An iSNS server uses the Internet Storage Name Service (iSNS) protocol to maintain information about active iSCSI devices on the network, including their IP addresses, iSCSI node names, and portal groups. The iSNS protocol enables automated discovery and management of iSCSI devices on an IP storage network. An iSCSI initiator can query the iSNS server to discover iSCSI target devices.
NetApp does not supply or resell iSNS servers. You obtain these servers from a vendor supported by NetApp. Be sure to check the NetApp iSCSI Support Matrix to see which iSNS servers are currently supported.
The specification for the iSNS service is still in draft form. Some draft versions are different enough to prevent the storage system from registering with the iSNS server. Because the protocol does not provide version information to the draft level, iSNS servers and storage systems cannot negotiate the draft level being used.
By default, Data ONTAP versions prior to 7.1 used iSNS draft 18. This draft was also used by Microsoft iSNS server versions prior to 3.0.
In Data ONTAP 7.1, the default iSNS version is draft 22. This draft is also used by Microsoft iSNS server 3.0.
You can either use the iSNS server that matches your Data ONTAP version, or you can configure Data ONTAP to use a different iSNS draft version by changing the iscsi.isns.rev option on the storage system. Refer to the following table.
Note
When you upgrade to a new version of Data ONTAP, the existing value for the iscsi.isns.rev option is maintained. This reduces the risk of a draft version problem when upgrading. For example, if you upgrade from the 7.0 family to 7.1, the default value 18 from the 7.0 family is also used for 7.1. You must change the iscsi.isns.rev value manually when upgrading Data ONTAP.
To set the iSNS service revision, complete the following steps.
The storage system automatically registers its IP address, node name, and portal groups with the iSNS server when the iSCSI service is started and iSNS is enabled. After iSNS is initially configured, Data ONTAP automatically updates the iSNS server any time the storage system's configuration settings change. There can be a delay of a few minutes between the time of the configuration change and the update being sent; you can use the iscsi isns update command to send an update immediately.
You can use the iscsi isns command or FilerView to configure the storage system to register with an iSNS server. This command specifies the information the storage system sends to the iSNS server.
The iscsi isns command only configures the storage system to register with the iSNS server. The storage system does not provide commands that enable you to configure or manage the iSNS server.
To manage the iSNS server, use the server administration tools or interface provided by the vendor of the iSNS server.
To configure the storage system to register with the iSNS server, complete the following steps.
To configure the storage system to register with the iSNS server, complete the following steps.
Data ONTAP checks for iSCSI configuration changes on the storage system every few minutes and automatically sends any changes to the iSNS server. If you do not want to wait for an automatic update, you can update the iSNS server immediately.
To immediately update the iSNS server with iSCSI configuration changes, complete the following step:
| 1 |
On the storage system console, enter the following command: iscsi isns update |
When you stop the iSNS service, the storage system stops registering its iSCSI information with the iSNS server.
To stop the iSNS service, complete the following step.
| 1 |
On the storage system console, enter the following command: iscsi isns stop |
When you stop the iSNS service, the storage system stops registering its iSCSI information with the iSNS server.
To stop the iSNS service, complete the following steps.
| 1 | |
| 2 | |
| 3 |
You can set up iSNS separately for each vFiler by using the iscsi isns command on each vFiler to:
To set up vFiler units with the iSNS service, complete the following steps for each vFiler. Configuring iSNS for each vFiler must be done using the command line.
Note
For information about managing vFiler units, see the sections on iSCSI service on vFiler units in the MultiStore Management Guide.
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Part No. 210-01094_B0
File: c11mgt-4.htm
Last updated: 08-Dec-2005 13:25:39