Hello Xsan 2, goodbye Xserve Raid

[Sam Goldstein]

Quoted from MacRumors.com…

In addition, the Xserve RAID product page (https://www.apple.com/xserve/raid/) now redirects to https://www.apple.com/server/storage/, which promotes a 3U external RAID enclosure by Promise. Apple has added the Promise RAID solution to its store and now presents it as the external RAID choice when configuring an Xserve.
External Storage

From Apple’s Site:
For massive storage needs, connect a Promise VTrak E-Class Fiber Channel RAID subsystem to your Xserve. The VTrak E-Class provides high performance and high availability through 4Gb Fiber Channel and dual active/active controllers. An Apple Fibre Channel card for connectivity is required.

[Jeremy Garchow]

Wow, that’s kind of weird, don’t you think?

https://www.promise.com/apple/

I mean don’t get me wrong, the Xserve RAID was highly overpriced and underpowered. I guess it wasn’t worth it for them anymore. The more I think about it the more it makes sense. Wy continue XSAN development at all, then?

[Devin Crane]

Other than some Hard Drive upgrades over the years, the Enclosure itself hasn’t seen anything new in what 4-5 years. It was a great drive, expensive, but nothing new for that period of time. I was expecting an update last year but to no avail, must not have sold enough of them. I think this will open the door more for Xsan since you will be able to put other Raids other than Xserve Raid on it. They make so much more off of Software than they do Hardware.

[Andy Mees]

… the xserve raid was so much prettier 😉

[Jeremy Garchow]

[Devin Crane] “I think this will open the door more for Xsan since you will be able to put other Raids other than Xserve Raid on it.”

Great point.

[Stuart Simpson]

Haven’t you always been able to use 3rd party RAID’s with XSAN?

-Simmie
1 MacPro – Kona 3
2 G5 – Kona LH
2 G4s – Cinewave
xbox360, Wii, PSP, PS2
https://www.speak.co.uk

[Devin Crane]

You could only use Xsan with an Xserve Raid. Or at least it was the only qualified device for Xsan.

[Mark Raudonis]

Drives are drives…

A bigger implication for most people here are things like “spotlight search” on an x-SAN volume, and “Multi-SAN” which enables you to connect two different SANs via fibre.

These kind of improvements have MUCH more impact than what kind of “Box o drives” you have in the back closet.

Mark

[Tom Wolsky]

https://www.apple.com/xserve/

Comes up for me.

All the best,

Tom

Class on Demand DVDs “Complete Training for FCP6,” “Basic Training for FCS2” and “Final Cut Express Made Easy”
Author: “Final Cut Pro 5 Editing Essentials” and “Final Cut Express 3.5 HD Editing Workshop”

[Jeremy Garchow]

That’s the XServe, not the Xserve RAID.