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Upgrade to Xsan 5

Learn how to upgrade your Xsan to macOS Sierra from OS X Yosemite or OS X El Capitan.

Before you start, make sure that you have a current, functioning, restorable backup of:

  • Each computer

  • The data on each storage area network (SAN) volume

You can use Time Machine to make a restorable backup of the computers. To back up the SAN volume data, use other large-capacity storage media.

When the backup process is complete, use Server app to unmount and stop all Xsan volumes. When you stop the Xsan volumes, the Xsan clients unmount.

If you have any StorNext clients, manually unmount the SAN volumes on each StorNext client before you stop the Xsan volumes.

No alt supplied for Image Make sure to follow the steps listed below in the order listed in this article, without skipping any sections.

Upgrade to macOS Sierra on the primary metadata controller (MDC)

  1. Search the App Store for macOS Sierra, or go directly to the macOS Sierra page.

  2. On the macOS Sierra page, click the Download button. A file named Install macOS Sierra downloads to your Applications folder and opens automatically.

  3. Click Continue and follow the onscreen instructions.

Install macOS Server on the primary MDC

In the App Store, click Updates in the toolbar. Then click Update to install macOS Server 5.2.

Upgrade the primary MDC to Xsan 5

  1. Open Server app and let it update your existing service configuration.

  2. In the list of advanced services, choose Xsan.

  3. Turn on the service.

  4. Choose “Restore a previous SAN configuration,” then click Next.

When the process completes, all volumes are offline and report a “Needs Upgrade” status.

Upgrade all the remaining metadata controllers

  1. Upgrade all the remaining controllers to macOS Sierra.

  2. Install macOS Server on all the remaining controllers.

  3. Upgrade all the remaining controllers to Xsan 5.

Upgrade each Xsan volume to Xsan 5

  1. Click the first Xsan volume, click the gear icon, then choose Upgrade Volume. This message appears:

    • The volume “VolumeName” needs to be upgraded to Xsan 5.

    • Upgrading this volume may take several minutes. This operation cannot be undone.

  2. Click Upgrade.

This runs a cvfsck check of the volume. The operation continues only if there are issues that cvfsck can’t resolve. While cvfsck runs, the volume status shows as “In-progress.” When cvfsck completes, the volume activates and its metadata upgrades to Xsan 5.

Repeat this procedure for each Xsan volume.

Upgrade the SAN clients

Now that all of your SAN controllers run Xsan 5, you can upgrade the SAN clients. To use Xsan 5, update the clients to macOS Sierra. Give them a configuration profile that's generated by, and specific to, the SAN.

Install your configuration profile

  1. Use the updates in the App Store to update the clients to macOS Sierra.

  2. On one of your upgraded MDCs, open the Server app. In the list of advanced services, choose Save Configuration Profile and save the file.

  3. Distribute the configuration profile to the clients. To do this, you can:

    • Use file sharing to put the configuration profile on the client.

    • Use a USB flash drive to copy the profile to the client.

    • Email the profile to the user of the client computer.

    • Use AirDrop to copy the profile to the client.

To install the profile on each client, double-click the profile, or use the Profiles pane of System Preferences.

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