How To Configure iSCSI In SVM And Windows Server Netapp Cluster Mode

How To Configure iSCSI In SVM And Windows Server Netapp Cluster Mode

Today we will discuss how we can configure iscsi in SVM NetApp Cluster Mode. Basically iSCSI protocol is used for LUN allocation to various host.  In iSCSI the data transfer happens via network. This is why the performance is less in comparison to the FC protocol. You can try increase the performance by using 10G network port and by enabling Jumbo Frames. Below are the overall steps need to perform in order to configure iSCSI in SVM NetApp Cluster Mode.

Complete Steps to configure iscsi in SVM NetApp Cluster Mode.

1. Add iSCSI License is Netapp Custer

2. Add iSCSI protocol in SVM allowed Protocol List

3. Create iSCSI Server in SVM Netapp

4. Create iSCSI Lif in each node of the cluster

5. Discover iSCSI target in windows server

We are going to discuss about each step one by one along with the command that we need to use to enable iSCSI in SVM NetApp cluster mode.

Step 1: Add iSCSI License is Netapp Custer Mode

Below command will add the iSCSI licence in NetApp  cluster mode.

cluster1::> system license add -license-code AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Once the command is executed you can execute the below command to see if iSCSI licence added or not ?

cluster1::> system license show

Step 2: Add iSCSI Protocol in SVM allowed protocol list

Before we use any Protocol in SVM we need to check whether that particular protocol is present in the protocol list of SVM or not.  Below command will show what are the protocol present in SVM.

cluster1::> vserver show-protocols -vserver vs1

If you see iSCSI in the output of above command then we can proceed for the next step.  Else we need to add the iSCSI protocol in the SVM by using the below command

cluster1::> vserver add-protocols -vserver vs1 -protocols iSCSI

Step 3: Create iSCSI server in SVM Netapp Cluster Mode

In this step we are going to enable iSCSI Protocol in SVM once we done with this step then only we will be able to perform iSCSI operations in SVM.

cluster::> vserver iscsi create -vserver vs1

In order to verify if iSCSI service is enabled or not you can execute the below command

cluster::> iSCSI show -vserver vs1

Step 4 Create iSCSI LIF In SVM Netapp Cluster Mode

In this step we will create iSCSI lif. iSCSI lif creation is similar to normal lif creation only difference is that we have to mention iscsi protocol while creating the lif. In order to maintain the multipath we must create lif in each node of the cluster. Below is the command to create lif on node 1.

cluster::> network interface create -vserver vs1 -lif iscsilif1 -role data -data-protocol iscsi -home-node node1 -home-port e0e -subnet-name subnet1

In above command we have used subnet to create the lif. You can click here to see how subnet work in netapp cluster mode.

Now all the steps from Netapp side is completed. Now follow the below steps to complete the configuration from Windows Side.

Steps 5: Discover iSCSI target in windows server

1. Open the iSCSI Initiator Properties dialog box:

Windows Server 2012 Server Manager > Dashboard > Tools > iSCSI Initiator

Windows Server 2008 Start > Administrative Tools > iSCSI Initiator

2. On the Discovery tab, click Discover Portal or Add Portal, and then enter the IP address of the

iSCSI target port.

3. On the Targets tab, select the target you discovered, and then click Log on or Connect.

4. Select Enable multi-path, select Automatically restore this connection when the computer

starts or Add this connection to the list of Favorite Targets, and then click Advanced.

5. For Local adapter, select Microsoft iSCSI Initiator.

The following example is from Windows Server 2008:

iSCSI Configuration In Windows Netapp Cluster Mode

6. For Source IP or Initiator IP, select the IP address of a port on the same subnet or VLAN as one

of the iSCSI target LIFs.

7. Retain the default values for the remaining check boxes, and then click OK.

Once the steps from Windows side is done. We will be able to see the iSCSI initiator in SVM as well. Below is the command to see them.

cluster::> iSCSI initiator show -vserver vs1

Now the SVM is ready to server iSCSI traffic. Next step is to create a lun and map it to the windows server. In windows server the lun will be mapped as local drive and can be used for data operation. Check Out the YouTube Video which explains each steps in details along with the command line Demo. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel as well.