HP NC550SFP User Manual

HP NC-Series ServerEngines iSCSISelect User Guide

Part Number 609163-001 March 2010 (First Edition)

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Intended audience

This document is for the person who installs, administers, and troubleshoots servers and storage systems. HP assumes you are qualified in the servicing of computer equipment and trained in recognizing hazards in products with hazardous energy levels.

Overview ..................................................................................................................................... 5

iSCSI Overview............................................................................................................................................ 5

Constructing a basic iSCSI SAN .................................................................................................................... 5

Managing an iSCSI session ........................................................................................................................... 5

iSCSISelect .................................................................................................................................. 7

Overview of iSCSISelect ............................................................................................................................... 7

Configuring and managing the iSCSI Initiator .................................................................................. 8

iSCSI Initiator ............................................................................................................................................... 8

Configuring the iSCSI Initiator name .............................................................................................................. 8

Selecting a controller .................................................................................................................................... 9

Configuring network properties ................................................................................................................... 10

Configuring VLAN ID/Priority ...................................................................................................................... 13

Confirming network settings ........................................................................................................................ 15

Target discovery through DHCP ................................................................................................................... 16

Configuring and managing iSCSI targets ....................................................................................... 17

iSCSI targets .............................................................................................................................................. 17

Methods to add iSCSI targets ...................................................................................................................... 17

Configuring an iSCSI target ........................................................................................................................ 18

Managing an iSCSI target .......................................................................................................................... 21

Editing a target configuration ............................................................................................................ 22

Setting an ISID value ........................................................................................................................ 23

Enabling CHAP authentication ........................................................................................................... 23

Pinging a target ............................................................................................................................... 25

Displaying advanced target properties ............................................................................................... 27

Configuring LUN settings .................................................................................................................. 27

Removing a target ............................................................................................................................ 28

Booting the system...................................................................................................................................... 28

Erasing the configuration ............................................................................................................................ 28

Configuring iSCSI boot support .................................................................................................... 30

Setting up a basic iSCSI boot configuration .................................................................................................. 30

Setting up an iSCSI MPIO boot configuration ................................................................................................ 34

iSCSI MPIO boot .............................................................................................................................. 34

Linux ............................................................................................................................................... 34

Windows Server .............................................................................................................................. 35

ESX Server 3.5 ................................................................................................................................ 35

Troubleshooting .......................................................................................................................... 37

Technical support ........................................................................................................................ 39

Before you contact HP ................................................................................................................................ 39

HP contact information ................................................................................................................................ 39

Acronyms and abbreviations ........................................................................................................ 40

Index ......................................................................................................................................... 42

Overview

iSCSI Overview

The Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI) is an IP-based standard for linking data storage devices over a network and transferring data by carrying SCSI commands over IP networks.

An iSCSI network consists of one or more iSCSI storage units (targets) connected through a copper or optical networking cable to 10Gb Ethernet network switches or IP routers. To this network one or more servers are connected, which are responsible for transferring data to or from the storage units.

When an operating system receives a request it generates the SCSI command and then sends an IP packet over an Ethernet connection. At the receiving end, the SCSI commands are separated from the request, and the SCSI commands and data are sent to the SCSI controller and then to the SCSI storage device. iSCSI also returns a response to the request using the same protocol.

All storage protocols including iSCSI have two ends in the connection; the initiator and the target. In iSCSI, they are known as the iSCSI initiator and the iSCSI target. Each server or machine directly accessing an iSCSI target requires an iSCSI initiator. It is the initiator that allows the host system to communicate directly with iSCSI targets.

Constructing a basic iSCSI SAN

There are three main components that make up an iSCSI SAN:

• iSCSI Targets. An iSCSI SAN has one or more iSCSI targets, which house and make available the

storage used within the SAN. The iSCSI target is the storage device itself or an appliance that controls and serves volumes or virtual volumes. The target is the device that performs the SCSI command or bridges it to an attached storage device. iSCSI targets can be disks, RAID arrays, or even Fibre Channel (FC) fabrics.

• Networking infrastructure. The networking infrastructure in an iSCSI SAN uses Ethernet transport. HP

NC-Series ServerEngines uses the BladeEngine 2 controller. The configuration and complexity of the storage network depends on its intended function and features required.

• iSCSI Initiators. The initiator allows a given machine access to the storage available in the iSCSI

SAN. It requests all SCSI operations like read or write. An initiator is usually located on the host/server side either as hardware (iSCSI host bus adapter (HBA)) or software (iSCSI software initiator). To transport block (SCSI) commands over the IP network, an iSCSI driver must be installed on the iSCSI host. An iSCSI driver is included with HP NC-Series ServerEngines BE2 adapter.

Managing an iSCSI session

To transmit information from an initiator to the target, the initiator must first establish a session with the target through an iSCSI login process. The login process:

• Starts a TCP/IP connection

• Verifies that the initiator has access to the target (authentication)

Overview 5

• Allows negotiation of various parameters

iSCSI Login

An iSCSI session has two phases:

• Login Phase. iSCSI parameters are negotiated using login requests and responses.

• Full Featured Phase. After security or authentication has occurred and operational parameters have

been set, the initiator performs SCSI I/Os.

Security

Security is a necessary and critical party of the iSCSI protocol because it operates within the Internet environment.

CHAP Authentication

Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP) is used to periodically verify the identity of the initiator by the target by using a challenge/response mechanism. This is accomplished upon initial link establishment and may be repeated any time after the link has been established. For the challenge/response method to work, the target must know the initiator's secret key and the initiator must be set up to respond to a challenge.

Although the authentication is only one-way, you can negotiate CHAP in both directions for mutual authentication with the help of the same secret set.

Overview 6

iSCSISelect

Overview of iSCSISelect

The HP NC-Series ServerEngines iSCSISelect is an Int 13h option ROM resident utility used to configure and manage the HP NC-Series ServerEngines adapter in an iSCSI SAN environment. By configuring your initiator, you can use iSCSISelect to automatically contact network devices and set up iSCSI boot targets. With iSCSISelect you can:

• Configure an iSCSI initiator on the network

• Ping targets to determine connectivity with the iSCSI initiator

• Discover and display iSCSI targets and corresponding LUNs

• Initiate boot target discovery through Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)

• Manually configure bootable iSCSI targets

• View initiator properties

• View connected target properties

iSCSISelect 7

Configuring and managing the iSCSI Initiator

iSCSI Initiator

Before you begin, gather the following facts about your network:

• Target IP address (for at least your bootable target)

• Initiator IQN name

• Initiator IP address

• Initiator Subnet Mask

In addition, you need to verify that the initiator’s IQN name you choose is listed in the target’s Access Control List (ACL) so that the targets are configured to recognize the iSCSI initiator name.

If using target discovery through DHCP, you need to add the root path to the DHCP server. See "Target discovery through DHCP (on page 16)."

Initiator

The iSCSI initiator or host (also known as the iSCSI client or host) is a system such as a server, which attaches to an IP network and initiates requests and receives responses from an iSCSI target. Each iSCSI host is identified by a unique iSCSI qualified name (IQN).

Once you have an initiator host system running, you must configure the initiator to allow access to the iSCSI SAN. To do this, you need to:

• Configure the iSCSI Initiator Name

• Select your controller

• Configure Network Properties

• Verify network settings

Configuring the iSCSI Initiator name

The iSCSI Initiator name is a unique identifier for the initiator on the network and configures target access. It must be unique to that system on the network and is identified by an IQN. The iSCSI Initiator name is global to the entire system. The iSCSI Initiator Name must also match the target’s Access Control List (ACL).

After you log into iSCSISelect, you will be able to configure the iSCSI Initiator Name from the iSCSI Initiator Configuration menu.

Configuring and managing the iSCSI Initiator 8

Log into HP NC-Series ServerEngines iSCSISelect by pressing Ctrl+S when prompted at boot. The iSCSI Initiator Configuration menu displays.

2. Tab to iSCSI Initiator Name and press Enter.

If there are multiple controllers in your system, the iSCSI Initiator name may be different for each controller. When this occurs a POST error message indicating an Initiator iSCSI Name mismatch displays.

You must Save a new initiator name on this menu so that the iSCSI Initiator Name on all the controllers match. After you exit iSCSISelect and reboot, all logins from the multiple controllers use the new name.

3. Tab to Boot Support and select Enabled (default) to manually set an iSCSI boot configuration. Or, if

a DHCP server is used to discover boot targets, select Disabled. For more information about boot support see, "Setting up a basic iSCSI boot configuration (on page 30)."

4. Tab to Save and press Enter to save your selections.

Selecting a controller

Select a controller on which to configure your iSCSI target. This is completed on the Controller Selection menu. If you are running iSCSISelect with multiple adapters, they all appear on this menu.

Because the HP NC-Series ServerEngines BE2 is a dual-port chip, there are two controllers for each adapter. Therefore, the Controller Selection Menu always shows two controllers (dual ports) for each physical adapter.

Configuring and managing the iSCSI Initiator 9

The following is an example of the Controller Configuration menu showing two physical adapters with two controllers (dual-port) each.

1. To select a controller, select Controller Configuration and press Enter. The Controller Selection Menu

displays.

2. Select a controller and press Enter. The Configuration Controller menu displays. From this menu, you

can continue to configure and manage your iSCSI Initiator and target by selecting the options.

3. If you have selected your controller but are not certain if you are configuring the correct port, verify

the port by completing either of these options:

o Performing Port Identification

See Port Identification in "Configuring VLAN ID/Priority (on page 13)."

o Checking Link Status in the Network Configuration menu

If you plug a cable into your controller, check the Link Status in the Network Configuration menu. If the status is Link up, it is the correct controller/port. Make sure you back out of the Network Configuration menu to the Controller Configuration menu before checking the Network Configuration menu. This allows Link Status to update when you plug your cable in and out of the controller.

Configuring network properties

The IP Address is a logical address for your controller and uniquely identifies your system on a TCP/IP network. The IP address can be determined dynamically (by using the DHCP Server to obtain an IP address) or statically (manually assigned).

The method that you choose depends on your network configuration. If your network uses a DHCP configuration, then you can enable DHCP and get an IP address from the DHCP server. If there is no DHCP server available, you can configure a static IP address.

If using target discovery through DHCP, you need to add the root path to the DHCP server and enable DHCP discovery through iSCSISelect. For more information, see "Target discovery through DHCP (on page 16)."

Configuring and managing the iSCSI Initiator 10

Enabling DHCP

You can use DHCP to provide the initiator with an IP address by enabling DHCP from the Network Configuration menu.

If you are using the DHCP server to obtain an IP address for your iSCSI Initiator, it is recommended that you set up a reservation. A reservation assigns a specific IP address based on the MAC address of your iSCSI function. If you do not reserve an IP Address through DHCP, then you must set the lease length for the iSCSI Initiator IP address to unlimited. This allows the IP address lease not to expire.

1. After you have selected a controller, the Configuration Controller menu displays. Select Network

Configuration and press Enter.

2. Tab to DHCP, select Enabled, and press Enter.

3. Tab to Save DHCP Setting and press Enter. If you have previously set a Static IP Address, a warning

displays that the Static IP Address will be lost. Press Y to continue.

Configuring and managing the iSCSI Initiator 11

The DHCP IP Address displays the IP address settings.

4. Press Enter to select OK and Esc to return to the Network Configuration menu.

Configuring a Static IP Address

If there is no DHCP server available, you must statically configure an IP address by completing these steps:

1. From the Network Configuration menu, tab to Configure Static IP Address and press Enter.

If you have a DHCP Enabled, a warning displays that the DHCP IP Address will be lost. Press Y to continue.

2. From the Static IP Address menu, enter the IP Address.

3. Enter the Subnet Mask.

Configuring and managing the iSCSI Initiator 12

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