Supported storage devices, Fibre channel fabric – Apple Xsan 1.0 User Manual
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Chapter 2
Before You Begin
Supported Storage Devices
This guide and the Xsan Administrator’s Guide assume you are using Xserve RAID
systems for your storage devices.
Important:
Be sure to install the latest firmware update on your Xserve RAID systems
before you use them with Xsan.
For demanding applications such as video editing, use Xserve RAID systems that have:
•
A full set of 14 Apple Drive Modules
•
512 MB of cache in each RAID controller (1 GB total)
Fibre Channel Fabric
Unlike file system metadata, which is transferred over Ethernet, actual file content in an
Xsan SAN is transferred over Fibre Channel connections. To set up the connections, you
need:
•
Apple Fibre Channel PCI cards for each client and controller computer
•
One or more supported Fibre Channel switches
•
Fibre Channel cables connecting computers and storage devices to the switches to
form a Fibre Channel fabric
Fibre Channel PCI Cards
Install Apple Fibre Channel PCI cards in all Macintosh computers that will connect to
the SAN.
Fibre Channel Switches
The following Fibre Channel switches have been tested with Xsan, Xserve RAID
systems, and the Apple Fibre Channel PCI card:
•
Brocade Silkworm 3200, 3800, 3900, and 12000 series
•
QLogic SANbox 2–8, SANbox 2–16, SANbox 2–64, and SANbox 5200
•
Emulex SAN Switch 355, 375, and 9200
For the latest additions to this list of qualified switches, see the Xsan webpages at
www.apple.com/xsan.
Fabric Configuration
You must connect the computers, storage devices, and switches in your Fibre Channel
network to form a Fibre Channel “fabric.” In a fabric, Fibre Channel cables connect node
ports (F or N_Port). See the documentation that came with your Fibre Channel switches
for more information.
Note: If you are using a Vixel 355 switch, you must connect Xserve RAID systems to an
FL (arbitrated loop) port on the switch.
You cannot use Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop (FL ports) with an Xsan SAN, with the
exception noted above for Vixel 355 switches.
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