Installing the Host Bus Adapter Card in the Host System
The Apple Fibre Channel PCI Card is a
Consult the documentation that came with your server or computer for instructions on installing the adapter card.
Important In an Xserve system, you must install the Apple Fibre Channel PCI Card in the upper PCI slot. This card has been FCC certified only for installation in the upper slot.
Alternatively, you may be able to connect the Xserve RAID system to a fibre channel card from another manufacturer. See the specifications and documentation for the card to determine if it is compatible with Xserve RAID.
Connecting Xserve RAID to a Host System or Switch
The Xserve RAID system uses
About Fibre Channel Connections and Cables
The fibre channel transmission technology is designed to move large amounts of data between two devices, such as a RAID storage system and a server, or between one host and a switch that connects multiple hosts.
Fibre channel cables can be copper wire or optical fiber, and cabling between devices can be as long as 10 kilometers (km). Two copper fibre channel cables are included with the Apple Fibre Channel PCI Card. Each of these cables connects to one of the two RAID controllers in the Xserve RAID system and to a host system or a switch.
Xserve RAID supports the use of 1 Gb and 2 Gb fibre channel switches and hubs. For best performance, use a 2 Gb switch.
Note: If you do not purchase the Apple Fibre Channel PCI Card, you need to supply two copper fibre channel cables (up to 10 meters long) to connect to a host system or switch.
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