Prepping for Xsan 2 implementation

[bricktop44]

Hi Guys,

I have an Xserv, 2 promise vtraks e class, fiberswitch and 2 mac pros for video editors. We just added the second editor machine so thats why we need to move to Xsan.

Now, i was reading the xsan 2 set up guide and i had some questions i wanted to throw out.

1. Do you really need to have OSX newly installed on all machines? My Xserv is set up just right and id really like to avoid having to wipe and rebuild all my machines that will be in the SAN.

2. I have 2 Promise Vtraks, one production and one cold spare backup. My plan was to wipe the back up (raid 2), configure the disks/LUNS via promise script, set up Xsan2 on everything, then move data from Raid 1 to Raid 2 after we test that Xsan is running properly. Would this work?

3. Do the metadata LUNS need to be on the raid itself? Or can i configure the metadata luns to be on the metadata machines themselves and keep the Raids for data storage only?

4. Do MDC have to be xserv hardware? Or could i install OSX server on a macpro or something and use that for metadata?

i know that apple recommends a verteran SAN tech to do the setup, but i doubt my company will have the money after we pay for new hardware and Xsan seats.

im new to SAN so please excuse any questions that seem routine or basic

thanks,

brick

[ACSA]