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853
March 23rd, 2010 02:00
Software iSCSI configuration AX4-5i <--> ESX 3.5?
We have two (ESX) host cluster and shared SAN storage (Clariion AX4-5i). ESX connection to SAN is accomplished by software iSCSI (through two physical switches). Because we have software iSCSI, it has only one IQN per ESX. So i have added ESX-servers to AX4-5i with their IQN-name and IP-addresses 192.168.10.X (iSCSI vSwitch on ESX is in same subnet). My configuration is this way wrong (not supported), ´cause all AX4-5i SP-addresses are now in the same subnet A0-1, B0-1. If I but them in different VLAN and subnets for example A0,B0--> 192.168.10.1-2 and A1, B1-->192.168.11.1-2 and make both ESX two iSCSI vSwitches in those same subnets, how can i add two connections (also another subnet) per ESX with same IQN (AX4-5i accepts only one IP-address per IQN) to AX4-5i? So i must have understood something wrong. How this should configured?
kelleg
4.5K Posts
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March 23rd, 2010 15:00
This is a example configuration for a AX4-5i and ESX3.5
An example of valid server connections to an standard AX4-5i (without expansion pack enabler) is:
• Highly available dual-NIC or dual-iSCSI-HBA configuration:
- Each server has 2 NIC or iSCSI HBA ports.
- Each NIC or HBA port cabled and set up to allow it a path to only one port on the SP.
- Since each server has 2 NICs or 2 iSCSI HBA ports, each server must support 2 paths to the AX4-5i.
- Initiator records used per storage system = number of servers x 2 path.
This means that Each NIC can connect to one SPA port and one SPB port. The other NIC can connection to a different SPA port and a different SPB port.
See Primus emc156408
http://csgateway.emc.com/primus.asp?id=emc156408
Best Practices recommends that you put the NIC's into different subnets
For example, a typical configuration for the iSCSI ports on a CLARiiON, with two iSCSI ports per SP would be:
A0: 192.168.10.10 (Subnet mask 255.255.255.0; Gateway 192.168.10.1)
A1: 192.168.11.10 (Subnet mask 255.255.255.0; Gateway 192.168.11.1)
B0: 192.168.10.11 (Subnet mask 255.255.255.0; Gateway 192.168.10.1)
B1: 192.168.11.11 (Subnet mask 255.255.255.0; Gateway 192.168.11.1)
A host with two NICs should have its connections configured similar to the following in the iSCSI initiator to allow for load balancing and failover:
NIC1 (e.g. 192.168.10.180) - SP A0 & SP B0 iSCSI connections
NIC2 (e.g. 192.168.11.180) - SP A1 & SP B1 iSCSI connections
Caution! Do not use the IP address range 192.168.x.x because this is used by the serial port PPP connection.
glen
PasiK1
2 Posts
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March 24th, 2010 05:00
So, in our case with software iSCSI, should we have only use one port (A0 and B0) per SP and leave
others (A1 and B1) unplugged?
Because i am still wondering how ESX and AX4-5 can see each other on the different subnets (192.168.10.x and 192.168.11.x)?
ESX-server connection can be added only once to (by Navisphere express) the storage connections (either 192.168.10.x or 192.168.11.x). I can´t add both addresses with same IQN.
SERVERS
ESX1 192.168.10.10
ESX2 192.168.10.20
CLARIION AX4-5i
SP A0: 192.168.10.30
SP B0: 192.168.10.31
jelucho
295 Posts
0
March 24th, 2010 10:00
how many nics do you have in each ESX server, details the porpouse of each one,
at the navisphere express side, you must have:
server conections (internal lan ip segment, network cables comes from internal lan switches to AX4 management ports)
and
iscsi conection (private ip segment, network cables comes from dedicated switches just for iscsi network to AX4 iscsi ports)
kelleg
4.5K Posts
0
March 24th, 2010 14:00
I'm not real sure on the ESX side, but my understanding is that on the ESX host if you have one NIC, then you connect that the SPA-0 and SPB-0. Then if you have two NICs you somehow "team" the two NIC's together, again using just the two paths - A0 and B0. Then if one NIC fails, the other "teamed" NIC will take over.
I have also seen customers configure one NIC to A0 and the other NIC to B0 - each NIC on the same subnet. This is really an ESX issue.
Again, I'm not familar enough with the AX-series to help - I've never connected one to a host using Navisphere Express.
glen