Predictika · Shared media storage system builds

An AI sales agent's shared media storage build, checked before it goes out

An AI sales agent assembles a shared media storage system from storage engines, media packs and a System Director Appliance license. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the storage engine, media pack, System Director and load limits and returns a verdict, every reason and the figures it computed.

Scope: Avid NEXIS shared storage builds: F2 SSD, F2, F2X, F5, F5 NL and PRO+ engines, media packs and SDA+ licenses. See everything this validator covers

This validator models Avid NEXIS shared-storage system builds, not just the scenarios shown below.

  • Engines and media packs — F2 SSD (one or two SSD media packs), F2 and its F2X expansion unit (one pack each), F5 and F5 NL (4 to 8 packs each) and PRO+ (one pack each, up to four engines). PRO+ engines cannot be mixed with F-series engines, and the datasheet lists no redundant controller option for them.
  • System Director — the embedded director covers up to four media packs and up to 40 active F-series clients (24 for PRO+) and 8 million files (3 million for PRO+); F5 and F5 NL engines, five or more packs, more than 40 clients and Mirror protection need the SDA+ appliance, and the datasheet does not list PRO+ among the engines the SDA+ supports.
  • SDA+ licenses — Standard supports up to 24 media packs, 165 active clients and 28 million files; Advanced up to 64 media packs, 330 active clients and 175 million files. The media pack total stated on the quote is compared with what the engines hold.

Any Avid NEXIS build that touches these rules is in scope — not only the scenarios pictured here. Not covered: prices (Avid publishes no price list, so this validator produces no price build-up or line-item quote), per-pack capacities (capacity is not checked), hot spares, bandwidth, E-series engines, NEXIS Cloud and subscription options, and Media Composer or Pro Tools editions.

The AI sales agentAssembles the storage build from the conversation and says it is ready.
Predictika validatorChecks every rule at once and returns the verdict, each finding, and the computed figures.

7 scenarios in 3 groups · each group runs from the agent’s first attempt to the outcome · click one to switch

What the agent proposes

The AI sales agent says

Illustrative agent statement. The validator receives the structured request below.

Proposing agent: AI sales agent (scripted)

Before sending, the agent must call Recorded run

Predictika validator


      

        
        
        
      

      
Waiting for the call.

      
    

  

  
  

    
Where rules-based CPQ gets it wrong
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Our assessment of what a typical rules-based CPQ (product rules, price rules and validation rules, as in Salesforce CPQ) does with the same cases. It is a judgment about effort and reliability, not a claim that nothing can be built.

    
What the validator caughtTypical rules-based CPQPredictika
Engines that cannot be mixedOnly with care
A product rule between two families works, but PRO+ and F-series each carry their own accessories and every new engine needs its own exclusions.		All engines are in one request, so the mix is found whatever order they were added in.
A director that is required by model, pack count, clients or Mirror protectionOnly with workarounds
Four different triggers across engines, packs, load and options each need their own rule, and they interact with the license limits.		Every trigger is checked on every call and each one is reported as its own finding.
License limits on packs, clients and filesOnly with care
Limits differ by license and by embedded director; each is a separate comparison someone has to write and keep current.		The limits of the chosen director or license are compared with the computed totals and the planned load on every call.
A stated pack total that must match the enginesOnly with care
A stated figure is a free-entry field; a rule can compare it with a computed total, but someone has to write and maintain that comparison.		The stated figure travels with the build and is compared with the computed total on every call.
Every problem returned in one answerOnly with workarounds
Rules tend to fire as a step is completed, so a rep often fixes one error and meets the next.		All findings come back together, whatever order the choices arrived in.

  

  

    
What this validator catches: findings from its test cases
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Every rule is checked on every call, in any order the choices arrive; one problem never hides another. Blocking findings stop the quote; approval findings need a person to sign off; everything else is computed.

    
1Up to four Avid NEXIS PRO+ engines can be connected together; the quote has 5.
2Avid NEXIS PRO+ engines cannot be connected to or mixed with F-series engines; the quote has 1 PRO+ engine(s) and 1 F-series engine(s).
3The System Director Appliance (SDA+) is not supported with PRO+ engines.
4The redundant controller option is available on F-series engines, not on PRO+.
5A PRO+ system supports up to 24 active clients; the quote has 25.
6A PRO+ system supports up to 3 million files; the quote plans 4 million.
7The F2X is an expansion unit for the F2; the quote has 1 F2X unit(s) and no F2 engine.
8An F5 engine takes 4 to 8 media packs; the quote has 3 per F5.
9An F5 engine takes 4 to 8 media packs; the quote has 9 per F5.
10An F5 NL engine takes 4 to 8 media packs; the quote has 3 per F5 NL.
11An F5 NL engine takes 4 to 8 media packs; the quote has 9 per F5 NL.
12The SDA+ Standard license supports up to 24 media packs; the quote has 27.
13An F2 SSD engine takes one or two SSD media packs; the quote has 3 per F2 SSD.
14An F2 SSD engine takes one or two SSD media packs; the quote has 0 per F2 SSD.
15F5 and F5 NL engines require the System Director Appliance (SDA+); the quote has 3 such engine(s) and no SDA+.
16The embedded System Director supports up to four media packs; the quote has 22 and no SDA+.
17The embedded System Director supports up to 40 active F-series clients; the quote has 120 and no SDA+.
18The embedded System Director supports up to 8 million files on F-series engines; the quote plans 20 million.
19The embedded System Director supports up to four media packs; the quote has 5 and no SDA+.
20The embedded System Director supports up to 40 active F-series clients; the quote has 41 and no SDA+.
21Avid NEXIS Mirror protection requires the System Director Appliance (SDA+); the quote has none.
22The embedded System Director supports up to 8 million files on F-series engines; the quote plans 9 million.
23The SDA+ Standard license supports up to 24 media packs; the quote has 25.
24The SDA+ Standard license supports up to 165 active clients; the quote has 166.
25The SDA+ Standard license supports up to 28 million files; the quote plans 29 million.
26The SDA+ Advanced license supports up to 64 media packs; the quote has 65.
27The SDA+ Advanced license supports up to 330 active clients; the quote has 331.
28The SDA+ Advanced license supports up to 175 million files; the quote plans 176 million.
29The quote states 30 media packs in total, but the engines on it hold 22.
30The quote states 20 media packs in total, but the engines on it hold 22.
31The quote has no Avid NEXIS storage engine.
32The SDA+ Standard license supports up to 165 active clients; the quote has 200.
33The SDA+ Standard license supports up to 28 million files; the quote plans 40 million.

  

  

    
Scenarios and results
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The recorded result of the validator for each scenario on this page: the request the AI agent sent, the verdict, and every finding, in the order they appear above.

    
1. Edit suite build: An edit suite built from F5, F5 NL and F2 SSD engines on the embedded System Director

    
The agent's request. Please quote a shared storage system with 1 F5 (8 media packs each), 1 F5 NL (8 media packs each), 2 F2 SSD (2 media packs each), on the embedded System Director (no SDA+), for 90 active clients and 20 million files. The quote states 20 media packs in total. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • F5 or F5 NL engines need SDA+. F5 and F5 NL engines require the System Director Appliance (SDA+); the quote has 2 such engine(s) and no SDA+.
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  • Five or more media packs need SDA+. The embedded System Director supports up to four media packs; the quote has 20 and no SDA+.
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  • More than 40 clients need SDA+. The embedded System Director supports up to 40 active F-series clients; the quote has 90 and no SDA+.
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  • Too many files for the embedded System Director. The embedded System Director supports up to 8 million files on F-series engines; the quote plans 20 million.
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2. Edit suite build: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote a shared storage system with 1 F5 (8 media packs each), 1 F5 NL (8 media packs each), 2 F2 SSD (2 media packs each), on an SDA+ Standard license, for 90 active clients and 20 million files. The quote states 20 media packs in total. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • System summary. Storage engines on the quote: 4; media packs in total: 20.
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3. Broadcast facility: A broadcast facility build on SDA+ Standard with 48 media packs and 350 clients

    
The agent's request. Please quote a shared storage system with 4 F5 (8 media packs each), 2 F5 NL (8 media packs each), on an SDA+ Standard license, for 350 active clients and 30 million files. The quote states 48 media packs in total. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Standard license: too many media packs. The SDA+ Standard license supports up to 24 media packs; the quote has 48.
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  • Standard license: too many clients. The SDA+ Standard license supports up to 165 active clients; the quote has 350.
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  • Standard license: too many files. The SDA+ Standard license supports up to 28 million files; the quote plans 30 million.
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4. Broadcast facility: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote a shared storage system with 4 F5 (8 media packs each), 2 F5 NL (8 media packs each), on an SDA+ Advanced license, for 350 active clients and 30 million files. The quote states 48 media packs in total. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Advanced license: too many clients. The SDA+ Advanced license supports up to 330 active clients; the quote has 350.
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5. Broadcast facility: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote a shared storage system with 4 F5 (8 media packs each), 2 F5 NL (8 media packs each), on an SDA+ Advanced license, for 330 active clients and 30 million files. The quote states 48 media packs in total. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • System summary. Storage engines on the quote: 6; media packs in total: 48.
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6. Small team: A small-team build mixing PRO+ and F2 engines with SDA+ and a redundant controller

    
The agent's request. Please quote a shared storage system with 1 F2, 2 PRO+, on an SDA+ Standard license, with the redundant controller option, for 20 active clients and 2 million files. The quote states 3 media packs in total. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • PRO+ mixed with F-series engines. Avid NEXIS PRO+ engines cannot be connected to or mixed with F-series engines; the quote has 2 PRO+ engine(s) and 1 F-series engine(s).
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  • SDA+ with PRO+ engines. The System Director Appliance (SDA+) is not supported with PRO+ engines.
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  • Redundant controller on PRO+. The redundant controller option is available on F-series engines, not on PRO+.
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7. Small team: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote a shared storage system with 3 F2, on the embedded System Director (no SDA+), with the redundant controller option, for 20 active clients and 2 million files. The quote states 3 media packs in total. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • System summary. Storage engines on the quote: 3; media packs in total: 3.
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Narration transcript
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The text of the narrated walkthrough, step by step.

    
    
      
  1. Welcome to a demo of Predictika's Validator. An AI sales agent assembles a shared media storage system from storage engines, media packs and a System Director Appliance license. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the storage engine, media pack, System Director and load limits and returns a verdict, every reason and the figures it computed.
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  2. I will start with the first request by the agent.
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  3. The agent says. Please quote a shared storage system with 1 F5 (8 media packs each), 1 F5 NL (8 media packs each). The quote states 20 media packs in total. The rest of the request is on screen.
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  4. Before it goes out, the agent calls the validator.
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  5. Blocked, with four findings, all in one answer. F5 and F5 NL engines require the System Director Appliance (SDA+); the quote has 2 such engine(s) and no SDA+. The embedded System Director supports up to four media packs; the quote has 20 and no SDA+. The embedded System Director supports up to 40 active F-series clients; the quote has 90 and no SDA+. The other one is on screen.
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  6. The validator returned four blocking findings in one answer. A check that reads one field at a time would pass most of this; it shows only when the choices in the quote are checked against each other.
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  7. What this shows: for a director that is required by model, pack count, clients or Mirror protection, a rules-based CPQ can do this only with workarounds.
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  8. Now the agent resubmits.
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  9. The corrected request. It changes the System Director to SDA+ Standard.
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  10. It calls the validator again.
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  11. This time the validator clears it.
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  12. All four earlier findings are cleared, and the validator's figure matches the quote.
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  13. Four problems caught in one call, fixed in one pass, and a clean quote. That is the value of Predictika's validator: catching mistakes before they reach the customer. Now you can try the other scenarios yourself.
    14.