Set Up Software iSCSI with vicfg-iscsi

Software iSCSI setup requires a number of high-level tasks.

You should be familiar with the corresponding command for each task. You can refer to the relevant documentation for each command. Specify one of the options listed in Connection Options for vCLI Host Management Commands in place of <conn_options>.

Prerequisites

• Verify that you are familiar with iSCSI authentication. See Enabling iSCSI Authentication.
• Verify that you are familiar with CHAP. See Setting iSCSI CHAP.

Procedure

1. Determine the HBA type and retrieve the HBA ID.

   vicfg-iscsi <conn_options> --adapter --list

2. Enable software iSCSI for the HBA.

   vicfg-iscsi <conn_options> --swiscsi --enable

3. (Optional) Check the status.

   vicfg-iscsi <conn_options> --swiscsi --list

   The system prints Software iSCSI is enabled or Software iSCSI is not enabled.
4. (Optional) Set the iSCSI name and alias.

   vicfg-iscsi <conn_options> -I -n <iscsi_name> <adapter_name>
   vicfg-iscsi <conn_options> --iscsiname - -name <iscsi_name> <adapter_name>
   vicfg-iscsi <conn_options> -I -a <alias_name> <adapter_name>
   vicfg-iscsi <conn_options> --iscsiname --alias <alias_name> <adapter_name>

5. Add a dynamic discovery address or a static discovery address.
   • With dynamic discovery, all storage targets associated with a host name or IP address are discovered. You can run the following command.

     vicfg-iscsi <conn_options> --discovery --add --ip <ip_addr | domain_name> <adapter_name>

   • With static discovery, you must specify the host name or IP address and the iSCSI name of the storage target. You can run the following command.

     vicfg-iscsi <conn_options> --static --add --ip <ip_addr | domain_name> --name <iscsi_name> <adapter_name>

   When you later remove a discovery address, it might still be displayed as the parent of a static target. You can add the discovery address and rescan to display the correct parent for the static targets.
6. Set the authentication information for CHAP.

   vicfg-iscsi <conn_options> -A -c <level> -m <auth_method> -u <auth_u_name> -w <chap_password>
            [-i <stor_ip_addr|stor_hostname> [:<portnum>] [-n <iscsi_name]] <adapter_name>
   vicfg-iscsi <conn_options> - -authentication - -level <level> - -method <auth_method>
            --chap_username <auth_u_name> --chap_password <chap_password>
            [--ip <stor_ip_addr|stor_hostname> [:<portnum>] [-name <iscsi_name]]
            <adapter_name>

   The target ( -i) and name ( -n) option determine what the command applies to.

   Option	Result
   -i and -n	Command applies to per-target CHAP for static targets.
   Only -i	Command applies to the discovery address.
   Neither -i nor -n	Command applies to per-adapter CHAP.

7. (Optional) Set the authentication information for mutual CHAP by running vicfg-iscsi -A again with the -b option and a different authentication user name and password.
   For <level>, specify chapProhibited or chapRequired.
   • chapProhibited – The host does not use CHAP authentication. If authentication is enabled, specify chapProhibited to disable it.
   • chapRequired – The host requires successful CHAP authentication. The connection fails if CHAP negotiation fails. You can set this value for mutual CHAP only if CHAP is set to chapRequired.
   For <auth_method>, CHAP is the only valid value.

   Important: You are responsible for making sure that CHAP is set before you set mutual CHAP, and for using compatible levels for CHAP and mutual CHAP.
8. (Optional) Set iSCSI parameters by running vicfg-iscsi -W.
9. After setup is complete, run vicfg-rescan to rescan all storage devices.