ISCSI Storage Part I : Target

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Table of Contents

ISCSI introduction

ISCSI stand for Internet Small Computer System Interface
  

iSCSI is an industry standard protocol which allows sharing of block storage over Ethernet. It is a protocol for communicating with I/O devices, chiefly storage devices. iSCSI is an IP-based standard for connecting data storage devices over a network and moving data by carrying SCSI commands over IP networks. In simple words, iSCSI is an interface for communication between initiator and target.

Why ISCSI use TCP/IP ?

There is no packet loss while transferring data, if there is any loss, it is handled by the TCP/IP stack in the operating system.

The iSCSI protocol is a mapping of the SCSI remote procedure invocation model over the TCP protocol.

ISCSI Benefits

  • iSCSI provides cheap connectivity as compared to fiber channel  FC. since there is NO need extra hardware Like HBA or SAN storage 
  • An existing network can be used for iSCSI implementation. for best utilized of remote storage 
  • As iSCSI is used for block storage, it is very fast.
  • IT administrators don’t need a lot of training on iSCSI storage since it is very easy to understand and implement.
  • iSCSI is an IP-based protocol. It is FULLY based of TCP/IP and Ethernet.
 

iSCSI Components

  • iSCSI Initiator– The client machine within a storage network is an iSCSI Initiator. The initiator can connect to the target by forming a session among them and can send iSCSI commands.
  • iSCSI Target– The server machine within a storage network is an iSCSI target. An iSCSI target is any machine that receives iSCSI commands from an initiato

ISCSI Network Diagram

to understand ISCSI – lets to have a look to Pioneers Diagram below 

ISCSI LAB Diagram

 we have installed windows 2016 server and join it to AD pioneers.lab

server has 2 HDD 

first one for operating system 

the second one is HDD  with 1500 GB which will be used as shared storage for other server in the network [like SQL , Exchange , and File server ]

later we install windows feature [ ISCSI target ] 

then each server will use windows feature [ISCSI initiator ]   to connect virtual disk on ISCSI103  server as remote storage 

[ISCSI initiator ]   is pre-installed feature  with windows installation – but is disabled 

 or we can set one virtual disk for all servers at once 

OR : we can separate  create virtual for each server which is recommended as you see above :

  • Exchange Server will use VDisk01 with Disk space 500GB
  • file Server will use VDisk02 with Disk space 300GB
  • SQL Server will use VDisk03 with Disk space 700GB

TCP/IP use port 3260 for communication between ISCSI initiator and ISCSI target  

ISCSI communication between ISCSI103 [ as ISCSI target ] and other server [ as ISCSI Initiator ] is plain but could be encrypted with Protocol CHAP 

for more security : ISCSI Target can set which server is Allowed to access Virtual Disk [which called initiator list  ] 

this is brief introduction about ISCSI , but I am sure you will fully master it after first implementation 

prepare server

preparing server is the same steps on any server we did before 

install windows 216 server [with Desktop experience 

sysprep to create new SID 

assign static IP address : 

  • IP address : 172.16.100.103 /24
  • default gateway : 172.16.100.11 
  • DNS : 172.16.100.101 , 172.16.100.102
  • please disable IPv6 

rename computer : ISCSI103 , as per our naming strategy , we  are free to have your naming strategy 

Join Active Directory : Pioneers.lab 

sysprep to get New SID
static IP
join AD Pioneers.lab
For Better View > Open Image in different TAB

install windows Feature ISCSI Target

the first step is to install windows feature ISCSI target 

please make sure DVD [ windows 2016 server ] is inserted to accelerate installation process 

open servermanager.exe

open serve manager
Role based
select this server
select ISCSI target
keep default features
make sure Win2016 DVD inserted and select alternative path D:\Sources\sxs
review and install
add ISCSI succeeded

NOW ISCSI Target  has been installed successfully 

next article will discuses HOW to  configure ISCSI target on server [ iscsi103 ] and configuring ISCSI initiator on other server[like WEB server and Exchange  Server ]  with security considerations  

thank for joining us 

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