Connect ESXI to ISCSI storage Part II: Configuration

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Table of Contents

Note :

before move to ISCSI configuration : please see previous article here 

ISCSI Network Diagram

For Better View > Open Image in different TAB

to understand ISCSI – lets to have a look to Pioneers Diagram above 

we have windows server called iscsi103 with 

  • RIAD HDD with capacity 15TB 
  • interface for management with DMZ [server farm ] : with ip address 172.16.100.103
  • interface for ISCSI target with DMZ [switch 3 ] : with ip address 172.21.102.103
  • interface for redundant  ISCSI target with DMZ [switch 3 ] : with ip address 172.21.103.103

also : we have ESXI host server called ESXI151  with 

  • interface for management with DMZ [server farm ] : with ip address 172.16.100.151
  • interface for ISCSI target with DMZ [switch 3 ] : with ip address 172.21.102.151
  • interface for redundant  ISCSI target with DMZ [switch 3 ] : with ip address 172.21.103.151

also : we have ESXI host server called ESXI152  with 

  • interface for management with DMZ [server farm ] : with ip address 172.16.100.152
  • interface for ISCSI target with DMZ [switch 3 ] : with ip address 172.21.102.152
  • interface for redundant  ISCSI target with DMZ [switch 3 ] : with ip address 172.21.103.152

also : we have ESXI host server called ESXI153  with 

  • interface for management with DMZ [server farm ] : with ip address 172.16.100.153
  • interface for ISCSI target with DMZ [switch 3 ] : with ip address 172.21.102.153
  • interface for redundant  ISCSI target with DMZ [switch 3 ] : with ip address 172.21.103.153

server ISCSI103 will act as ISCSI Target 

while each ESXI host [ESXI151,ESXI152,ESXI153] will act as ISCSI initiator 

Step 01 : on server ISCSI103 create Target with VDisk001

this first step involved : 

  • install ISCSI service : already done previously on article please press here 
  • create VDisk001 with Target-VMFS01 
  • allow only ESXI151 ,ESXI152,ESXI153 with thier IP addresses to access this ISCSI Target 
  • disable CHAP encryption : we will have separate article about encryption 

now just open server manager at server  ISCSI103.pioneers.lab 

open server manager > ISCSI > create new ISCSI virtual disk
select volume d:\
set virtual disk name
set size , please note that we can set cspace more than current capacity : since it dynamic
create new ISCSI target
set target name
click add to allow servers ESXI151 ,ESXI152 ,ESXI153
IP address for ESXI151, ESXI152 ,ESXI153
disable CHAP encryption , it will be fully covered later
review your settings and click create
creating VDisk process
VDIsk created , For Better View > Open Image in different TAB

Step 02 : create two port group for each ESXI server

we have previously create two ISCSI  port group on  server ESXI151 called :

  • ISCSI-A to use vmnic6 with IP addres 172.21.102.151
  • ISCSI-B to use vmnic6 with IP addres 172.21.103.151

And create two ISCSI  port group on  server ESXI152 called :

  • ISCSI-A to use vmnic6 with IP addres 172.21.102.152
  • ISCSI-B to use vmnic6 with IP addres 172.21.103.152

also create two ISCSI  port group on  server ESXI153 called :

  • ISCSI-A to use vmnic6 with IP addres 172.21.102.153
  • ISCSI-B to use vmnic6 with IP addres 172.21.103.153

please visit article here 

below screen shot for port group on ESXI servers 

 

 

select ESXI151 >Configure > Virtual Switch > vswitch0 > see port group created for ISCSI
select ESXI152 >Configure > Virtual Switch > vswitch0 > see port group created for ISCSI
select ESXI153 >Configure > Virtual Switch > vswitch0 > see port group created for ISCSI

Step 03 : create ISCSI adapter on each ESXI host

ISCSI adapter is software that responsible to ac at ISCSI initiator and will connect to ISCSI Target 

 

let us to create one 

follow marks in RED to create ISCSI adapter
accept warning
ISCSI adapter created > next step to bind adapter with port group

Step 04 : configure ISCSI adapter to use port group

now we need to bind ISCSI adapter with port group : 

this mean that ISCSI adapter will utilize port group with vmnic6 and vmnic7 to connect to remote storage 

follow marks in RED to bind adapter with port group
select both port group
make rescan to configuration will take effect

Step 05 : discover devices on server ISCSI103

ISCSI adapter will be configured to connect to server  ISCSI103 to utilize remote vDisk

currentl NO devices discovered
follow Makrs in RED to discover devices in server ISCSI103
add first IP of server ISCSI103
add second IP of server ISCSI103
after refresh > deivce VDisk on ISCSI discoverd with capacity 15TB

Step 06: create DataStore from Device VDisk001

ISCSI are able NOW to see remote storage VDIsk001 , 

the final step just for create Datastore from that device and format it  VMFS-version6

currently ESXI151 has ONLY two local Datastore > click add in RED mark
select VMFS type
ESXI discover new device VDIsk001 with capacity 15TB
format as VMFS6
next
finish
now ESXI151 has 3 Datastors : two local and one remote storage as ISCSI

Step 07 Final Shape

please repeat ALL steps above on both ESXI152 , and ESXI153 so each ESXI server will have two local DAtaStore beside of remote shared  ISCSI DataStore 

 

final shape below 

data store on ESXI151
DataStore on ESXI152
DataStore on ESXI153

Conclusion

in two articles : we have seen how to create ISCSI target on windows server 

and how to connect ESXI server as ISCSI initiator 

 

thank you for joining us 

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Maher Mustafa islaieh

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