ZFS server as primary storage for Mac/Windows?
I want to use ZFS for most of my storage, accessible from Mac / Windows / Solaris / Linux / etc. Basically replacing most local SATA / USB / IDE drives with an array of SATA drives on a ZFS server. Low-latency is important.
Is this reasonable / possible?
I currently have gigabit ethernet, but am afraid the performance would be too low. I'm hoping to improve the interconnect using an existing PCI Express x1 slot for the Windows machine, as all the other slots are full, but haven't found any likely-looking cards.
Yes, I'm a newbie to such things. Use small words.
[596 byte] By [
jodawi] at [2007-11-26 8:59:20]
# 1
Yes this is possible, certainly for windows/solaris/linux clients. Once you have your ZFS filesystem up and running, share it over the network using NFS and samba.
Solaris and linux clients can mount the NFS shares. Your windows clients can map a network drive to the samba share.
I don't know what file sharing protocols Macs have available.
# 4
As Alejandro says, Macs support NFS nicely as a client, especially if you don't use resource forks (I can't remember if resource fork handling is truly reliable over NFS, I generally use it where I am only interested in data forks). You can set up an automounting arrangement using NetInfo Manager.
The other major protocol is AFP (AppleShare). There are various servers available for this - netatalk, CAP - but probably none quite as solid as Apple's.
