Non-Mac client computers, including Windows and Linux systems, can be connected to Xsan networks using Quantum’s StorNext File System. Xsan can be installed on client computers running Mac OS X 10.5 or 10.6 and on servers running Mac OS X Server 10.5 or Mac OS X Server 10.6. Even network clients connected to an Xserve running Mac OS Server and Xsan can access SAN data over traditional Ethernet networks using AFP, SMB/CIFs and NFS.Ĭontroller systems must be Mac Pro or Xserve systems powered by Intel CPUs with 2GB RAM and an Apple Fibre Channel card. Xsan clients, such as those running Mac OS X, or Xserves running Xsan, can receive direct block-level access to SAN volume data. A Mac OS X client or Xserve server running Xsan can serve as metadata controller. Promise VTrak E-Class RAID storage units fulfill the back-end RAID volume (also known as LUNs, for logical unit number) requirement, while a number of fibre-channel switches have been approved by Apple, including Brocade Silkworm 200E, 41 QLogis SANbox 2-64, 1400, 5200, 91 series and Cisco’s MDS 9000 family.Īn Xsan metadata controller servers as the SAN’s “traffic cop,” granting client permissions and enabled read/write access to files. What components are required?Ī RAID storage system is among the first requirements. Other environments in which the platform excels are broadcasting, any industry in which storage consolidation is important, mail-server clustering, and similarly demanding enterprise IT tasks. The Xsan technology is particularly well suited to powering video post-production needs. Properly designed, Xsan networks enable organizations and users to maximize available RAID data storage, securely share large files across high-performance environments, and automatically fail over when hardware errors occur (using appropriate architecture). What does Xsan 2 do?Īpple’s storage area network (SAN) technology supports high availability of mission critical data. Xsan 2 is a 64-bit cluster file system that enables multiple Xserve servers and client workstations to share RAID data storage volumes, add RAID capacity as required, and share very large files across a high-speed network. If you’re unfamiliar with Apple’s storage area network system, here’s what you need to know. In fact, Apple’s Xsan 2 is more than ready it can power enterprise environments possessing the most demanding requirements. More than once I’ve been asked whether Apple technology is capable of powering business needs. It’s clear many still believe the company’s computing technology is just for educators and artists. Occasionally clients, seeing my MacBook Pro, ask simple questions regarding Apple’s business capacity. IT consultant Erik Eckel explains why the Apple Xsan 2 storage area network system is more than ready to power enterprise environments with even the most demanding requirements. Apple Xsan 2 proves it’s enterprise-ready
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |