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Xsan Components

Xsan software must installed on each computer, or node, in an Xsan SAN. Xsan software includes two components:

• metadata controller—this software manages SAN file system functions such as file locking, space allocation, and data access authorization. During setup, the administrator designates one computer as the metadata controller for the SAN. To maximize SAN availability, additional systems can act as failover metadata controllers that take over in the event that the primary metadata controller is incapacitated by a hardware or software failure.

• file system clients—this software runs on all other systems participating in the SAN, running side-by-side with other native file systems that the operating supports, such as HFS+ and UFS. The Xsan file system client software communicates with the metadata controller securely over Ethernet, enabling each client to directly access shared disk space on the SAN.

Xsan also includes an administration utility that can be installed on any Mac OS X system to enable secure remote setup, management and monitoring of the Xsan SAN, as well as a command line management utility.

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