Datasheet

12
Technology Overview
Xsan
Affinities for automated data placement
Affinities allow you to allocate different classes of storage to different purposes, with
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out forcing users to adhere to annoying rules. Using Xsan administration tools, you
can set up an affinity between a folder and a specific storage pool, so that files in the
folder are stored only on that pool. Seamless to the end user, affinities ensure that an
application or task that requires speed or extra protection always stores its files in a
suitably fast or protected pool.
In this example, users have two folders in the volume: One is named “Fastest,” associ
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ated with the pool of RAID 5 sets; the other is named “Most Protected,” associated
with the pool of RAID 1 sets. During development, working files can be maintained in
the Fastest folder, which automatically places them in a RAID 5 pool. Finished work is
saved to the Most Protected folder and maintained in a RAID 1, or mirrored, pool.
Data Access Control
Xsan works with your directory server to help you manage file ownership and access
quotas—protecting your organization’s data and improving storage utilization. With
LDAP integration, a central directory allows you to create consistent file system per
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missions across all computers accessing the storage.
Volume mapping
Using Xsan administration tools, you can map storage volumes to specific systems on
the SAN, enabling you to define which systems can see which volumes. This protects
your organization’s sensitive information without getting in the way of authorized use.
Although all Mac OS X file permissions still apply to Xsan, volume mapping provides
an added layer of control and security.
LDAP integration
Because Xsan is simply another file system, it adheres to the file system permissions
built into Mac OS X, including permissions established in a central LDAP directory.
Whether you use Open Directory, Active Directory, or another enterprise LDAP service,
Xsan accesses information in the directory accounts that you have in place—making it
easy to share permissions across computers.
Striping at a higher level
Xsan stripes data across the individual
LUNs that make up a storage pool. This
improves performance because multiple
pieces of the file are written in parallel,
instead of one piece at a time. You can
tune Xsan performance by adjusting the
amount of data written to each LUN in a
storage pool.
Stripe 10
. . .
Stripe 7
Stripe 4
Stripe 1
Stripe 11
. . .
Stripe 8
Stripe 5
Stripe 2
Volume 1
Volume 2
Stripe 12
. . .
Stripe 9
Stripe 6
Stripe 3
Volume 3
Fastest
RAID 5 storage pool
Most Protected
RAID 1 storage pool
SAN volume
SAN Volumes