About the Xsan 2.2 Update

This article describes the Xsan 2.2 update.

This article describes the Xsan 2.2 update, which is available as a manual download from Apple Support Downloads and as an automatic Software Update.

Important: Read before installing

• Be sure that all Metadata Controllers (MDCs) are updated before you make any configuration changes.

• 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. For details, see this article.

• If you are updating from a version earlier than Xsan 2.1.1, are upgrading to Snow Leopard, or have PowerPC-based computers on your SAN, please see the Xsan 2 Migration Guide for additional instructions.

• During installation, do not change any Xsan settings, whether using Xsan Admin or a command-line tool.

Software requirements

• Mac OS X or Mac OS X Server v10.5.8 or 10.6 or later (Mac OS X Server required for MDC if you are using Xsan to manage users and groups)

• Xsan 2.0, 2.1, 2.1.1, or 2.2

Hardware requirements

• Xserve with an Intel processor, or Mac Pro

• 2GB RAM for Xsan client

• 2GB RAM plus 2GB per volume for MDC

• Apple Fibre Channel Card

Software Update installation

Software Update may have referred you to this document. Because some updates are prerequisites for others, you may need to use Software Update more than once to get all available updates.

Standalone installers

Standalone installers for the Xsan 2.2 Filesystem and Admin updates are available from Apple Support Downloads.

Remote installation

If you need to install the update on a remote computer, use the softwareupdate command-line tool.

What's new in Xsan 2.2

Xsan 2.2 Filesystem Update

The Xsan 2.2 Filesystem Update improves filesystem performance and reliability and is recommended for all Intel-based Xsan systems running Mac OS X or Mac OS X Server version 10.5.8 or later. It also includes:

• 64-bit support on Mac OS X and Mac OS X Server v10.6.

• Support for native extended attributes. In order to enable extended attributes, all clients on the SAN must be running Xsan 2.2 or later. When enabled, attributes associated with a file are stored inside the file itself rather than in separate hidden files.

• Improved volume reliability during metadata controller failover.

• The ability to enable filesystem search without file content search. For details, see this article.

• Support for renaming a volume without reinitializing it.

• Improved repair capabilities for the cvfsck command.

• More reliable file Access Control Lists (ACLs) in deployments using Active Directory.

• Quicker Spotlight recovery after failover, when metadata controllers use Mac OS X Server v10.6.

Xsan 2.2 Admin Update

The Xsan 2.2 Admin Update includes general improvements for remotely administering, configuring and maintaining Xsan deployments, and includes specific fixes for:

• Binding to Open Directory in SAN Setup Assistant.

• Changing a computer between client and metadata controller roles.

• Reliably listing computers connected to the SAN and adding computers to the list.

• Resizing the inspector window.

• Using SI units (1 GB = 1000 MB) for volume, LUN, storage pool, affinity and quota size reporting.

• Displaying a status warning if Open Directory search policy is incorrect on a client or controller.

• Displaying a status warning if a client or controller cannot see all the LUNs in volume.

• Displaying a status warning if the controller list (fsnameservers) is incorrect on a client. (Also requires Xsan 2.2 on client.)

For more information about the security content of the Xsan 2.2 update see this article.

Xsan 2.2 Uninstaller

The Xsan 2.2 Uninstaller removes Xsan, the Xsan Admin application, and Xsan documentation files. The Xsan 2.2 Uninstaller is the appropriate version to use when uninstalling Xsan 2.0 through 2.2 installations, and can be obtained from Apple Support Downloads.

Note: Before removing Xsan, you should back up all of your data and volumes.

Xsan 2.2 documentation

Xsan 2.2 administrators can find Xsan 2.2 documentation here.