Apple tonight released Mac OS X Server 10.6.7 and Mac OS X 10.6.7. Among the fixes:

• Xsan: Fixes an erroneous prompt for administrator access when copying a file in the Finder to an Xsan volume.
• RAID card: Includes the ability to repair certain issues that may prevent hardware RAID volumes from mounting. For more information, see this article.
• File services: Improves reliability of the AFP Service.
• File services: Fixes an issue that could generate unnecessary files inside an "HFS+ Private Data" directory on an AFP or SMB server.

Apple posted new info about the next version of Mac OS X today, and with it the first official mention that there will indeed be a Server version of Lion. When the Xserve cancellation was announced, there was a great deal of speculation that Xsan, FCP, or even Mac OS X Server was next. Today's announcements along with the revelations yesterday about an imminent major refresh of FCP should go a long way to assuage our fears from a few months ago.

The "Light Peak" we've been hearing so much about has an official name: Thunderbolt. The DisplayPort on the new MacBook Pro is now also a 10Gbps PCIe bus that could soon usher in the ability to put a fibrechannel connection (among other things) into iMacs and Mac minis when they inevitably acquire the new port with their next product refresh. The next few months are going to be very interesting.

Well, this is interesting. Quantum and Group Logic have announced a LAN client for Macs in StorNext networks. This will allow Macs to connect to StorNext-based SANs via Ethernet. Group Logic also announced ArchiveConnect compatibility with StorNext, which will allow Macs to work with StorNext Storage Manager archives.

Availability is "this month." Pricing has not been announced.

The press release is below...

Active Storage today introduced a 1U Metadata Controller appliance, ActiveSAN. The unit runs an unspecified Linux (still being evaluated) and an "Xsan-optimized" version of Quantum StorNext. There will be dual 8G fiber channel ports. A custom administrative app manages the appliance and configuration.

ActiveSAN is "in development today" and will be shipping in the second quarter. Integrated ActiveStats and Innerpool will also ship in Q2. A beta program will be announced at NAB (April). Pricing has not been announced, but expect it to cost a little more than Xsan on an Xserve.

A YouTube video introduces ActiveSAN.

Active Also announced a training and certification program for the ActiveSAN appliance.

Can I use the appliance for file sharing? No.

Lights-Out Management? Integrated with the admin app. Includes power and fan monitoring.

SNMP? Not at release, but we'll release a MIB "very quickly."

Extended attributes and ACL? We are working with Quantum bring these to StorNext.

Base level of Xsan supported? 2.2.1

Promise storage supported? Yes.

MultiSAN support in Innerpool? Will be supported.

Is this a replacement for Xserve? Can I run other apps on it? Nope. You can still buy an Xserve today and you should.

Can we leverage StorNext add-ons such as Storage Manager? Yes. (Best news of the day in my opinion.)

Open Directory support? That is a hard one to answer. (Translation: no.)

JSamuel started a Forum Thread, let's use that instead of the comments here.

There's something under the black cloth at Active Storage. http://www.activestorage.com. I say it's a Brooklyn-style grandma pizza. Discuss.

Apple has posted a new Knowledge Base article, Xsan: How to join to a StorNext Network. I've reprinted it its entirety.

When a Mac is running Xsan, you can configure the computer to join an existing StorNext File System SAN.

1. Locate the appropriate installation guide for the version of StorNext used by your meta data controllers from Quantum's site.
2. Follow the instructions within the installation guide to configure your Xsan client for use with StorNext.

Discuss.

Mac OS X 10.6.5 was released today. There were four fixes mentioned in the release notes relevant to Xsan and enterprise:

• Improves performance for users bound to an Active Directory domain.
• Improves reliability of Ethernet connections.
• Systems with a Mac Pro RAID Card (Early 2009) installed can now be put to sleep.
• Improves reliability of fibre channel connections, resolving a potential Xsan volume availability issue.

This update is available via Software Update. More information is available at http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4250

Also available are updates to Mac OS X Server and Server Admin. (There are surprisingly copious notes for an OS update. Enjoy!)

Quantum Corp., maker of StorNext, has sent out a response to the Xserve EOL announcement.

Dear Quantum StorNext Customers and Partners:

Apple customers and partners represent a large and vibrant segment of our Quantum StorNext community. Since the Apple announcement on November 5, customers, press, and partners have expressed concern over Apple's decision to end of life Xserve. There has been much speculation over what this announcement means for the future of Mac OS, of XSAN and of the Apple data stored in StorNext.

The announcement Apple made was to end-of life a hardware platform. There was no indication of any changes in XSAN or Mac OS. And while Quantum cannot speak for Apple, we can state unequivocally that this announcement has no bearing on Quantum’s continued support of Apple XSAN and StorNext in the marketplace.

For more information, please read this FAQ

Regards,
Janae Lee, SVP Disk and Software

The FAQ is attached after the break.

Please submit comments in this forum thread...

Apple announced today that their venerable Xserve will no longer be available for purchase after January 31, 2011. They will not be producing a new Xserve version either. They have posted a transition guide to promote Mac Pro and Mac mini Server alternatives.

Discussion continues in a forum thread within...

Update: Today Apple announced a Mac Pro Server for $2,999. While not quite an Xserve, the bundle does represent a $500 discount from a similarly configured Mac Pro. (Disclaimer: My employer sells these.)

Update 2: There are already 50 contributions to the discussion. Please continue to weigh in.

Update 3: I've asked Apple PR to make a statement on the effect on Xsan and OS X Server.