Getting Started

Welcome to the official training reference for Xsan 2, Apple’s enterprise-class SAN file system and management software.

This book serves as a self-paced guide and reference, and is designed to help you build the basic skills you need to design, deploy, and support an Xsan 2 installation. It is based on the premise that a training book should go beyond a basic tour of Xsan installations by providing you with a solid understanding of the technologies underlying network storage systems, along with practical, effective techniques that you will use on a daily basis when implementing and administering an Xsan solution in a professional setting.

This book is also part of the courseware for the Apple Certified Xsan 2 Administrator training course and serves as a preparation for the Apple Certified Xsan 2 Administrator exam.

The Methodology

Apple Training Series books emphasize hands-on training. The exercises in this book are designed so that you can explore and learn the tools necessary to deploy and manage an Xsan 2 solution.

This book serves as a thorough introduction and guide to Xsan 2, and is not meant to be a sole, definitive reference. Because Xsan is an extremely flexible and scalable storage area network solution, there will be unique and advanced implementations of the solution that require more individual attention than any reference book could provide.

For most Xsan implementations, however, this book offers structured, step-by-step instruction covering what you need to know to design, deploy, and administer a professional Xsan 2 installation.

Course Structure

The chapters move along in a predictable fashion, starting with the basic concepts and technologies that underlie storage area networking and the Xsan file system, moving on to planning and deploying an Xsan, and finishing up with a thorough discussion of client management, volume management, and Xsan maintenance and troubleshooting.

Chapter 1	Basic concepts of storage area networks
Chapter 2	Planning an Xsan solution
Chapter 3	Deploying an Xsan solution
Chapter 4	Managing clients
Chapter 5	Managing volumes
Chapter 6	Maintaining and troubleshooting

If you already have an Xsan installation deployed, you can simply skip ahead to the chapters that deal with management, maintenance, and troubleshooting.

System Requirements

This book assumes a basic knowledge of the Macintosh operating environment and storage networks in general. Here’s the minimum you need to complete the lessons in this book:

• Volumes of shared storage, stored on an Apple Xserve RAID or Promise VTrak RAID.

• Underlying Fibre Channel and Ethernet networks

• An Xsan file system

• One computer acting as a metadata controller

• At least two computers acting as client computers

Certification

Apple Training Series: Xsan 2 Administration provides a thorough preparation for the Apple Certified Xsan 2 Administrator exam, offered by Apple Inc.

Before you take the exam, you should review the lessons and ideas in this book. Each chapter ends with a summary, called “What You’ve Learned,” of the main ideas in the chapter, along with useful review questions and answers that you can use as a self-quiz.

You should also download and review the Skills Assessment Guide, which lists the exam objectives, the score required to pass the exam, and how to register for it. To download the Skills Assessment Guide, visit http://train.apple.com/certification.

Earning Apple technical certification shows employers that you have achieved a high level of technical proficiency with Apple productions. You’ll also join a growing community of skilled professionals who share Apple certification.

For more information on Apple certification, visit http://train.apple.com/certification.

About the Apple Training Series

Apple Training Series: Xsan 2 Administration is part of the official training series for Apple products, which was developed by experts in the field and certified by Apple Inc. The lessons are designed to let you learn at your own pace.

For those who prefer to learn in an instructor-led setting, Apple also offers training courses at Apple Authorized Training Centers worldwide. These courses, which use the Apple Training Series books as their curriculum, are taught by Apple Certified Trainers and balance concepts and lectures with hands-on labs and exercises. Apple Authorized Training Centers have been carefully selected and have met Apple’s highest standards in all areas, including facilities, instructors, course delivery, and infrastructure. The goal of the program is to offer Apple customers, from beginners to the most seasoned professionals, the highest quality training experience.

To find an Authorized Training Center near you, go to www.apple.com/training.