers for the capture scenario you've selected.

And finally, we'll configure FCP to recognize and work with the new hardware.