High availability email server...

[Michael Johnson]

On Jul 28, 2006, at 1:40 PM, Pascal Gienger wrote:

> So if Apple says that Xsan does not handle many files they admit  
> that their HFS+ file system is crap for many small files.

This is completely untrue.  Xsan, although branded by Apple, is not  
completely an Apple product.  ADIC makes StorNext which is what Xsan  
is based on.  Basically, think of Xsan as StorNext with a pretty  
interface.

I just spent an hour on the phone with the ADIC guys talking about  
using their product on a few Linux servers.  Their concern is that  
their product doesn't work well with a lot of small files.  It has  
absolutely nothing to do with HFS, jfs, xfs, or anything else.

It's basically the design of their software.  It's better suited for  
the management of large files like images, audio and video clips, 3D  
renderings, etc.  If you have a lot of small mail files, it might not  
be the best solution.  That is unless your users spend most of their  
email time sending 15MB files around to people and almost none  
responding with "thanks".

I've used HFS+ to store mail using cyrus.  I've had exactly zero  
problems using it.  I've also used jfs and had exactly zero problems.

-Michael

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There will always be those who dare to take great risks. Rather than  
mourn their loss, we should value their contributions.
             --Jesse Brown