Configuring VLAN for external storage systems

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Before you configure a specific storage system through an iSCSI connection, you can optionally configure and use VLAN tagging.

The system supports Ethernet connections to systems that are used as external storage. VLAN tagging of the IP addresses configured for external storage systems is supported. For the systems and external storage systems to access each other, the same VLAN ID must be configured for ports on nodes on the system and the ports on the external storage system. In addition, VLAN settings must be configured on the Ethernet network to prevent any connection issues. When more than two ports are available, configure different ports for iSCSI hosts, remote-copy, and storage systems.

Using the management GUI

Complete these steps to configure VLAN tags on storage systems:
  1. On the storage systems, configure VLAN on the ports that are used for Ethernet connections. Consult the appropriate storage documentation to complete this step.
  2. On all intervening switches, configure the switches with the VLAN tags per port connectivity. Consult the appropriate switch documentation to complete this step.
  3. Verify that the port on which you are configuring VLAN tags is used for storage system attachment. In the management GUI, select Settings > Network > Ethernet Ports. Ensure that Enabled is displayed in the Storage Port column for the selected port. If Disabled is displayed, right-click the port and select Modify Storage Ports to enable the port for iSCSI connections to storage systems.
  4. Configure ports on the system with appropriate VLAN tags by completing these steps:
    1. In the management GUI, select Settings > Network > Ethernet Ports.
    2. Right-click the port on which to configure VLAN and select Manage IP Addresses.
    3. On Manage IP Addresses page, select Add IP Address. Enter the following information for the IP address that you are adding to the selected port:
      IP address
      Enter the IP address to associate with the selected port.
      Type
      Select the IP protocol version of the IP address.
      Subnet Mask or Prefix
      Enter the subnet mask for the IPv4 addresses or enter the prefix for IPv6 addresses.
      VLAN
      Enter the corresponding VLAN tag that this IP address belongs to.
      Portset
      Select the name or ID of the portset where the portset type is Storage.
      Note: Portset3 (ID=3) is created by default and is reserved for storage traffic. Portset3 (ID =3) is the only portset of type Storage.
    4. Click Save.
    5. If you are updating an existing IP address, select the IP address and select Edit from the overflow menu. Enter the new VLAN tag in the VLAN field. Click Save.
  5. After you configure VLAN settings for storage virtualization, ensure that you set PFC settings for the system-to-storage traffic.
    Note: If you are sharing the same port for different types of traffic, then PFC and Enhanced Transmission Selection (ETS) settings must be configured.
    For more information on PFC settings for storage virtualization, see Configuring priority flow control.

Using the command-line interface (CLI)

Use the mkip command to assign IP addresses to the portset. The following CLI examples show how to change the iSCSI ports to enable VLAN.
  1. Configure IP addresses with VLAN on Spectrum Virtualize ports.
    Note: VLAN is compulsory to configure PFC.
  2. Ensure that VLAN is correctly configured on the host ports.
  3. Ensure that VLAN is correctly configured on the switches and routers by using vendor-specific commands.
  4. Make sure that the host and storage connectivity is correct, and they can ping each other.
  5. Configure the Class of Service(CoS) values for different classes of traffic on SVC by using the svctask chsystemethernet CLI.
  6. Enable DCBX on switch (this is required for PFC to work).
  7. Define and enable PFC on the switch for the traffic classes that are defined in step5
  8. Optionally, configure the ETS settings on the switch according to the workload by using vendor-specific commands.
  9. To configure VLAN along with IPv4 type IP address, enter the following command:

    svctask mkip -node <id | name> -port <id> -portset <id | name> -ip <ipv4 address> -prefix <subnet prefix> -gw <ipv4 gateway address> -vlan <vlan_id>

  10. To configure VLAN along with IPv6 type IP address, enter the following command:

    svctask mkip -node <id | name> -port <id> -portset <id | name> -ip <ipv6 address> -prefix <subnet prefix> -gw <ipv6 gateway address> -vlan <vlan_id>