While this will hopefully change soon, for now, if you don’t go with Xsan/StorNext, Mac OS X machines can only talk to other SANs via Windows/Linux/Unix servers acting as Network Attached Storage (NAS) heads. However, one thing to remember with Mac OS X and SAN is that for the moment, XSAN/StorNext is really the only SAN product that Mac OS X machines can participate directly in.
So, if you’re buying Xsan with an eye on using it as part of an Information Life Management(ILM) solution, you’re going to have to pony up more budget and resources for additional components, such as ADIC’s StorNext Storage Manager, or some other solution. Xsan is a file system and basic management software only. One thing to note here, Xsan is not a ”SAN in a box” solution that other vendors, such as HP or EMC, offer.
Their latest offering is the company’s initial entry into the Storage Area Network (SAN) Market - Xsan.Īs advertised, Xsan is ”The SAN File System for Mac OS X.” It is Apple’s OEM version of ADIC’s StorNextFile System, which is designed to be used in a SAN environment.
While none of Apple’s IT offerings are suitable for cases where you need ”five 9’s” of reliability, they are all solid tools for any IT manager. Starting with the Xserve, the company once labled as being for ”Artists Only” has become more than just an irritant to IT departments at all levels. As anyone paying attention to the IT market over the last year knows, Apple Computer has come out with some impressive offerings of late.