Xserve RAID

Xsan takes advantage of the 64-bit file system in Mac OS X Leopard Server so users can share files and volumes up to two petabytes (2PB) in size. It enables dozens of systems on the SAN to read and write to shared storage simultaneously, unlike other solutions which gate access at the volume level. Over and above that, using a SAN lets you pool data across multiple RAID devices for better performance, while each client uses this centralised data as if connected directly to it.

Xsan storage networking eliminates the bottlenecks of Ethernet-based network file servers, whose performance will only get worse over time as denser formats such as HD become more common. In theory an Xsan client can achieve a throughput of 400MBps when dual fibre channel cabled to the SAN, perfect for multiple editors working on a video project or a compute cluster that needs fast access to data to ensure each node crunches at full capacity.