Specifications

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Technology Overview
Xserve
• RAID 1, or mirroring. Provides a high level of data protection by creating a real-time,
exact duplicate of the contents of one Apple Drive Module on a second drive. With
the volume promotion feature in Mac OS X Server v10.4 or later, you can upgrade a
single drive to a RAID 1 mirror without needing to reformat the drive and reinstall
the operating system. If a mirrored drive fails, the system can rebuild the array in the
background, while continuing to serve data. The independent drive architecture and
software RAID combine to provide RAID 1 protection with no performance penalty.
For additional protection or higher performance, Mac OS X Server on Xserve can boot
from a mirrored or striped volume.
Fibre Channel
Fibre Channel is the most sensible and reliable networking choice for any organiza-
tion or business with growing data storage needs. Ideal for server applications, it has
become the industry’s de facto fast-switching system standard for moving highly
scalable volumes of data at multi-gigabit speeds between computers, servers, disk
arrays, and other devices. In addition, Fibre Channel is the only storage connectivity
technology available today that guarantees bandwidth as well as in-order delivery
of data packets—key requirements for streaming media such as video.
Xserve supports the Apple 2Gb Fibre Channel PCI Express Card, providing a high-
speed storage interface with a dedicated bandwidth and throughput of up to
200MB/s per channel. Fibre Channel supports multiple topologies, further increasing
storage options with Xserve. When used with the included SFP-to-SFP cables in
a point-to-point configuration, Fibre Channel can directly connect a single Xserve
RAID and achieve bandwidths on the order of 380MB/s across both channels.
Adding a Fibre Channel switch allows multiple Xserve RAID systems to be connected
to a single Xserve, or multiple Xserve servers to be connected to one or more Xserve
RAID systems—creating a simple storage area network (SAN). The addition of Apple’s
Xsan software results in a shared storage architecture that supports large, flexible
storage pools with multiple servers and workstations sharing access to the same
volumes and files.
Xserve RAID
For massive capacity and advanced data protection and availability features, Xserve
connects to the Xserve RAID storage system using the Apple Fibre Channel PCI
Express Card. Xserve RAID holds up to 14 hot-swap Apple Drive Modules, for up to
7TB of storage in a rack-optimized 3U enclosure.
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The innovative Apple-designed
architecture combines affordable, high-capacity ATA drive technology with a dual
2Gb Fibre Channel SFP interface for fast, reliable data access, even at distances of up
to 500 meters. Redundant components further increase data protection and system
availability. With easy-to-use tools for remote setup and management, this powerful
RAID system provides a cost-effective answer to the growing storage requirements
of businesses and institutions.
Apple 2Gb Fibre Channel PCI Express Card
The dual-port Apple 2Gb Fibre Channel PCI Express Card offers dedicated bandwidth
with a throughput of up to 200MB/s per channel. Fibre Channel interconnect tech-
nology supports multiple application environments, using point-to-point, loop, and
fabric topologies. Each card comes with two 2.9-meter (9.5-foot) copper cables.
Apple Fibre Channel PCI Express Card
Use the Apple Fibre Channel PCI Express
Card to connect to an Xsan network
and Xserve RAID for high-performance,
high-availability storage.
Xserve RAID, industry-leading price/
performance leader