iSCSI software target considerations

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Consider the following when you are defining an iSCSI software target and exporting logical unit numbers (LUNs):

  • The iSCSI Qualified Name (IQN) of each virtual target is specified in SMIT when a software target is defined. The SMIT panel does not restrict the format of the name. However, some iSCSI initiators require that the IQN is specified in the format defined by the iSCSI protocol. Using an incorrect name format might prevent the initiator from logging to the target and accessing the disks exported by the target.
    To display the current name of an iSCSI target device, complete the following steps:
    1. Run a command similar to the following. For this example, assume the iSCSI target device is target0.
      lsattr -E -l target0
    2. Check the iscsi_name attribute.
  • The inquiry data returned for an exported LUN has the following values:
    • Vendor ID: AIX
    • Product ID: iSCSI_VDASD
    • ANSI version number: 3
  • Do not use the AIX® iSCSI software initiator or the AIX iSCSI software target with the loopback interface (lo0). The processing of the loopback interface interrupt differs from the processing of the physical or virtual Ethernet adapter network interface interrupt. The AIX operating system might stop operations if the loopback interface is used with the iSCSI software drivers.