Creating a File Store

File Stores tell Cablecast where to find and save media — playback files, VODs, and archives. Before creating a File Store, make sure you're familiar with how File Stores work.

Before You Begin

A few things to keep in mind as you set up File Stores:

• Backup/Archive File Stores cannot be used for active playback. Only File Stores with the type set to Active will work for playing content on air.

• File Stores can only be assigned to playback servers, VOD configurations, and encode devices. Live inputs and other non-Cablecast devices cannot be selected.

• Encoders can only be assigned to one File Store at a time. If an encoder is already assigned to a File Store, that File Store name will appear in parentheses next to the encoder. Selecting a new File Store will replace the existing assignment.

Creating a Local File Store for Playback

Use this when you want to add a new folder on your Cablecast server's local content drive (typically the E: drive) for storing and playing back video files.

Step 1: Create the folder on the E: drive

1. Open File Explorer on your Cablecast server.

2. Navigate to your E: drive.

3. Create a new folder and give it a descriptive name (for example, Content).

Step 2: Add the File Store in Cablecast

1. Go to Settings → System Settings → File Stores.

2. Click New File Store.

3. Fill in the following fields:

   • Name: Enter a descriptive name (for example, Content)

   • Server: Choose the relevant server from the dropdown

   • Type: Active

   • Purpose: Playback Files

4. Click Add Mount. In the dialog that appears:

   • Set Type to Local

   • Enter the Address (folder path, for example E:\Content)

   • Click OK

5. Under Playback Devices, check the devices you want to be able to play content from this File Store.

6. If you also want to record/encode to this File Store, check the appropriate devices under Encode Devices.

7. Click Save.

Any media added to this folder will now be available for playback on the selected devices.

Creating a Local VOD File Store

Use this when you want to store Video on Demand (VOD) files in a new local folder.

Step 1: Create the folder on the content drive

1. Open File Explorer on your Cablecast server.

2. Navigate to your content drive (typically the E: drive).

3. Create a new folder for VOD content (for example, VOD New).

Step 2: Add the VOD File Store in Cablecast

1. Go to Settings → System Settings → File Stores.

2. Click New File Store.

3. Fill in the following fields:

   • Name: Enter a descriptive name (for example, VOD New)

   • Server: Choose the relevant server from the dropdown

   • Type: Active

   • Purpose: VODs

4. Click Add Mount. In the dialog that appears:

   • Set Type to Local

   • Enter the Address (folder path, for example E:\VOD New)

   • Click OK

5. Under VOD Configuration Storage Role, set the role for this File Store:

   • Choose your VOD configuration (for example, VOD Configuration 1) from the list

   • If this will be your primary VOD storage location — where new VOD files are written — leave the role as the default for that configuration

   • If this is additional/secondary storage (for example, storing older VODs on a NAS), set the role to Additional VOD Storage

6. Click Save.

Creating a Network-Attached (NAS) File Store

Use this when you want to use a network-attached storage device for playback files. If you're looking to use a NAS for VOD storage, see Expanding VOD Storage to a NAS instead, as there are different considerations for that configuration.

Note that recording/encoding directly to a NAS over the network is not recommended — for best results, record directly to the playback server's local content drive.

Step 1: Add the File Store in Cablecast

1. Go to Settings → System Settings → File Stores.

2. Click New File Store.

3. Fill in the following fields:

   • Name: Enter a descriptive name (for example, NAS Playback)

   • Server: Leave this blank

   • Type: Active — or Backup and Archive if this NAS is for long-term storage and won't be used for active playback

   • Purpose: Playback Files

Step 2: Configure the mount

1. Click Add Mount. In the dialog that appears:

   • Set Type to UNC

   • In the Address field, enter the network path to your NAS share (for example, \\NAS-Server\CablecastShare)

   • Enter the Username and Password for the NAS share

   • Click OK

2. Click Save.

Step 3: Complete the configuration based on your purpose

If Purpose is set to Playback Files: Under Playback Devices, check the devices you want to be able to play content from this File Store. You can set up a Backup or Archive Workflow to move content to the NAS, and a Restore Workflow to automatically pull files back to the playback server if the associated Show is scheduled again in the future.

If Purpose is set to Backup and Archive: No device assignment is needed. Set up a Workflow to automatically back up or archive content to this NAS location. You can also configure a Restore Workflow to move files back to your playback server when they're needed for broadcast.

Creating a File Store for an External Hard Drive

The process is nearly identical to creating a local playback File Store — the main difference is that you'll select the drive letter for your external drive and choose the server it's physically connected to.

Important note about external drives

External hard drives are not recommended for direct recording/encoding or playback. Their read/write speeds may not be sufficient to keep up with those processes. For active use, write directly to the content (E:) drive of your Cablecast server instead.

External drives work well for backup, archiving, and restoring content. You can use Cablecast Workflows to automate that process. Note that Workflows currently support playback files but not VOD content.

Step 1 (optional): Create a folder on the external drive

1. Open File Explorer.

2. Navigate to your external drive.

3. Create a folder with your desired name (for example, Archives).

Step 2: Add the File Store in Cablecast

1. Go to Settings → System Settings → File Stores.

2. Click New File Store.

3. Fill in the following fields:

   • Name: Enter a descriptive name (for example, Archives)

   • Server: Select the server the external drive is connected to

   • Type: Backup and Archive

   • Purpose: Playback Files

4. Click Add Mount. In the dialog:

   • Set Type to Local

   • Enter the drive letter and folder path (for example, G:\Archives)

   • Click OK

5. Click Save.

From here, you can configure a Workflow to back up or archive content to this drive. A Restore Workflow can then automatically move those files back to your playback server when they're needed for broadcast — useful if a show is rescheduled and its playback file is no longer on the server.

Need help?

If you run into any issues, contact Cablecast support at support@cablecast.tv.