VMWARE VSPHERE 8.

0
INSTALL, CONFIGURE, MANAGE

Lab 9: Accessing iSCSI Storage

Document Version: 2023-03-08

Copyright © 2023 Network Development Group, Inc.

www.netdevgroup.com

NETLAB+ is a registered trademark of Network Development Group, Inc.

VMware is a registered trademark of VMware, Inc.

Lab 9: Accessing iSCSI Storage

Contents
Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 3
Objective ................................................................................................................................................... 3
Lab Topology ............................................................................................................................................. 4
Lab Settings ............................................................................................................................................... 5
1 View and Delete an Existing ESXi Host iSCSI Configuration ............................................................... 6
2 Add a VMKernel Port Group to a Standard Switch .......................................................................... 19
3 Add a Second VMKernel Port Group for IP Storage......................................................................... 26
4 Add the iSCSI Software Adapter to an ESXi Host ............................................................................. 34
5 Discover LUNs on the iSCSI Target Server ....................................................................................... 37

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Lab 9: Accessing iSCSI Storage

Introduction

In this lab, you will access and configure an iSCSI datastore.

iSCSI (Internet Small Computer System Interface) is a storage networking protocol that allows you to
connect storage devices, such as disk arrays, to servers over a standard ethernet network. In vSphere,
iSCSI storage can be used to provide shared storage for Virtual Machines (VMs) running on multiple
ESXi hosts.

There are two main components in an iSCSI storage environment: the initiator and the target. The
initiator is the software or hardware component on the server that initiates the connection to the
storage device. In vSphere, the initiator is the software iSCSI adapter, which is built into the ESXi host.
The target is the storage device that the initiator connects to. This can be a disk array, a network-
attached storage (NAS) device, or a software-based iSCSI target.

vSphere supports two types of iSCSI storage:

• Software iSCSI: This type of iSCSI storage uses the software iSCSI adapter built into the ESXi
host to connect to the storage device. The storage device can be a disk array or a software-
based iSCSI target.
• Hardware iSCSI: This type of iSCSI storage uses a specialized iSCSI host bus adapter (HBA) to
connect to the storage device. The storage device can be a disk array or an NAS device.
Hardware iSCSI typically offers better performance and scalability than software iSCSI.

In either case, the iSCSI storage can be configured to use the Internet Protocol Security (IPsec) for data
encryption and to use CHAP for authentication.

iSCSI storage can provide a cost-effective and flexible shared storage solution for vSphere
environments, and it allows you to use existing ethernet networks and storage devices to provide
shared storage for VMs.

Please keep in mind that iSCSI storage is not as fast as Fibre Channel storage, but it can be a good
solution for small to medium-sized environments or for remote offices.

Objective

• View an Existing ESXi Host iSCSI Configuration

• Add a VMkernal Port for IP Storage
• Add a Second VMkernal Port for IP Storage
• Add the iSCSI Software Adapter to an ESXi Host
• Discover LUNs on the iSCSI Target Server

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Lab Topology

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Lab 9: Accessing iSCSI Storage

Lab Settings

The information in the table below will be needed to complete the lab. The task sections further below
provide details on the use of this information.

Virtual Machine IP Address Account Password

sa-student eth0: 172.20.10.80 sysadmin NDGlabpass123!

sa-vcsa eth0: 172.20.10.94 [email protected] NDGlabpass123!

sa-esxi-01 eth0: 172.20.10.51 root NDGlabpass123!

sa-esxi-02 eth0: 172.20.10.52 root NDGlabpass123!

sa-aio eth0: 172.20.10.10 sysadmin NDGlabpass123!

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Lab 9: Accessing iSCSI Storage

1 View and Delete an Existing ESXi Host iSCSI Configuration

In this task, you will view and remove iSCSI connections so you can re-add them in a later task.

There are several reasons why you might want to view and delete an iSCSI configuration in vSphere:

• Storage Redesign: Reviewing the iSCSI connections can also help ensure that the host is
properly configured and that the correct targets and Logical Unit Numbers (LUNs) are being
accessed. If you are redesigning your storage environment and you no longer need the iSCSI
storage, you may want to delete the iSCSI configuration to free up resources and avoid
confusion.
• Performance: Monitoring the iSCSI connections can help identify any performance issues that
may be caused by poor network connectivity or high latency. This helps ensure the availability
of storage resources by establishing and maintaining a connection to the target. If the iSCSI
storage is not performing as expected, deleting the iSCSI configuration may be necessary to
troubleshoot the issue and fix it.
• Maintenance or Upgrades: Regularly reviewing the iSCSI connections allows you to identify any
target that is no longer used and remove it. This helps to keep the inventory clean and avoid
confusion. If you need to perform maintenance or upgrades on the iSCSI storage, you may need
to delete the iSCSI configuration temporarily to perform the maintenance needed.
• Removing Unused Storage: If you have iSCSI storage that is no longer in use, you may want to
delete the iSCSI configuration to free up resources and avoid confusion.
• Security: iSCSI connections may be vulnerable to certain security threats such as man-in-the-
middle attacks. Reviewing the connection can help identify and mitigate any potential security
risks. If you suspect that the iSCSI storage has been compromised or is no longer secure, you
may want to delete the iSCSI configuration to prevent unauthorized access to the storage.

It is important to note that before deleting any iSCSI configuration, you should make sure to unmount
any iSCSI datastores that are currently in use by VMs and detach them from the hosts. Once the iSCSI
configuration is deleted, it cannot be undone, and all data on the iSCSI storage will be lost.

1. Launch the sa-student VM to access the graphical login screen.

To launch the console window for a VM, either click on the machine’s
graphic image from the topology page, or click on the machine’s
respective tab from the Navigator.

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2. Launch the Mozilla Firefox web browser by either clicking on the icon found in the bottom toolbar
or by navigating to Start Menu > Internet > Firefox Web Browser.

3. In Firefox, click LAUNCH VSPHERE CLIENT.

If the VMware Getting Started webpage does not load, please wait an
additional 3 - 5 minutes, and refresh the page to continue. This is
because the vCenter Server Appliance is still booting up and requires
extra time to initialize.

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4. To log in to the vCenter Server Appliance, enter [email protected] as the username and
NDGlabpass123! as the password. Click LOGIN.

You may ignore the “browser-OS combination” warning message

presented on the VMware vCenter Single Sign-On page and continue
moving forward with the lab.

5. In the Navigator, on the Hosts and Clusters tab, expand sa-vcsa.vclass.local and ICM-Datacenter.
Select sa-esxi-01.vclass.local and click the Configure tab.

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6. In the right pane under Storage, select Storage Adapters.

7. In the Storage Adapters pane, select the vmhba65 iSCSI Software Adapter. Verify that vmhba65 is
Online.

8. In the Storage Adapters pane, select the Properties tab. Notice the Adapter Status, Name, and iSCSI
Name:

• Adapter status = Enabled

• Adapter name = vmhba65
• Adapter iSCSI name = iqn.1998-01.com.vmware:sa-esxi-01-4f6c575f

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9. Select the Devices tab and notice the LUNs. Verify that LUN 1 (15 GB), LUN 2 (15 GB), LUN 3 (15
GB), and LUN 4 (15 GB) appear in the list.

LUN 1 and LUN 2 are already formatted with an iSCSI Software Adapter and
iSCSI-Datastore, respectively.

LUN 3 and LUN 4 have a status of Not Consumed in the Datastore column.
These LUNs can be used to create datastores.

10. Select the Dynamic Discovery tab, and note the iSCSI server IP address.

11. Select the Network Port Binding tab, and notice the attached VMkernal Adapter.

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12. In the left pane, navigate to Networking > Virtual switches. In the Virtual switches pane, collapse
Standard Switch: vSwitch0 and expand Standard Switch: vSwitch2. Select vmk2:172.20.13.51 in
the IP Storage Network box. The topology shows that vmk2 is connected to the active uplink
vmnic3.

13. In the Virtual Switches pane, Standard vSwitch: vSwitch2, select the ellipsis icon and click Remove.

14. In the Remove Standard Switch window, click YES.

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15. In the Virtual Switches pane, verify that Standard Switch: vSwitch2 has been deleted.

16. In the right pane under Storage, select Storage Adapters.

17. In the Storage Adapters pane, select the vmhba65 iSCSI software adapter. Verify that vmhba65 is
Online.

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18. Select the Network Port Binding tab, and notice the attached VMkernal Adapter.

19. While on the Network Port Binding tab, select the Management Network Port Group and click
REMOVE.

20. On the Remove Last Active Path window, click OK.

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21. On the Static Discovery tab, in the iSCSI server name block, click the Filter icon in the top right
corner. Enter 172.20.13.10 and click the X icon to close it.

22. Select the 4 iSCSI Servers named 172.20.13.10:3260. Click REMOVE.

23. In the vmhba65 - Remove iSCSI servers window, click OK.

24. On the Dynamic Discovery tab, select 172.20.13.10:3260 and click REMOVE.

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25. In the vmhba65 - Remove iSCSI servers window, click OK.

26. In the Storage Adapters main workspace, click RESCAN STORAGE.

A rescan may be needed after removing an iSCSI target because the operating
system's iSCSI initiator may not automatically detect the removal of the target.
The rescan allows the initiator to refresh its list of available targets and
remove any references to the removed target. This can help prevent issues
such as stale connections or attempts to connect to a non-existent target.

27. In the Rescan Storage window, click OK.

28. Monitor the Recent Tasks pane, and verify that the Rescan all HBAs is complete before continuing
to the next step.

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29. Notice after rescanning the Storage, the vmhba65 adapter is still Online.

30. In the Storage Adapters main workspace, ensure the vmhba65 iSCSI Software Adapter is selected.
On the Properties tab, notice that the adapter has a status of Enabled.

31. On the Properties tab, select the ACTIONS pull-down menu, and click Disable.

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32. In the Disable adapter | sa-esxi-01.vclass.local window, click OK.

33. On the Storage Adapters main workspace window, notice the message shown. To proceed to the
next task, you will need to reboot sa-esxi-01.vclass.local. Once sa-esxi-01 has rebooted, the
adapter will be removed and all the storage devices associated with it will be inaccessible.

34. In the Navigator, on the Hosts and Clusters tab, right click sa-esxi-01.vclass.local and select Power
> Reboot.

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35. In the Reboot Host window, type Remove iSCSI Software Adapter in the Log a reason for the reboot
operation. Click OK.

The reboot process takes 2 - 4 minutes to complete. During this time,

sa-esxi-01.vclass.local will be unavailable. You will not be able to
complete the next task until sa-esxi-01.vclass.local has fully rebooted.

36. Repeat steps 5 through 35, and remove the vmhba65 iSCSI Software Adapter from sa-esxi-
02.vclass.local.

37. In the Recent Tasks pane, verify that sa-esxi-01.vclass.local and sa-esxi-02.vclass.local have
completed the reboot process, leave the vSphere Client open, and continue to the next task.

Confirm that both sa-esxi-01 and sa-esxi-02 hosts have rebooted

successfully before continuing to the next task.

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Lab 9: Accessing iSCSI Storage

2 Add a VMKernel Port Group to a Standard Switch

In this task, you will configure a VMkernel port and port group on sa-esxi-02.vclass.local to use for
software iSCSI traffic.

Adding a VMkernel port for IP storage on an ESXi host and using it for software iSCSI traffic allows the
host to access iSCSI storage devices over the network using standard ethernet hardware. This can be
useful in situations where a dedicated iSCSI hardware initiator is not available or is not cost-effective.

Using software iSCSI allows for flexibility and scalability, and allows for better integration with the
network infrastructure, as iSCSI traffic can be sent over the same network as other types of traffic, such
as VMware vSphere vMotion traffic, NFS storage traffic, and VMware vSphere Fault Tolerance traffic.

It also allows for the use of advanced features such as jumbo frames and NIC teaming, which are not
available when using a hardware iSCSI initiator.

1. Expand the Datacenter inventory object, select sa-esxi-02.vclass.local, and click on the Configure
tab in the main workspace.

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2. In the main workspace, navigate to Networking > VMkernel adapters. Click ADD NETWORKING.

3. In the Add Networking window, on the Select connection type step, select VMkernel Network
Adapter and click NEXT.

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4. On the Select target device step, choose New standard switch and click NEXT.

5. On the Create a Standard Switch step, select vmnic1 and vmnic3, and click MOVE DOWN until both
vmnics appear under Active adapters.

6. On the Port properties step, type IP Storage 1 for the Network Label, and click NEXT.

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7. On the IPv4 settings step, select Use static IPv4 settings and use the information below to
configure the settings:

i. IPv4 address: 172.20.13.52

ii. Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
iii. Check the box for Override default gateway for this adapter
iv. Default gateway: 172.20.13.10
v. Click NEXT

8. On the Ready to complete step, review the information, and click FINISH.

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9. In the VMKernel adapters pane, verify that vmk2 (IP Storage 1) appears in the vmk apdapters list.

10. View the VMkernel adapter in the network topology diagram.

a. Verify that you are on the Configure tab and navigate to Networking > Virtual Switches.

b. Ensure that vSwitch0, vSwith1, and vSwitch 3 are collapsed. Expand vSwitch2. Verify
that the IP Storage 1 port group appears and that vmk2 is a VMkernel port in this port
group.

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c. In the IP Storage 1 port group box, select vmk2. The topology shows that vmk2 is
connected to both the vmnic1 and vmnic3 active uplinks. You must connect vmk2 to
one of those uplinks.

11. Associate vmk2 with the vmnic3 uplink.

a. Click the vertical ellipsis inside the IP Storage 1 box, and select Edit Settings.

Notice the orange line shows vmk2 connected to both vmnic1 and vmnic3
physical adapters.

b. In the Edit Settings window, click Teaming and Failover.

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c. Under Failover order, select Override. Select vmnic1 and move it down until it appears
under Unused adapters. Click OK.

d. In the topology diagram, select vmk2 in the IP Storage 1 box, and verify that it is
connected only to the vmnic3 uplink.

Now an orange line shows that vmk2 is connected to the vmnic3 active
adapter.

12. As an additional exercise, perform Task 2 on the sa-esxi-01.vclass.local host. If you do the
additional exercise, please use the information below to configure the settings on sa-esxi-
01.vclass.local:

a. IPv4 address: 172.20.13.51

b. Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
c. Check the box for Override default gateway for this adapter
d. Default gateway: 172.20.13.10

13. Leave vSphere Client open, and continue with the next task.

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Lab 9: Accessing iSCSI Storage

3 Add a Second VMKernel Port Group for IP Storage

In this task, you will configure a second VMkernel port and port group on vSwitch2 on sa-esxi-
02.vclass.local to be used for software iSCSI traffic.

Adding a second VMkernel port for IP storage on an ESXi host can provide additional benefits such as
improved network redundancy and increased network performance.

By having multiple VMkernel ports, network traffic can be distributed across multiple NICs, which can
provide better network performance and reduce the impact of a single NIC failure.

Additionally, multiple VMkernel ports can also provide a way to connect to multiple subnets, which can
be useful in situations where iSCSI storage devices are located on different subnets or in different
locations. This can also be used to implement NIC teaming and link aggregation to increase available
bandwidth and provide redundancy in case one of the NICs fails.

Furthermore, having a second VMkernel port can also provide an additional path for iSCSI traffic to
reach storage, which can improve failover and recovery times in case of a network failure.

1. Ensure sa-esxi-02.vclass.local is still selected, and click the Configure tab in the main workspace.

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2. In the main workspace, navigate to Networking > VMkernel adapters. Click ADD NETWORKING.

3. In the Add Networking window, on the Select connection type step, select VMkernel Network
Adapter and click NEXT.

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4. On the Select target device step, choose Select an existing standard switch. Click vSwitch2 and
then click NEXT.

5. On the Port properties step, type IP Storage 2 for the Network Label, and click NEXT.

6. On the IPv4 settings step, select Use static IPv4 settings and use the information below to
configure the settings:

e. IPv4 address: 172.20.13.62

f. Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
g. Check the box for Override default gateway for this adapter
h. Default gateway: 172.20.13.10
i. Click NEXT

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7. On the Ready to complete step, review the information, and click FINISH.

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8. In the VMKernel apdapters pane, verify that vmk3 (IP Storage 2) appears in the vmk apdapters list.

9. View the VMkernel adapter in the network topology diagram.

a. Verify you are on the Configure tab, and navigate to Networking > Virtual Switches.

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b. Ensure that vSwitch0, vSwith1, and vSwitch 3 are collapsed. Expand vSwitch2. Verify
that the IP Storage 2 port group appears, and that vmk3 is a VMkernel port in this port
group.

c. In the IP Storage 2 port group box, select vmk3. The topology shows that vmk3 is
connected to both the vmnic1 and vmnic3 active uplinks. You must connect vmk2 to
one of those uplinks.

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10. Associate vmk2 with the vmnic1 uplink.

a. Click the vertical ellipsis inside the IP Storage 2 box, and select Edit Settings.

Notice the orange line shows vmk3 connected to both vmnic1 and vmnic3
physical adapters.

b. In the Edit Settings window, click Teaming and Failover.

c. Under Failover order, select Overide. Select vmnic3 and move it down until it appears
under Unused adapters. Click OK.

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d. In the topology diagram, select vmk3 in the IP Storage 1 box, and verify that it is
connected only to the vmnic1 uplink.

Now an orange line shows that vmk3 is connected to the vmnic1 active
adapter.

11. As an additional exercise, perform Task 3 on the sa-esxi-01.vclass.local host. If you do the
additional exercise, please use the information below to configure the settings on sa-esxi-
01.vclass.local:

a. IPv4 address: 172.20.13.61

b. Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
c. Check the box for Override default gateway for this adapter
d. Default gateway: 172.20.13.10

12. Leave vSphere Client open, and continue with the next task.

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Lab 9: Accessing iSCSI Storage

4 Add the iSCSI Software Adapter to an ESXi Host

In this task, you will add the iSCSI software adapter to sa-esxi-02.vclass.local so that you can access the
iSCSI server.

Adding an iSCSI software adapter to an ESXi host allows the host to access iSCSI storage devices over a
network using standard ethernet hardware. This can be useful in situations where a dedicated iSCSI
hardware initiator is not available or is not cost-effective.

The iSCSI software adapter allows the host to initiate and manage iSCSI connections to storage devices
using standard NICs instead of specialized iSCSI host bus adapters (HBAs). This can save cost as
standard NICs are generally less expensive than specialized iSCSI HBAs. It also allows for better
integration with the network infrastructure, as iSCSI traffic can be sent over the same network as other
types of traffic, such as NFS or vMotion.

Additionally, using the iSCSI software adapter allows for the use of advanced features such as jumbo
frames, NIC teaming, and software-based CHAP authentication, which may not be available when using
a hardware iSCSI initiator. This can provide better performance and increased security for iSCSI storage.

1. While in vSphere Client, on the Configure tab of sa-esxi-02.vclass.local, under Storage, select
Storage Adapters.

2. In the Storage Adapters pane, navigate to Add Software Adapter > Add iSCSI adapter.

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3. In the Add Software iSCSI adapter window, click OK.

4. In the Storage Adapters list, select the newly created iSCSI software adapter (vmhba65). Click the
Properties tab.

5. Verify that the adapter status is Enabled. Ensure that the name shown for the iSCSI Name matches
iqn.1998-01.com.vmware:sa-esxi-02-xxxxxxxx (the numbers at the end of the iSCSI name have x’s
to represent characters that might change).

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6. As an additional exercise, perform Task 4 on the sa-esxi-01.vclass.local host.

7. Leave the vmhba65 storage adapter selected, and continue to the next task.

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5 Discover LUNs on the iSCSI Target Server

In this task, you will bind the IP storage port groups to vmhba65, the iSCSI software adapter. Then you
will configure the target iSCSI server so that sa-esxi-02.vclass.local can discover LUNs on the iSCSI
server.

Discovering LUNs on an iSCSI target server allows a host (initiator) to identify and access the storage
resources that are available on the target server. This process enables the host to establish a
connection to the LUNs and access the data stored on them. In addition, discovering LUNs allows the
host to configure and manage the storage resources on the target server.

1. Ensure that sa-esxi-02.vclass.local is still selected, and click the Configure tab. Navigate to Storage
> Storage Adapters and select the vmhba65 adapter. In the Adapter Details pane, select the
Dynamic Discovery tab. Click ADD.

2. In the Add Send Target Server window, type 172.20.13.10 for the iSCSI Server, and click OK.

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3. Monitor the Recent Tasks pane. A warning appears stating that because of recent configuration
changes, a rescan of vmhba65 is recommended. Do not rescan yet.

4. In the Adapter Details pane, select the Network Port Binding tab. Click ADD.

5. In the Bind vmhba65with VMkernel Adapter window, select the IP Storage 1 (vSwitch2) and IP
Storage 2 (vSwitch2). Click OK.

6. In the Storage Adapters pane, click RESCAN ADAPTER.

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7. In the Adapter Details pane, click the Network Port Binding tab. Notice the Path Status on the port
groups.

Notice the Path Status of IP Storage 1 (vSwitch2) and IP Storage 2 (vSwitch2).

You have Last active and Not used.

Network Port Binding of an iSCSI software adapter may show Not Used if the
adapter is not currently being utilized for any iSCSI sessions. This could be
because the adapter is not configured for iSCSI use, or because there are no
active sessions to the iSCSI target. Additionally, the adapter may not be
configured to use the specific network ports that are required for iSCSI
communication. In order to establish a connection to the iSCSI target, the
adapter must be properly configured and bound to the appropriate network
ports.

Last active for Network Port Binding of an iSCSI software adapter indicates that
the adapter was previously used for an iSCSI session, but the session is no
longer active. The iSCSI software adapter may have been disconnected from
the target, the host may have been rebooted, or the target may have been
taken offline. The adapter is still bound to the network ports that were used in
the last active session, but it is not currently being used for iSCSI
communication. To establish a new iSCSI session, the adapter needs to be
reconnected to the target and the network ports need to be active

8. In the Adapter Details pane, click the Devices tab, and notice the LUNs. Verify LUN 1 (15 GB), LUN 2
(15 GB), LUN 3 (15 GB), and LUN 4 (15 GB) appear in the list. If the list is not showing, click
REFRESH.

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LUN 1 and LUN 2 are already formatted with an iSCSI Software Adapter and
iSCSI-Datastore, respectively.

LUN 3 and LUN 4 have a status of Not Consumed in the Datastore column.
These LUNs can be used to create datastores.

9. Navigate back to the Network Port Binding tab. Click ADD.

10. In the Bind vmhba65with VMkernel Adapter window, select Management Network (vSwitch0).
Click OK.

11. In the Storage Adapters pane, click RESCAN ADAPTER.

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Lab 9: Accessing iSCSI Storage

12. Notice the IP Storage 1 and Management Network have the Path Status changed to Active and
Not used.

A management network is needed for adding iSCSI traffic on an ESXi host

because it allows the host to communicate with the storage array and other
network devices. This communication is necessary for configuring and
managing the iSCSI storage, as well as for providing network connectivity to
the VMs running on the host. Additionally, a separate management network
can improve security and network performance by isolating storage traffic
from other types of network traffic.

Remember, in order to establish a connection to the iSCSI target, the vmk3

adapter must be properly configured and bound to the appropriate network
ports. For lab purposes, it was shown what will happen when the target is not
configured correctly.

13. As an additional exercise, perform Task 4 on the sa-esxi-01.vclass.local host.

14. The lab is now complete; you may end the reservation.

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