Xsan 1.3 Release Information

To simplify storage configuration especially in HD environments Xsan 1.3 now supports Fibre Channel LUNs greater than 2TB in size; no longer must 7TB Xserve RAID users slice their storage and potentially impact storage bandwidth in order to maximize their storage usage. This release also includes numerous improvements to the products general reliability, volume resharing performance and compatibility with mixed platforms and third-party applications.

The update can be obtained through Software Update or the support download page at:

http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/

Xsan 1.3 is designed to support Tiger systems running 10.4.5 (or later), Panther system running 10.3.9 and includes a new Xsan Admin application for use with all Xsan deployments, even those continuing to run earlier releases. Xsan 1.3 is a software update release only, the shrink-wrap retail boxes and disc images are not being updated for the 1.3 release.

This release includes fixes for:

- labeling and initializing LUNs greater than 2TB in size

- preventing labeled LUNs from becoming unlabeled

- improving AFP performance when re-sharing Xsan volumes

- more accurate file permissions when sharing Xsan volumes via AFP

- accessing Xsan volumes larger than 16 terabytes in size

- greater server stability when re-sharing Xsan volumes via NFS

- handling quotas with no associated user or group name

- maintaining access to Xsan volumes when metadata controller fail-overs occur

- providing metadata controller services to 10.3.9 and 10.4 systems running Xsan 1.2

- operating Xsan in environments with a mix of 10.3.9 and 10.4 systems

- compatibility with third-party applications and devices

For detailed information on this Update, please visit the AppleCare support web site at:

http://www.apple.com/support/xsan/

NOTE: Several new Knowledge Base articles are now available on a variety of topics including "Using LUNs larger than 2TB", how to expand an Xsan volume and the difference between "bandwidth expansion" and "capacity expansion". See the AppleCare support web page for more information.

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Eric Zelenka

Sr. Product Line Manager, Server & Storage Software

Worldwide Product Marketing

Apple Computer