Lion (OSX 10.7 Xsan 2.3) client configuration for StorNext (step by step)

(this procedure applies to Mountain Lion also)

Lion (Xsan 2.3) client configuration for StorNext MDSs. (includes SpycerBoxes)

On the Mac you wish to attach to StorNext, make sure a Fibre Channel card is installed, the Fibre Channel switch is zoned, and Fibre cables are attached.

"ping" check to MDS and "cvlabel -l" sees all the expected LUNs.
1. Enable Xsan from System Preferences. There must be a Fibre card installed for this option to be available.
2. Start a terminal session, then login as admin: sudo su
3. Change to the following directory: cd /Library/Preferences/Xsan/
4. Create or update fsnameservers file to point to the MDS Meta IP address(s).
5. Create or update the config.plist (update the metadadtaNetwork string as needed):

#CODE: config.plist

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict> 
 <key>computers</key> 
 <array/>
 <key>metadataNetwork</key>
 <string>10.0.0.0/24</string>
 <key>ownerEmail</key>
 <string></string>
 <key>ownerName</key>
 <string></string>
 <key>role</key> 
 <string>CLIENT</string>
 <key>sanName</key>
 <string>DVS Test SAN</string>
</dict>
</plist>

6. Create or update the automount.plist (update the filesystem name as needed (spycerbox)):

#CODE: automount.plist

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple Computer//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
 <dict>
 <key>spycerbox</key> 
 <dict>
 <key>AutoMount</key>
 <string>rw</string>
 <key>MountOptions</key>
 <dict/>
 </dict>
 </dict>
</plist>

7. Stop and start xsan, the volume should show up under the devices list in the finder.
        launchctl unload /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.xsan.plist
        launchctl load /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.xsan.plist


Notes:
Test mounted and copy tests to StorNext 3.5.1, 4.0.1.1, 4.2.

Quantum officially support Xsan 2.3 clients starting from StorNext4.1.2.

Apple officially support xSan 2.3 clients at StorNext 4.1.1 .

Attached is the ATTO Celerity 8X driver set. This appears to clear some issues found where not all luns are being seen by 10.7 and 10.8 systems.

#CODE: example Automount.plist (4 filesystems)

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple Computer//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
 <dict>
 <key>VADER</key>
 <dict>
 <key>AutoMount</key>
 <string>rw</string>
 <key>MountOptions</key>
 <dict/>
 </dict>
 <key>YODA</key>
 <dict>
 <key>AutoMount</key>
 <string>rw</string>
 <key>MountOptions</key>
 <dict/>
 </dict>
 <key>WOOKIEE</key>
 <dict>
 <key>AutoMount</key>
 <string>rw</string>
 <key>MountOptions</key>
 <dict/>
 </dict>
 <key>X-WING</key>
 <dict>
 <key>AutoMount</key>
 <string>rw</string>
 <key>MountOptions</key>
 <dict/>
 </dict>
 </dict>
</plist>