7 Configuring the Host for an iSCSI Connection
This chapter describes the procedures for setting up an ESX software iSCSI configuration with an HP 3PAR StoreServ Storage. The instructions in this chapter should be used in conjunction with the VMware vSphere Storage Guide.
Setting Up the Switch, iSCSI Initiator, and iSCSI target ports
Connect the ESX host iSCSI initiator port(s) and the HP 3PAR StoreServ Storage iSCSI target ports to the switch(es).
If you are using VLANs, make sure that the switch ports which connect to the HP 3PAR StoreServ Storage iSCSI target ports and iSCSI initiator ports reside in the same VLANs and/or that you can route the iSCSI traffic between the iSCSI initiator ports and the HP 3PAR StoreServ Storage iSCSI target ports. Once the iSCSI initiator and HP 3PAR StoreServ Storage iSCSI target ports are configured and connected to the switch, you can use the ping command on the iSCSI initiator host to make sure it sees the HP 3PAR StoreServ Storage iSCSI target ports.
NOTE: Setting up the switch for VLAN and routing configuration is beyond the scope of this document. Consult your switch manufacturer's guide for instructions about setting up VLANs and routing.
The procedures in this chapter assume that you have completed the following tasks:
•Set up and configuration of the host Network Interface Card (NIC) or converged network adapter (CNA) as Initiator port that will be used by the iSCSI Initiator software to connect to the HP 3PAR StoreServ Storage iSCSI target ports.
•Installation of the iSCSI initiator software package.
Installing iSCSI on VMware ESX
Software iSCSI drivers for VMware supported NICs are included as part of the ESX OS installation package supplied by VMware. Updates and/or patches for the software iSCSI drivers can be acquired through VMware support.
The following illustration shows an example of an ESX iSCSI Software initiator configuration with two servers:
Setting Up the Switch, iSCSI Initiator, and iSCSI target ports 65
