SSD Refresh Tool

As part of ongoing product testing, Green Hippo has discovered a fault with Solid State Drives used in certain Hippotizer V4 systems; this fault can severely impact playback performance and should be addressed urgently. While the drives will ultimately require warranty replacement, we have created a software based tool to ensure all systems in the field continue to operate normally indefinitely. This tool is available from 4.0.2 Beta 4. We want to make our distributors and users aware of this issue and distribute contact information to ensure free replacement of the affected drives.

All Hippotizer V4 systems use multiple Solid State Drives (SSDs), for media storage (media drive) and one for general system use (OS Drive). Throughout the Hippotizer V4 line, Green Hippo uses several different makes and models of SSD. This bulletin concerns a specific type of SSD used as the media drive in Amba and Karst systems.

This affects Karst with serial numbers: 210036 – 210074
This affects Amba with serial numbers: 240038 – 240092

Testing has shown that files written on the drive for longer than two months can suffer from vastly reduced read speeds. For media files, this will manifest as un-even playback and jumping on the output. Often times the stock content will be the first files to be affected. Long running shows with the same content (such as tours) could also be affected by this issue.

Using the Refresh Tool

The refresh media tool is part of the STRATA dialogue in Media Manager’s settings.