C H A P T E R
4
Connecting Xserve RAID to a Host
System and a Network
Xserve RAID provides two groups of up to seven drive modules, each with a dedicated RAID controller. This flexible design allows you to connect the storage system to a single host using two fibre channel cables, or to dual hosts using one cable to each host.
To establish communication with a host, you can purchase the Apple Fibre Channel PCI Card or use a compatible fibre channel card that supports the Xserve RAID system. Xserve RAID is compatible with the Xserve system and Power Mac G4 models with a processor speed of at least 800 MHz. It requires Mac OS X version 10.2.4 or later, or Mac OS X Server v10.2.4 or later. For the latest list of compatible host systems, check the Apple website: www.apple.com/xserve.
To complete the host connection, you need to
minstall the host bus adapter card in a host server or computer
mconnect the Xserve RAID system to the fibre channel card in a host system or to a switch using fibre channel cables
mconnect to an Ethernet network
mconnect the two power cords to the Xserve RAID system
As an option, you can also connect an uninterruptible power supply (UPS).
37