Apple releases Xsan 2 file system

Apple has formally launched Xsan 2, a major revision of its storage area network (SAN) file system. Among the changes is a new set of administration tools, easing the burden of setup and management. Users can for instance pre-set volume workloads for various file types, ranging in size from raw HD video down to small pieces of data center information. Accompanying this is MultiSAN, a component which lets users access multiple Xsan volumes from a single workstation or server.

The software has been fully integrated with Leopard and Leopard Server, taking advantage of features such as the Server Assistant for configuration, along with iCal Server, Mail Server and Podcast Producer. Updated Spotlight support allows users to scan through multiple SAN volumes and preview content.

Through Xsan 2, Leopard Server can now handle clustered file systems; finally, Xsan is now qualified with third-party RAID hardware, namely tuned configurations sold by Promise Technology. The software is on sale today through the Apple Store, at a price of $1,000 per node. Mac OS X/OS X Server 10.5 or later is required; other qualified technologies include Xserves, Mac Pros and Fibre Channel PCI-X cards, such as those from Cisco and Brocade.