Dell PowerVault NX1950 Quick reference guide

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Dell™ PowerVault™ NX1950 Systems
End-to-End Deployment Guide for iSCSI
Model EMU01

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____________________
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Model EMU01
February 2008 Rev. A02

Contents 3
Contents
1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Terms and Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
PowerVault NX1950 Storage Solution Vs.
PowerVault NX1950 Cluster Solution . . . . . . . . . 8
iSCSI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
iSNS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Active/Passive Vs. Active/Active iSCSI . . . . . . . 9
Before Setting Up the PowerVault NX1950
Storage Solution as an iSCSI Software Target . . . . . . 9
Best Practices for Setting Up the iSCSI Storage
Area Network. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
2 Quick Install Steps for Initiator-Target
Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Method 1 (Discovery Using Target Portals) . . . . . . . 17
Pre-Requisites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Configuring the Initiator (Host) . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Configuring iSCSI Connection With the
PowerVault NX1950 Storage Solution . . . . . . . 19
Creating a Virtual Disk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Configuring iSCSI Connection With the
PowerVault NX1950 Cluster Solution . . . . . . . . 21
Configuring the Initiator-Target Connection
From Initiator (Host) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

4Contents
Method 2 (Discovery Using iSNS Server) . . . . . . . . 24
Pre-Requisites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Configuring Settings From the Initiator
Server/Client . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Setting Up the Target (PowerVault NX1950
Storage Solution and PowerVault NX1950
Cluster Solution) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
3 Detailed End-to-End iSCSI Setup . . . . . 27
Setting Up Target IP Addresses in the PowerVault
NX1950 Storage Solution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Setting up Target IP Addresses in the PowerVault
NX1950 Cluster Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Using the 3.0 iSCSI Target . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Using the 3.1 iSCSI Target . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Configuring iSCSI Devices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Installing Microsoft iSCSI Initiator . . . . . . . . . 28
Configuring the Microsoft iSCSI Initiator . . . . . . 30
Configuring Microsoft iSCSI Software
Target . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Establishing Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Pre-Requisites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Configuring iSCSI LUNs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Multiple Sessions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
iSCSI Snapshots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Disconnecting/Cleaning Up iSCSI Devices . . . . . . . 49
From Initiator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
From Target . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Contents 5
4 Configuring Secured iSCSI Connections
Using Challenge-Handshake
Authentication Protocol . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
CHAP vs IPSec . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
One-Way CHAP Authentication . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
iSCSI Target settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
iSCSI Initiator Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Mutual CHAP Authentication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Initiator Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Target Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Initiator Settings Continued . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
A Appendix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Initiator Details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
General Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Discovery Tab. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Targets Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Advanced Configuration Details . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Enabling Multi-Path on the Initiator . . . . . . . . 61
Using the Advanced Option . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Verifying the Properties of the Targets
That are Connected. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Load Balance Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Installing and Configuring iSNS server . . . . . . . . . 64
Configuring the iSNS Server . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

6Contents
Best Practices for Efficient Storage Management . . . 67
Storage Manager for SANs. . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
LUN Management for iSCSI Subsystems . . . . . . 67
Related Links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

Introduction 7
1
Introduction
This document provides information about configuring the
Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI) Software Target on the
Dell™ PowerVault™ NX1950 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.
iSCSI storage solutions and technology have a place in many IT environments.
The performance of iSCSI storage solutions is adequate for many applications
and iSCSI technology provides the benefits of storage area network technology
for a lower cost than Fibre Channel storage solutions.
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 NX1950 Storage Solution Vs. PowerVault NX1950 Cluster
Solution
Throughout this document, the term PowerVault NX1950 storage system
refers to the individual storage unit. The term PowerVault NX1950 storage
solution refers to the configuration of the storage unit along with the storage
arrays. The term PowerVault NX1950 cluster solution refers to the
configuration of more than one storage units and 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 55.

Introduction 9
Active/Passive Vs. Active/Active iSCSI
In a PowerVault NX1950 cluster solution that is configured with a 3.0 iSCSI
Target, only one node that owns the Cluster Resources can create and own
the iSCSI Targets. The iSCSI Target service is operative in only one node at a
time (Active/Passive configuration).
In a PowerVault NX1950 cluster solution that is configured with 3.1 iSCSI
Target, you can create iSCSI highly-available (HA) instances on all nodes of a
cluster and thereby facilitate Active/Active iSCSI Target access. Al nodes of
the cluster can use the iSCSI Target service at the same time.
NOTE: The 3.0 iSCSI Target software enables you to configure an Active/Passive
cluster solution. The 3.1 iSCSI Target software enables you to configure an
Active/Active cluster configuration. You can download the 3.1 iSCSI Target software
from the Dell Support website at support.dell.com.
Before Setting Up the PowerVault NX1950
Storage Solution as an iSCSI Software Target
Before you set up your PowerVault NX1950 storage solution as an iSCSI
Target, read this section completely. You must consider features like Ethernet
settings, security settings for iSCSI Targets, and specific settings for iSCSI
Targets in a PowerVault NX1950 cluster solution.
Best Practices for Setting Up the iSCSI Storage Area Network
Table 1-1 and Table 1-2 provide 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 NX1950 storage solution or
PowerVault NX1950 cluster solution.
• It is good practice to have at least four NICs in a cluster configuration and
at least three NICs in a stand-alone configuration (two NICs dedicated for
iSCSI in different subnets).
• iSCSI NIC teaming is not supported.

10 Introduction
• You can configure Initiators with one or two dedicated NICs for iSCSI,
based on your requirement.
NOTE: Table 1-1 and Table 1-2 provide 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 NX1950 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- Option 1
NOTE: Use this
configuration if iSCSI
traffic has more
priority than NFS
traffic.
NIC-1 - NIC for public Network
NIC-2 - iSCSI dedicated traffic (subnet A)
NIC-3 - iSCSI dedicated traffic (subnet B)
Figure 1-2
3- Option 2
NOTE: Use this
configuration if NFS
has more priority than
iSCSI traffic.
NIC-1 and NIC-2 - Teamed NICs for public
network
NIC-3 - iSCSI dedicated traffic
Figure 1-3

Introduction 11
• It is a good practice to have two dual-port Network Interface Cards
(NICs), with two ports dedicated for iSCSI. Configure each NIC on a
separate subnet. If you have three or less NICs, it is recommended that you
do not use the corporate/public network (LAN) link for iSCSI traffic. This
helps avoid traffic congestion and to have better performance. Figure 1-1
and Figure 1-2 illustrate redundant NIC configuration for iSCSI path and
best practices.
• 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 51.
NOTE: You must configure CHAP only if the iSCSI traffic is configured on the
public network.
• You can configure Active/Active iSCSI Target in both nodes of a cluster
solution to provide high availability for iSCSI storage.
Table 1-2. Using a PowerVault NX1950 Cluster Solution as a Target
Number of NICs Initiator Refer to Figure
4
(Option 1)
NIC-1 - NIC for public network
NIC-2 - Private network for cluster
heartbeat
NIC-3 - iSCSI dedicated traffic (subnet A)
NIC-4 - iSCSI dedicated traffic (subnet B)
Figure 1-4
4
(Option 2)
NIC-1 and NIC-2 - Teamed NICs for
public network
NIC-3 - Private network for cluster
heartbeat
NIC-4 - iSCSI dedicated traffic
Figure 1-5

12 Introduction
Figure 1-1. Redundant iSCSI Paths and NIC Teaming for Data Sharing With Four NICs
public network
host
(Initiator)
PowerVault NX1950 storage system
with NIC Teaming for File Sharing
public network
NIC Teaming
dedicated iSCSI
traffic
switchswitch

Introduction 13
Figure 1-2. Redundant iSCSI Paths With Three NICs
public network
host
(Initiator)
PowerVault NX1950 storage solution
public network
iSCSI traffic
switch
switch

14 Introduction
Figure 1-3. Non-Redundant iSCSI Path With Three NICs
NOTE: For 3.0 iSCSI Target—In Figure 1-4 and Figure 1-5, both Initiators can
communicate to the Active PowerVault NX1950 storage node through the dedicated
iSCSI link (indicated by blue links from Initiators to switch and Active PowerVault
NX1950 storage node). The active node owns the cluster group. The passive node
and link are active only when the active link from the switch to the active node is
lost or the active node dies.
NOTE: For 3.1 iSCSI target—In Figure 1-4 and Figure 1-5 with Active/Active target,
both Initiators can communicate to both PowerVault NX1950 storage nodes through
the dedicated iSCSI link (indicated by blue links from Initiators to switch and
PowerVault NX1950 storage nodes). If one node fails, the surviving node takes
ownership of all iSCSI Targets of the failed node and continues the I/O operations.
public network
NIC Teaming
dedicated iSCSI
traffic
public network
host
(Initiator)
PowerVault NX1950 storage solution
with NIC teaming for Data Sharing
switch

Introduction 15
Figure 1-4. Redundant iSCSI Paths Using Four NICs
public network
host
(Initiator)
PowerVault NX1950 storage
system (cluster node)
PowerVault NX1950 storage
system (cluster node)
host
(Initiator) Teamed NIC for
public network
iSCSI network
heartbeat
network
switch
switch

16 Introduction
Figure 1-5. Non-Redundant iSCSI Paths Using Four NICs
• For more information about the pre-requisites to configure the PowerVault
NX1950 cluster solution as an iSCSI Target, see the section
Creating a
Highly Available iSCSI Target
in Dell PowerVault NX1950 Cluster Systems
Installation and Troubleshooting Guide
on the Dell Support website at
support.dell.com .
NOTE: Before you configure the PowerVault NX1950 cluster solution as an
iSCSI Target, turn off the firewall in all cluster nodes to ensure proper iSCSI
Target configuration.
For more information about PowerVault NX1950 storage solutions, see the
Dell PowerVault NX1950 Systems Support Matrix located at the Dell
Support website at
support.dell.com .
public network
host
(Initiator
PowerVault NX1950 storage system
with NIC teaming (cluster node)
PowerVault NX1950 storage system
with NIC teaming (cluster node)
host
(Initiator
teamed NICs
for public
network
iSCSI network
heartbeat
network
switch
NIC teaming

Quick Install Steps for Initiator-Target Connection 17
2
Quick Install Steps for
Initiator-Target Connection
This section is targeted towards advanced users that are familiar with the
following concepts:
• Operations of iSCSI protocol
• iSCSI Initiator - Target connection information
• Install and setup of Microsoft
®
iSCSI Initiator and Microsoft iSNS server
• Basic RAID operations of Dell™ PowerVault™ NX1950 storage system
The following sections provide quick step-by-step instructions to set up an
iSCSI Target and to establish connection from an Initiator.
Method 1 (Discovery Using Target Portals)
This section describes the procedure for iSCSI Target discovery in Initiator
using direct Target portals. To perform the Target discovery, enter the
IP address of one of the NICs of PowerVault NX1950 storage solution that is
configured for iSCSI traffic in the Initiator and thereby enabling the Initiator
to discover all Targets of this Target server.
Pre-Requisites
Before you set up the iSCSI Target, ensure that you perform the following
steps:
1
Download the Microsoft iSCSI Initiator software from Microsoft Support
website at
support.microsoft.com and install the Initiator (Host).
2 Install and set up the PowerVault NX1950 storage system and the storage
array. Complete the initial setup for storage allocated to the PowerVault
NX1950 storage system. Configure and assign the IP addresses for
iSCSI traffic.

18 Quick Install Steps for Initiator-Target Connection
3 If you are using the PowerVault NX1950 cluster solution with a storage
array, perform the following tasks:
a Turn on all nodes of the cluster.
b Create one or more volumes on the storage array and assign them to
the Cluster Group.
c Use the volumes that you created to create Virtual Disks for iSCSI
Targets.
d Pre-requisites to configure the PowerVault NX1950 cluster solution as
an iSCSI Target can be seen in the section “Creating a Highly
Available iSCSI Target” in
Dell PowerVault NX1950 Cluster Systems
Installation and Troubleshooting Guide
on the Dell Support website at
support.dell.com .
NOTE: Before you configure the PowerVault NX1950 cluster solution as an
iSCSI Target, turn off the firewall in all cluster nodes to ensure proper iSCSI
Target configuration.
Configuring the Initiator (Host)
Configure the Microsoft iSCSI Initiator with the IP address of the Target
server's information. Perform the following steps to configure the Initiator:
1
Go to the server that has Microsoft iSCSI Initiator installed. Select Start →
Programs → Microsoft iSCSI Initiator → iSCSI Initiator Properties →
Discovery tab → Select Add .
2 Add the IP address of one of the NICs on the PowerVault NX1950 storage
system that is configured for iSCSI traffic.
3 Click OK .
NOTE: If you are using the 3.0 iSCSI Target software to configure the
PowerVault NX1950 cluster solution as the Target, you must use the IP
address configured in the cluster for iSCSI traffic and not the IP address of a
specific node or cluster IP address (in public/corporate network). This
ensures proper connection between the Initiator and Targets during cluster
node failover or Cluster Group move among different nodes of cluster.
NOTE: If you are using the 3.1 iSCSI Target software to configure the PowerVault
NX1950 cluster solution as the Target, you must create at least one iSCSI HA
instance on each node and use the IP address for iSCSI traffic. This ensures
Active/Active Target-Initiator connection (connection with targets created on all
nodes of cluster) and high-availability in the event of node failure.

Quick Install Steps for Initiator-Target Connection 19
Configuring iSCSI Connection With the PowerVault NX1950 Storage
Solution
Creating the Target
1 From the PowerVault NX1950 storage solution, select Start → Programs →
Administrative Tools → Windows Unified Data Storage Server .
The
PowerVault NX1950 Management Console appears.
2 Select Microsoft iSCSI Software Target option. The options
iSCSI Targets , Devices , and Snapshots are displayed.
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.
6 The Create iSCSI Target wizard displays the iSCSI Target Identification
option. Enter a
Name and Description (optional) for the iSCSI Target.
Click
Next .
7 The iSCSI Initiators Identifiers screen appears. 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 18 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.

20 Quick Install Steps for Initiator-Target Connection
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.
f Select Next .
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 .