14 DAY TRIAL // In tandem with the Mail Services Update 1.0, Apple has posted a certain Xsan 2.2.1 FileSystem Update for Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard). The update is recommended for all systems running Xsan 2.2, according to the Mac maker, as it includes general file system fixes, as well as specific fixes for the file system reliability and cvfsck repair utility. Appropriately, the Xsan Uninstaller is also made available via Apple’s Downloads area.
Apple’s Xsan is a high-performance storage area network (SAN) file system for Mac OS X and Mac OS X Server. Xsan enables users to share centralized disk storage with multiple computers over Fibre Channel. According to Apple, up to 64 Xserve or Power Mac systems can read and write to the same storage volume, at the same time, with the Xsan FileSystem installed.
“There are two separate Xsan 2.2.1 Filesystem Updates, one for Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard and one for Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard. Xsan Admin 2.2 should be used with Xsan 2.2.1,” Apple explains using technote HT3927. “Be sure that all Metadata Controllers (MDCs) are updated before you make any configuration changes,” the company adds. “Your MDCs must always have software versions (both Xsan and Mac OS X) that are the same or more recent than the most recent client versions [...] During installation, do not change any Xsan settings, whether using Xsan Admin or a command-line tool,” the instructions end.
The company developing Mac OS X also posts the software requirements for this particular update. According to the documentation, the Xsan 2.2.1 FileSystem Update should be applied on systems running Mac OS X or Mac OS X Server v10.5.8 or v10.6, or later, while Mac OS X Server is required for MDC if Xsan is used to manage users and groups. Hardware requirements include an Xserve with an Intel processor, or Mac Pro, 2GB RAM for Xsan client, 2GB RAM plus 2GB per volume for MDC, and Apple Fibre Channel Card.