X-Serve Raids, Fiber Channel Cards and a Fiber Channel Port

[Christopher Tay]

A SAN client license is needed for each of your FCP system and it ranges from US$995 to US$1500 depending on which flavour of SAN software you choose.

-chrispy

[Mark Raudonis]

[Steve Wargo] “I find that ridiculous and know there’s got to be a way around that nonsense. “

Steve,

“one man’s ceiling is another man’s floor”.

What you find “ridiculous” others may find a good value. In the networked environment, you really do get what you pay for. Cheap out on components and you’ll eventually “pay for it” in other ways (frustration, downtime, etc.).

There are alternatives out there. Facillis “Terrablock” for example.

mark

[Bob Zelin]

there is something else that no one has told Steve that he needs, that will cost money. It’s the PERSON who will configure his system, and make it work (and you also need a Metadata server, or your shared enviornment will fail with 4 MAC clients). If you think that you will “bite the bullet”, and spend the $4000 for the 4 seats of XSAN software, and just “poke around” and figure this out yourself, with the help of a forum like this, you are dreaming. Setting up a SAN is not self explanitory. And this is not “rediculous”.

Bob Zelin

[Allan White]

Hey Steve, I know how you feel. I am just now assembling a simple SAN system for three FC-connected workstations and two more Gigabit-connected laptops, all connected to an XRAID.

The cost is significant, but there’s just not many options for high-speed group networking yet. 10 Gigabit ethernet isn’t cost-effective yet, so we have fibre channel, which requires expensive hardware.

I balked at XSAN because it required a dedicated backup metadata controller (another Xserve), and cost $1k/seat regardless. I ended up choosing MetaSAN from Tiger Technology, because they have floating metadata masters (every box can pick it up, so no dedicated one) and cost less. It’s still $1k/seat for Fibre channel, but only $250 each for Gigabit clients like the laptops, which is fine for SD.

There’s a good review here. I’m still working out a few kinks, and there’s a steep learning curve for editors, but it looks like it’s all going to work out.

[Allan White]

There are alternatives out there. Facillis “Terrablock” for example.

Mark – Terrablock looks really impressive and simple to implement. I wish I’d heard about them! There are some advantages to the approach I chose (Xserve+XRAID+MetaSAN) but they’ve got a great concept with their all-in-one storage/SAN unit. It’s a good price point, too.

[Olivier Jean]

Hi Allan,

could you elaborate a little bit on your setup and what are the
gotchas you’ve come across setting it up and from the editors
point of view.

I’m looking of setting one up for a customer and i’d love
to find out a little more.

the fiber with the ethernet client looks interesting too
especially when you want to keep cost down.

Regards
Olivier Jean
Video Sales Consultant
Apple Certified Trainer Final Cut Pro 5
Powermedia Systems
Sydney Australia