Dell PowerVault NX3000 Quick reference guide

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Dell™ PowerVault™
Network Attached Storage
(NAS) Solution
iSCSI Deployment Guide

Notes, Cautions, and Warnings
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your computer.
CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates potential damage to hardware or loss of data if
instructions are not followed.
WARNING: A WARNING indicates a potential for property damage, personal
injury, or death.
____________________
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May 2009 Rev. A00

Contents 3
Contents
1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Terms and Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
PowerVault Storage System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
iSCSI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
iSNS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Before Setting Up the PowerVault Storage Solution as
an iSCSI Target. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Best Practices for Setting Up the iSCSI Storage
Area Network. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2 Setup Steps for Initiator-Target
Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Pre-Requisites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Method 1 (Discovery Using Target Portals) . . . . . . . 13
Configuring the Initiator (Host) . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Configuring iSCSI Connection With the PowerVault
NAS Storage System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Creating the Target . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Creating a Virtual Disk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Log on - Configuring the Initiator-Target Connection
From Initiator (Host) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Method 2 (Discovery Using iSNS Server) . . . . . . . . 18
Pre-Requisites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Configuring Settings From the Initiator . . . . . . 18

4Contents
3 Target Details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Setting Up Target IP Addresses in the PowerVault™
NAS Storage Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Configuring Microsoft®iSCSI Software Targets . . 21
Configuring iSCSI LUNs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Multiple Sessions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
iSCSI Snapshots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Disconnecting/Cleaning Up iSCSI Devices . . . . . . . 32
From Initiator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
From Target . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
4 Configuring Secured iSCSI Connections
Using Challenge-Handshake
Authentication Protocol . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
CHAP vs IPSec . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
One-Way CHAP Authentication . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
iSCSI Target Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
iSCSI Initiator Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Mutual CHAP Authentication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Initiator Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Target Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Initiator Settings Continued. . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
A Appendix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Initiator Details. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
General Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Discovery Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Targets Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Contents 5
Advanced Configuration Details . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Enabling Multi-Path on the Initiator . . . . . . . . 45
Using the Advanced Option . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Verifying the Properties of the Targets that
are Connected . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Installing and Configuring iSNS Server . . . . . . . . . 48
Configuring the iSNS Server . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Best Practices for Efficient Storage Management . . . 50
Storage Manager for SANs . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
LUN Management for iSCSI Subsystems. . . . . . 50
Known Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

6Contents

Introduction 7
Introduction
This document provides information about configuring the
Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI) Software Target on the
Dell™ PowerVault™ storage system as a block storage device.
iSCSI is a useful and relatively inexpensive way to provide storage for new
applications or to provide a network pool of storage for existing applications.
Dell and its storage partners provide a variety of storage solutions that can be
implemented easily. This document allows administrators and IT managers to
explore iSCSI technology and see actual deployment examples.
The following topics are discussed in the document:
• Quick install steps—Provides instructions about creating an iSCSI Target
and establishing connection with a Microsoft
®
iSCSI Initiator
• End-to-end iSCSI configuration:
– Detailed instructions on installing and configuring the Microsoft
iSCSI Initiator software and the Microsoft iSCSI Software Target
– Configuring the Initiator-Target connections
• Setting up secure iSCSI connections
• Microsoft iSNS server and other advanced configuration details
NOTE: In this document the iSCSI Initiator is referred to as the Initiator and the
iSCSI Software Target is referred to as the Target.

8Introduction
Terms and Definitions
The following sections describe the terms used in this document.
PowerVault Storage System
Throughout this document, the term PowerVault storage system refers to the
individual storage unit. The term PowerVault storage solution refers to the
configuration of the server separately or together with the storage arrays.
iSCSI
iSCSI is a standard that carries SCSI commands through Transfer Control
Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)—a protocol that enables transport of
block data over IP networks, without the need for a specialized network
infrastructure, such as Fibre Channel.
In the context of system storage, iSCSI enables any client/machine (Initiator)
on an IP network to contact a remote dedicated server (Target) and perform
block I/O on it just as it would perform on a local hard disk.
iSNS
Microsoft iSCSI Internet Storage Name Service (iSNS) is a service that
processes iSNS registrations, deregistrations, and queries through TCP/IP from
iSNS clients and also maintains a database of these registrations (similar to a
DNS server). A common use for Microsoft iSNS server is to allow iSNS clients
(Initiators and Targets) to register themselves and to query for other registered
iSNS clients. Registrations and queries are transacted remotely over TCP/IP.
You can download and install the iSNS server from the Microsoft Support
website at support.microsoft.com on a separate server that does not have
Microsoft iSCSI Initiator or Target installed.
NOTE: For details about installing and configuring the iSNS server, see "Appendix"
on page 39.

Introduction 9
Before Setting Up the PowerVault Storage
Solution as an iSCSI Target
Before you set up your storage solution as an iSCSI Target, read this section
completely. You must consider features such as Ethernet settings and security
settings for iSCSI Targets.
Best Practices for Setting Up the iSCSI Storage Area Network
Table 1-1 provides information about configuring NICs (on Target) in
different models of iSCSI networks.
• You can configure redundant paths on Initiator (hosts). Microsoft
Multipath I/O (MPIO) is supported with Initiator version of 2.06 or later.
• You require two dedicated iSCSI NICs on the Target and Initiator for
efficient MPIO connection in the PowerVault storage solution.
• iSCSI NIC teaming is not supported.
• You can configure Initiators with one or two dedicated NICs for iSCSI
based on your requirement.
NOTE: Table 1-1 provides information about the iSCSI Target NIC
configuration. The optimal connection information is also provided as options.
You can configure the iSCSI NICs according to your network requirements.
Table 1-1. Using a Single PowerVault Storage Solution as a Target
Number of NICs Details Refer to Figure
4 NIC-1 and NIC-2 - Teamed NICs for public
network
NIC-3 - iSCSI dedicated traffic (subnet A)
NIC-4 - iSCSI dedicated traffic (subnet B)
Figure 1-1
3
NOTE: Use this
configuration if iSCSI
traffic has more
priority than file traffic.
NIC-1 - NIC for public Network
NIC-2 - iSCSI dedicated traffic (subnet A)
NIC-3 - iSCSI dedicated traffic (subnet B)
Figure 1-2

10 Introduction
• It is a good practice to have two ports dedicated for iSCSI. Configure each
NIC (or ports if you have a multiport NIC) on a separate subnet.
• Secured iSCSI is possible with Challenge-Handshake Authentication
Protocol (CHAP). For more information about CHAP settings, see
"Configuring Secured iSCSI Connections Using Challenge-Handshake
Authentication Protocol" on page 35.
Table 1-2. Worksheet
NOTE: IQNs are the standard naming convention for identifying Targets and
Initiators and it is recommended that you use IQN as the identifier whenever
possible.
NOTE: It is recommended that you configure dedicated iSCSI NICs on
separate subnets and not on the public network.
Options Host IP Target IP
NIC 1
iSCSI
Public
Other
NIC 2
iSCSI
Public
Other
NIC 3
iSCSI
Public
Other
NIC 4
iSCSI
Public
Other

Introduction 11
Figure 1-1. Redundant iSCSI Paths and NIC Teaming for Data Sharing With Four NICs
NOTE: For a detailed configuration of the iSCSI Target, see "Target Details" on
page 21.
public network
public network
NIC Teaming
dedicated iSCSI
traffic
host
(Initiator)
switchswitch
PowerVault storage
system with NIC Teaming
for File sharing optional iSNS
server
optional iSNS
server

12 Introduction
Figure 1-2. Redundant iSCSI Paths With Three NICs
NOTE: For a detailed configuration of the iSCSI Target, see "Target Details" on
page 21.
public network
host (Initiator)
switch switch
optional iSNS
server
PowerVault storage
system
optional iSNS
server
public network
iSCSI traffic

Setup Steps for Initiator-Target Connection 13
Setup Steps for Initiator-Target
Connection
This section provides step-by-step instructions to set up an iSCSI Target and
establish connection from an Initiator. It is assumed that the user is familiar
with the following:
• Operations of iSCSI protocol
• iSCSI Initiator-Target connection information
• Install and setup of Microsoft
®
iSCSI Initiator, Microsoft Software iSCSI
Target, and Microsoft iSNS server
Pre-Requisites
Before you set up the iSCSI Target, ensure that you perform the following steps:
1
Download the latest Microsoft iSCSI Initiator software from Microsoft
support website at
support.microsoft.com and install the Initiator (Host).
2 Install MS Software iSCSI Target on your storage system from the CD
provided.
3 Configure and assign the IP addresses for iSCSI network using the
"Worksheet" on page 10.
Before configuring iSCSI Targets, ensure that you perform the following tasks:
1
Create a few LUNs and reserve storage space to create virtual disks for
iSCSI Targets.
2 Right-click iSCSI Target and select Properties to configure dedicated iSCSI
NICs for iSCSI traffic (see Figure 3-1 "Creating iSCSI Targets" on page 23).
Method 1 (Discovery Using Target Portals)
To perform Target discovery, enter the IP address of one of the NICs of the
PowerVault storage system that is configured for iSCSI traffic in the Initiator
and thereby enabling the Initiator to discover all Targets of this Target server.

14 Setup Steps for Initiator-Target Connection
The following steps guide you through setting up an iSCSI Target and
establishing connection from an Initiator.
Configuring the Initiator (Host)
Configure the Microsoft iSCSI Initiator with the IP address of the Target
server's information. To configure the Initiator:
1
Go to the system that has Microsoft iSCSI Initiator installed.
2 Click Start → Programs → Microsoft iSCSI Initiator → iSCSI Initiator
Properties
→ Discovery tab.
3 Select Add portal .
4 Add the IP address of one of the NICs on the PowerVault storage system
that is configured for iSCSI traffic (see Figure 1-1).
5 Click OK .
Configuring iSCSI Connection With the PowerVault NAS Storage System
Creating the Target
1 From the PowerVault NAS appliance, select Start → Server Manager →
Storage → MS Software Target .
2 Select Microsoft iSCSI Software Target icon.
The following options are displayed—
iSCSI Targets , Devices , and
Snapshots .
3 Select iSCSI Targets and either right-click or select the More Actions
option in the
Actions tab.
4 Select the Create iSCSI Target option.
5 The Welcome to the Create iSCSI Target wizard screen is displayed.
Select
Next .
The wizard guides you through the process of Target creation.
Initiator setup Target setup Log on from
Initiator
Log on from
Initiator
Target setup
Initiator setup

Setup Steps for Initiator-Target Connection 15
6 The Create iSCSI Target wizard displays the iSCSI Target Identification
option. Enter a
Name and Description (optional) for the iSCSI Target and
click
Next . The iSCSI Initiators Identifiers screen appears.
7 Click Browse and select the IQN for the host that connects to the Target.
The host is listed only if step 1 in "Configuring the Initiator (Host)" on
page 14 was completed successfully.
NOTE: You must fill the IQN identifier field. You can type the Initiator IQN
identifier or use the Browse and Advanced options in the screen to add the
IQN identifier. For more information about the Browse option, see step 8.
For more information about the Advanced option, see step 9.
8 If you choose the Browse option, you can select the IQN identifier by
performing the following steps:
a Select Browse and the Add iSCSI Initiator screen appears.
b The details for iSCSI Initiator list is displayed. You can type or select
iSCSI Initiator from the list, enter the iSCSI Initiator Name, and
select
OK . The IQN identifier field in the iSCSI Initiators
Identifiers
screen is populated with the value entered or selected.
Select
Next . Go to step 10.
9 If you choose the Advanced option, you can select the IQN identifier by
performing the following steps:
a When you choose the Advanced.. option, the Advanced Identifiers
screen appears and displays the
Add option. Select Add .
b The Add/Edit Identifier appears and provides four options namely—
IQN , DNS Domain Name , IP address , and MAC Address to add the
IQN identifier . Choose any one of the four options.
c Type in the value or choose the value through the Browse option, and
then select
OK .
The IQN identifier is displayed in the
Advanced Identifiers screen
and the fields
IQN , DNS Domain Name , IP address , and MAC
Address
are populated.
d Select the populated value and select OK .
e In the iSCSI Initiator Identifiers screen, the IQN identifier field is
populated with appropriate information. Click
Advanced to view
alternate identifiers.

16 Setup Steps for Initiator-Target Connection
f Select Next .
NOTE: IQNs work regardless of the DNS configuration. You can also specify the IP
address or MAC address of the Initiator regardless of DNS configuration.
The option of specifying a DNS domain name is built into the iSCSI Software Target
snap-in. While using DNS names, you must configure DNS correctly (including
forward and reverse lookup zones) and specify the fully qualified domain name
(FQDN) of the Initiator. If you are unable to connect the Target to the Initiator after
specifying the Initiator FQDN, run the nslookup InitiatorIP command on the target
server to verify if reverse lookup is enabled correctly.
If the nslookup command fails, it indicates that the DNS reverse lookup is not
configured. In such a case, reconfigure the Target to use the Initiator IQN, IP
address, or MAC address.
10 The Completing the Create iSCSI Target wizard appears. Click Finish .
Creating a Virtual Disk
1 Right-click the newly created Target and click Create Virtual Disk for
iSCSI Target
. The Create Virtual Disk wizard appears. Select Next .
2 To create a file, choose the Browse option, select a volume on the storage
array and type a file name with an extension
.vhd .
For example, create
Z:\vol1.vhd , where Z is the mounted volume from
storage array and
vol1.vhd is the filename. Select Next .
3 In the Size screen, choose the appropriate size from Currently available
free space
and click Next .
4 The Description screen may appear. Enter the virtual disk description, if
required and click
Next .
5 In the Add screen, select the Target name and click Next .
6 The Completing the Create Virtual Disk wizard appears. Click Finish .
CAUTION: If multiple hosts access the same Target, data corruption may occur.
For more information, see "Enabling Multi-Path on the Initiator" on page 45.
NOTE: You can create multiple VHDs on the same volume.

Setup Steps for Initiator-Target Connection 17
Log on - Configuring the Initiator-Target Connection From Initiator (Host)
1 From the iSCSI Initiator (host), click Start → Programs → Microsoft
iSCSI Initiator
→ iSCSI Initiator Properties → Targets tab.
2 Refresh the screen. The PowerVault storage system Target device that you
created in "Configuring iSCSI Connection With the PowerVault NAS
Storage System" on page 14 is displayed in the IQN name format.
3 In the Log On to Target window , select Logon, Automatically restore and
Enable multi-path options.
4 Click Advanced . In the Advanced Settings window, select General tab and
select the following options from drop-down menu:
–
Local adapter —Microsoft iSCSI Initiator
–
Source IP —One of the host I/P addresses that is used for iSCSI traffic
–
Target Portal —PowerVault storage solution's iSCSI IP address
5 In the Advanced Settings window, click OK .
6 In the Log On to Target window, click OK .
The
Target s tab displays the status of the Target as Connected .
7 To accomplish Multipathing, you can use Microsoft MPIO to establish
multiple sessions from host to the same Target device. To establish
multiple sessions:
a Go to the Target s tab and select the Target that is Connected .
b Repeat step 1 to step 5.
c Click Advanced Settings . In the Target Portal address, choose the
redundant host IP address and the IP address of the PowerVault storage
solution.
NOTE: During the iSCSI Initiator software installation, Microsoft MPIO is
already selected. MPIO is supported with Initiator version of 2.06 or later. You
require two dedicated iSCSI NICs in the Target and Initiator for efficient MPIO
connection. Multiple connections per session (MC/S) is not supported on the
PowerVault storage solution.
Lo
Initiator setup Target setup Log on from
Initiator

18 Setup Steps for Initiator-Target Connection
8 To initialize and configure the iSCSI device as local drive and perform iSCSI
I/O operations, select
Computer Management → Disk Management option.
CAUTION: If multiple hosts access the same Target, data corruption may occur.
For more information, see "Enabling Multi-Path on the Initiator" on page 45.
Method 2 (Discovery Using iSNS Server)
This section describes the procedure for iSCSI Target discovery using the iSNS
server. For more information about the iSNS server, see "Appendix" on page 39.
Pre-Requisites
Before you perform iSCSI Target discovery, perform the following steps:
1
Identify a system to serve as an iSNS server.
2 Ensure that the Initiator and the Target are on the same network as the
iSNS server (see Figure 1-1 and Figure 1-2).
3 Download the Microsoft iSCSI Initiator software from Microsoft Support
website at
support.microsoft.com and install the Initiator (Host).
4 Download the Microsoft iSNS server software from Microsoft Support
website at
support.microsoft.com and install the software on a
client/server running Microsoft
®
Windows
®
operating system.
NOTE: Do not install the iSNS server software on Initiator (host) or Target
(PowerVault storage solution). Install the software on a separate Client/Server
running Windows operating system.
5 Turn on the PowerVault storage system and create one or more volumes on
the storage array for creating virtual disks for iSCSI Targets.
Configuring Settings From the Initiator
1 Configure the Microsoft iSCSI Initiator with iSNS server's information.
Go to
Start → Programs → Administrative Tools → Microsoft iSCSI
Initiator
→ Discovery tab → Add iSNS .
2 Add the IP address of the iSNS server and click OK (see Figure 1-1 and
Figure 1-2).
Initiator setup Target setup Log on from
Initiator

Setup Steps for Initiator-Target Connection 19
Setting Up the Target (PowerVault Storage System)
1 From the PowerVault storage system, go to Start → Server Manager →
Storage → Microsoft iSCSI Software Target .
The
PowerVault Server Manager Management Console appears.
2 Select Microsoft iSCSI Software Target which is located in the storage
snap-in and right-click on
Properties .
3 In the Properties window, select the iSNS tab and add the iSNS server
information (DNS Name or IP address).
NOTE: It is recommended that only NICs for iSCSI network are checked.
4 To create a Target, follow the instructions in "Configuring iSCSI
Connection With the PowerVault NAS Storage System" on page 14.
NOTE: During step 7 of Configuring the Target, use the Browse option to
ensure that the iSCSI Initiator Identifier screen displays all Initiators that are
registered with the iSNS server.
5 To create a virtual disk, follow the instructions in "Creating a Virtual Disk"
on page 16.
Log on - Configuring the Initiator-Target Connection From Initiator (Host)
For information about configuring the Initiator-Target connection, see "Log on -
Configuring the Initiator-Target Connection From Initiator (Host)" on page 17.
Log on from
Initiator
Initiator setup Target setup

20 Setup Steps for Initiator-Target Connection