Configuring iSCSI in VMware ESXi

You can configure the service IP address on a VMware host by adding a virtual network. Perform the following steps:

1. On the vSphere Client, choose Network > Add Network.
2. In the Add Network Wizard window that is displayed, select Vmkernel.
   Figure 4-326 Adding VMkernel
   

   Click Next.

3. Select the iSCSI service network port.
   Figure 4-327 Creating a standard switch
   
4. Specify the network label.
   Figure 4-328 Specifying the network label
   
5. Enter the iSCSI service IP address.
   Figure 4-329 Entering the iSCSI service IP address
   
6. Confirm the information that you have configured.
   Figure 4-330 Information summary
   

   For a single-path network, the configuration is completed. For a multi-path network, proceed with the next steps.

7. Repeat 1 to 6 to create another virtual network.

   Figure 4-331 shows the configuration result for a multi-path network.

Figure 4-331 iSCSI multi-path network with dual adapters

After the network configuration is complete, you need to configure an initiator for the host. Host initiator configuration includes creating a host initiator, binding the initiator to the virtual network, and discovering the target.

In VMware ESXi 4.1 and earlier versions, storage adapters have iSCSI adapters. You only need to enable those adapters. In VMware ESXi 5.0 and later versions, you need to manually add iSCSI initiators

This section uses VMware ESXi 5.0 as an example to explain how to configure host initiators.

1. Choose Storage Adapters and right-click the function pane, as shown in Figure 4-332.
   Figure 4-332 Adding a storage adapter
   
2. Choose Add Software iSCSI Adapter from the shortcut menu. On the dialog box that is displayed, click OK.
   Figure 4-333 Adding a storage adapter
   

   The newly added iSCSI initiator is displayed.

   Figure 4-334 iSCSI Software Adapter
   
3. Right-click the newly created iSCSI initiator and choose Properties from the shortcut menu.
   Figure 4-335 Initiator properties
   
4. On the dialog box that is displayed, click the Network Configuration tab and click Add.
   Figure 4-336 iSCSI initiator properties
   
5. Select the virtual network that you have created and click OK.
   Figure 4-337 Binding the iSCSI initiator with a new VMkernel network adapter
   

   Figure 4-338 shows the properties of the initiator bound to the virtual network.

   Figure 4-338 Initiator properties after virtual network binding
   
6. In the dialog box for configuring initiator properties, click the Dynamic Discovery tab, click Add, and enter the target IP address (service IP address of the storage system).

Figure 4-339 Add Send Target Server

The host initiator configuration is complete.

If CHAP authentication is required between the storage system and the host, perform the following steps to configure CHAP authentication:

1. In the dialog box for configuring iSCSI initiator properties, click the General tab. Click CHAP in the lower left corner.
   Figure 4-340 General tab page
   
2. In the CHAP Credentials dialog box that is displayed, choose Use CHAP from the Select option drop-down list.

   Enter the CHAP user name and password configured on the storage system.

Figure 4-341 CHAP Credentials

Click OK.

The supported IP protocols vary with the storage system version. Specify the IP protocol based on the actual storage system version and application scenario.

Observe the following rules when configuring IP addresses for the iSCSI ports of the storage system:

• The IP address of the iSCSI host port cannot reside on the same network segment as the IP address of the management network port.
• The IP address of the iSCSI host port cannot reside on the same network segment as the IP address of the maintenance network port.
• The IP address of the iSCSI host port cannot reside on the same network segment as the IP address of the heartbeat network port.
• The IP addresses of the iSCSI host ports of the same controller must reside on different network segments. In some storage systems of the latest versions, IP addresses of iSCSI host ports on the same controller can reside on the same network segment. However, this configuration is not recommended.
• The IP address of an iSCSI host port communicates correctly with the IP address of the host's service network port to which this iSCSI host port connects, or IP addresses of other storage devices' iSCSI host ports that connect to this iSCSI host port.

Read-only users cannot modify the IP addresses of iSCSI host ports.

Modifying an IP address will interrupt services running on the host port.