Xsan

Access Qlogic Switches & Other Java Apps From OS X

Qlogic fibre channel switches are about the most common I see in Xsan environments. A common frustration when managing a Qlogic switch is that the Java runtime used to manage the switch is blocked from most OS X systems by default. But it’s pretty easy to get into them with a couple of minor adjustments.

To get started, first download and install the latest Java from here. Once installed, open System Preferences on your Mac and then open the Java Preferences. Here, click on the Security tab.

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Click Edit Site List… In the pop-up, click Add and enter http:// followed by the name or IP address of your switch.

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Click on OK to commit your changes. Then access the switch address from Firefox (what I use for these) or whatever browser you prefer. Because the switch has a self-signed certificate, you’ll be prompted with a  security warning. Here, click the checkbox for “I accept the risk and want to run this application” and then click on the Run button.

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You’ll then be prompted by another Security Warning dialog. This one is indicating that the Java applet is potentially unsafe. Because we somewhat trust Qlogic, click Don’t Block. You’ll have to click this one every time you access the switch.

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The switch interface then opens and you can manage your switch as needed.

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Enjoy.