vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-55-storage-guide

vSphere StorageWhen you first boot from iSCSI, the iSCSI boot firmware on your system connects to an iSCSI target. If loginis successful, the firmware saves the networking and iSCSI boot parameters in the iBFT and stores the tablein the system's memory. The system uses this table to configure its own iSCSI connection and networkingand to start up.The following list describes the iBFT iSCSI boot sequence.1 When restarted, the system BIOS detects the iSCSI boot firmware on the network adapter.2 The iSCSI boot firmware uses the preconfigured boot parameters to connect with the specified iSCSItarget.3 If the connection to the iSCSI target is successful, the iSCSI boot firmware writes the networking andiSCSI boot parameters in to the iBFT and stores the table in the system memory.NOTE The system uses this table to configure its own iSCSI connection and networking and to start up.4 The BIOS boots the boot device.5 The VMkernel starts loading and takes over the boot operation.6 Using the boot parameters from the iBFT, the VMkernel connects to the iSCSI target.7 After the iSCSI connection is established, the system boots.iBFT iSCSI Boot ConsiderationsWhen you boot the ESXi host from iSCSI using iBFT-enabled network adapters, certain considerationsapply.The iBFT iSCSI boot does not support the following items:• IPv6• Failover for the iBFT-enabled network adaptersNOTE Update your NIC's boot code and iBFT firmware using vendor supplied tools before trying to installand boot VMware ESXi. Consult vendor documentation and VMware HCL for supported boot code andiBFT firmware versions for VMware ESXi iBFT boot. The boot code and iBFT firmware released by vendorsprior to the ESXi 4.1 release might not work.After you set up your host to boot from iBFT iSCSI, the following restrictions apply:• You cannot disable the software iSCSI adapter. If the iBFT configuration is present in the BIOS, the hostre-enables the software iSCSI adapter during each reboot.NOTE If you do not use the iBFT-enabled network adapter for the iSCSI boot and do not want thesoftware iSCSI adapter to be always enabled, remove the iBFT configuration from the network adapter.• You cannot remove the iBFT iSCSI boot target using the vSphere Web Client. The target appears on thelist of adapter static targets.Configuring iBFT Boot from SANYou can boot from the iSCSI SAN using the software iSCSI adapter or a dependent hardware iSCSI adapterand a network adapter. The network adapter must support iBFT.When you set up your host to boot with iBFT, you perform a number of tasks.1 Configure iSCSI Boot Parameters on page 111To begin an iSCSI boot process, a network adapter on your host must have a specially configurediSCSI boot firmware. When you configure the firmware, you specify the networking and iSCSIparameters and enable the adapter for the iSCSI boot.110 VMware, Inc.