Xsan + OS version matching

mattriley · JBOD Joined: 27 Sep 2012 Posts: 2

I know all the docs say that MDCs and clients should match versions for both Xsan and the OS but what are the ramifications if they don't match?

Currently, I have two MDCs that are 10.5.8, Xsan 2.2.1. My clients are 10.6.8, Xsan 2.2.1. So, already, it would seem that I'm breaking the rules. However, things have been running this way for a few years without issue.

Now I'm looking at migrating client machines to 10.8, which necessitates using Xsan 3 since Xsan is now (annoyingly) married to the OS version.

http://arstechnica.com/civis/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=1179841&p=23129198#p23129198

If you read that thread, you'll see my predicament (bascially, Xserve MDCs that aren't officially supported under 10.8).

So, that's why I'm wondering what would happen if I updated my MDCs to 10.7, Xsan 2.3 but my clients were 10.8, Xsan 3? Data loss? Weird bugs? Permissions hell?

My other option would be to get 10.8 running on my Xserve MDCs, which seems to be possible but leaves me a bit uneasy to have "hacked" systems responsible for 50+ TB of data.

Thanks for any insight/suggestions,
Matt

matx · Xsan Master Joined: 15 Apr 2005 Posts: 378

Options:

1) Replace the controllers with 10.8 supported hardware (i.e. mac mini or mac pro servers).

2) run 10.7 and Xsan 2.3 instead of 10.8 and Xsan 3

TuberMagPico · Knows DNS is the answer Joined: 08 Apr 2008 Posts: 30

Options:

3) RHEL boxes with Quantum StorNext

4) Active Storage mSAN

rpfloydster · partially protected Joined: 24 Apr 2007 Posts: 9

What I would say, having gone through a similar scenario, is that if you have the budget definitely consider going with one of Tubers suggestions. An enterprise solution will relieve you of many of the headaches associated with Lion and Mountain Lion server.

If you have to stay with Apple Hardware then yes go with Matx's solution.

I chose to go with Lion Server and Lion Clients. I am also running DNS and Open Directory. There are quite a few caveats to think about when migrating i.e. pitfalls when archiving and restoring the OD Database, transferring DNS database, best practices when upgrading the Server OS (in my case the Apple recommended migration procedure was completely bogus and I had to rebuild each MDC from scratch.), Broken ACLs, iOS centric Server.app, etc., etc.

Something to think about before you dive in.

xsanguy · Xsan Master Joined: 24 Sep 2012 Posts: 79

Xserve (2009) models support 10.8 - I just built 3 SANs based on them, one involved ripping out badly-performing minis with SANLinks that just couldn't hack it.

TuberMagPico · Knows DNS is the answer Joined: 08 Apr 2008 Posts: 30

xsanguy · Xsan Master Joined: 24 Sep 2012 Posts: 79