Configuring the system for iSCSI hosts

You need to complete several tasks to configure the system to work with iSCSI-attached hosts. The tasks include general tasks on the host system before you configure a system.

Before you begin

Before you complete any configuration tasks on the system, it is important that you complete all the iSCSI-related configuration on the host system. Some systems also support iSER connections. If you want to use an iSER-attached host, verify support and any installation requirements before using this function.

Note: IBM® FlashSystem 7300 models do not support iSER-host attachment.

Because the system supports various host machines, consult the documentation for specific instructions and requirements for a particular host. For a list of supported hosts, see this website: www.ibm.com/support

About this task

To configure a system for supported Ethernet connections, follow these general tasks on the host system:

  1. Select a software-based iSCSI initiator and verify the driver installation.
  2. If required, install and configure a multipathing driver for the host system.

In addition, determine a naming convention for iSCSI names, such as qualified names (IQNs) for your system. Hosts use iSCSI names to connect to the node. Each node has an IQN in which system name and node name are used as part of that IQN.

Port IP addresses are the IP addresses that are used by iSCSI-attached hosts to process I/O. Host port group IDs are automatically assigned to the port. Host port grouping groups the ports that have the same maximum port speed and ensures that no more than four ports are discovered by a host.

Procedure

  1. To configure a new port IP address to a specified Ethernet port of a node with an IPv4 or IPv6 address, enter the following command-line interface (CLI) command:
    mkip -node node_name | node_id -ip ipaddr
    -gw gateway -prefix prefix -vlan vlan_id -port port_id -portset portset_id

    Where node_name | node_id specifies the name or ID of the node that is being configured, ipaddr is the IPv4 or IPv6 address for the Ethernet port, gateway is the IPv4 or IPv6 gateway IP address, prefix is subnet prefix for IPv4 or IPv6, port_id specifies the Ethernet port ID (1 or 2) and portset_id specifies the portset ID or name. To view a list of ports, use the lsportethernet command. Also, mkip has -shareip option to share IP address between multiple portset.

    The optional -vlan parameter sets the virtual local area network (VLAN) ID for an IP address that is configured for iSCSI host attachment.

    For more information about the -vlan parameter, see the information about configuring VLAN for iSCSI using the CLI.

  2. To remove an IP address from a node Ethernet port, enter either of these CLI commands.
    The following command deletes an IP configuration for the specified Ethernet port:
    rmip ip_address_id

    To list the valid values for the IP address ID, enter the lsip command.

What to do next

After you configure your IP addresses, you can optionally create or configure several iSCSI items.