Use the xsanctl command-line tool or macOS Server/management tools to manage ACLs.
The specific you are encountering
Access to an Xsan volume is typically governed by two distinct paths:
The Xsan payload (PayloadType com.apple.xsan ) configures a client system. Required keys include: sanName (exact name of the SAN), sanConfigURLs (LDAP URLs for configuration updates), sanAuthMethod (typically auth_secret ), and sharedSecret (contents of the .auth_secret file). StorNext environments also require fsnameservers . xsan filesystem access
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Before diving into access methods, it’s essential to understand how Xsan coordinates data flow between multiple clients.
All Xsan command-line utilities reside in /Library/Filesystems/Xsan/bin/ , which is part of the default shell search path on properly configured systems. Most commands require superuser (root) privileges to execute. Use the xsanctl command-line tool or macOS Server/management
Once a client has the appropriate configuration profile, authorized users can access Xsan volumes. The mounting behavior depends on configuration:
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Once approved, the MDC tells the client exactly where the data sits on the physical disks. The client then reads that data directly from the RAID system via Fibre Channel, bypassing the MDC entirely for the actual data transfer. Key Components of an Xsan Environment StorNext environments also require fsnameservers
You have 4 RAIDs in a single Xsan volume. For client "AVID-01", you want it to access only RAID 1 and 2 to reduce head contention.
Access control in Xsan is managed through a combination of macOS permissions and SAN-level masking.
Every Xsan SAN uses an .auth_secret file as a cryptographic signature of that SAN. All SAN clients must possess an identical copy of this file for the fsmpm (File System Manager Process) to successfully connect. Mixed configurations—where some clients have the file and others don’t—will result in inconsistent mounting behavior.
In January 2025, Apple released security updates addressing an integer overflow vulnerability (CVE-2025-24156) in Xsan that could allow an app to elevate privileges. The fix was incorporated into macOS Ventura 13.7.3, macOS Sequoia 15.3, and macOS Sonoma 14.7.3. Organizations running Xsan should ensure their macOS versions include these security patches.