Configuring iSCSI protocol on SVMs

You can configure the iSCSI protocol on the Storage Virtual Machine (SVM) to provide block-level data access. You can create iSCSI LIFs and portsets, and add the LIFs to the portsets. LIFs are created on the most suitable adapters and assigned to portsets to ensure data path redundancy.

Before you begin

•	The iSCSI license must be enabled on the cluster.

If the protocol is not allowed on the SVM, you can use the Edit Storage Virtual Machine window to enable the protocol for the SVM.

•	All the nodes in the cluster must be healthy.

•	Each node must have at least two data ports and the port state must be up.

About this task

You can configure the iSCSI protocol while creating the SVM or you can do so at a later time.

Steps

1.	If you have not configured the iSCSI protocol while creating the SVM and if the FCP service is not started, double-click the appropriate storage system in the home page, expand the Storage Virtual Machines hierarchy, select the SVM in the navigation pane, and click iSCSI.

2.	In the Data Interface Configuration section, specify an alias for the iSCSI target.

The maximum number of characters for an alias name is 128. If you do not specify a target alias, the SVM name is used as an alias.

3.	Specify the number of iSCSI LIFs that can be assigned to a single node.

For storage systems running Data ONTAP 8.2 or earlier, the minimum number of LIFs per node is two. Starting from Data ONTAP 8.2.1, the minimum number of LIFs per node is one. The maximum number is the minimum of all the ports in the up state across the nodes. If the maximum value is an odd number, the previous even number is considered as the maximum value. You can choose any even number in the minimum and maximum value range.

Note: Do not manually enter the value. You must the select a value from the list.

A 4-node cluster has node1, node2, and node3 with 6 ports each in the up state, and node4 with 7 ports in the up state. The effective maximum value for the cluster is 6.

4.	Specify the network details to create iSCSI LIFs.

The starting IP address specifies the first of the contiguous addresses in the LIF IP address pool.

5.	If you want to verify or modify the automatically generated iSCSI LIFs configuration, select Review or Modify LIFs configuration (Advanced Settings).

You can modify only the LIF name, home port, and LIF IP address. By default, the portsets are set to the minimum value. You must ensure that you do not specify duplicate entries. If you specify duplicate LIF names, System Manager appends numeric values to the duplicate LIF name.

Based on the selected portset, the LIFs are distributed across the portsets using a round-robin method to ensure redundancy in case of node or port failure.

6.	Click Submit & Continue.

Result

The iSCSI LIFs and portsets are created with the specified configuration. The LIFs are distributed accordingly among the portsets. The iSCSI service is started if all the LIFs are successfully created.

If the LIF creation fails, you can use the Network Interfaces window to create the LIFs, attach the LIFs to the portsets by using the LUNs window, and start the iSCSI service by using the iSCSI window.

Parent Topic: Creating SVMs on Data ONTAP 8.2.x

Configuring FC and FCoE protocols on SVMs

Delegating administration to SVM administrators

Assigning aggregates to SVMs