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Software and Hardware RAID Options
Affordable and easy-to-install drive modules make it simple to expand Xserve systems
to meet growing storage needs over time. For even greater storage capacity or to
share storage among multiple servers, high-throughput PCI-X slots enable users to
connect to external rackmount storage and backup systems, including SCSI devices
and Apple’s Xserve RAID.
Software RAID in Mac OS X Server
Using software RAID built into Mac OS X Server, the three Apple Drive Modules can be
striped or mirrored for improved performance or data redundancy.
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• RAID 0, or striping. Increases storage performance dramatically by distributing data
across two or three Apple Drive Modules and enabling the drives to read and write
data concurrently. Drive striping takes full advantage of the three independent drive
channels and utilizes the I/O capabilities of Mac OS X Server.
• RAID1, 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 new volume promotion feature in Mac OS X Server v10.3, you can upgrade a
single drive to a RAID1 mirror without needing to back up and reformat the drive. If
a mirrored drive fails, the system can rebuild the array in the background, while con-
tinuing to serve data. The independent drive architecture and software RAID combine
to provide RAID1 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.
Optional hardware RAID PCI card
For enhanced storage performance and data protection, the hardware RAID PCI
card provides RAID levels 0, 1, and 5 using a hardware RAID controller and 64MB
of battery-backed, ECC cache memory. When Xserve is configured with three 250GB
Apple Drive Modules and the hardware RAID PCI card, it offers half a terabyte of
internal, RAID 5–protected storage in a 1U form factor—unmatched in the industry.
This compact solution provides affordable protected RAID storage for small to
medium-size storage requirements.
Xserve RAID storage solution
For massive capacity and advanced data protection and availability features, Xserve
connects to the Xserve RAID storage system using the Apple Fibre Channel PCI
Card. Xserve RAID holds up to 14 hot-swap Apple Drive Modules, for up to 3.5TB
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of storage in a rack-optimized 3U enclosure. The innovative Apple-designed architec-
ture 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 avail-
ability. 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.
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Technology Overview
Xserve G5
Apple Fibre Channel PCI Card
Xserve RAID connects to a host Xserve
G5 system using the dual-port 2Gb Apple
Fibre Channel PCI Card (sold separately),
for easy integration into copper or optical
infrastructures.