vSphere Storage - ESXi 5.1 - Documentation - VMware

For active-passive storage arrays not listed in Storage/SAN Compatibility, VMware does not support
storage-port failover. You must connect the server to the active port on the storage system. This
configuration ensures that the LUNs are presented to the host.
Network Configuration and Authentication
Before your ESXi host can discover iSCSI storage, the iSCSI initiators must be configured and authentication
might have to be set up.
n For software iSCSI and dependent hardware iSCSI, networking for the VMkernel must be configured. You
can verify the network configuration by using the vmkping utility.
CAUTION Make sure that the physical network adapters you use for software or dependent hardware
iSCSI are on the same subnet as your iSCSI target. Otherwise, your host cannot establish sessions from
this network adapter to the target.
n For independent hardware iSCSI, network parameters, such as IP address, subnet mask, and default
gateway must be configured on the HBA.
n Check and change the default initiator name if necessary.
n The dynamic discovery address or static discovery address and target name of the storage system must
be set. For software iSCSI and dependent hardware iSCSI, the address should be pingable using
vmkping.
n For CHAP authentication, enable it on the initiator and the storage system side. After authentication is
enabled, it applies for all of the targets that are not yet discovered, but does not apply to targets that are
already discovered. After the discovery address is set, the new targets discovered are exposed and can be
used at that point.
For details on how to use the vmkping command, search the VMware Knowledge Base.
Setting Up Independent Hardware iSCSI Adapters
An independent hardware iSCSI adapter is a specialized third-party adapter capable of accessing iSCSI storage
over TCP/IP. This iSCSI adapter handles all iSCSI and network processing and management for your ESXi
system.
The setup and configuration process for the independent hardware iSCSI adapters involves these steps:
1 Check whether the adapter needs to be licensed.
See your vendor documentation.
2 Install the adapter.
For installation information and information on firmware updates, see vendor documentation.
3 Verity that the adapter is installed correctly.
n For the vSphere Client, see “View Independent Hardware iSCSI Adapters in the vSphere Client,” on
page 80.
n For the vSphere Web Client, see “View Independent Hardware iSCSI Adapters in the vSphere Web
Client,” on page 80
4 Configure discovery information.
See “Configuring Discovery Addresses for iSCSI Adapters,” on page 99.
5 (Optional) Configure CHAP parameters.
See “Configuring CHAP Parameters for iSCSI Adapters,” on page 102.
Chapter 11 Configuring iSCSI Adapters and Storage
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