Skip to content

TechRepublic

  • Top Products
  • AI
  • Developer
  • Payroll
  • Security
  • Project Management
  • Accounting
  • CRM
  • Academy
Resources
  • TechRepublic Premium
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • Newsletters
  • Resource Library
  • Forums
  • Sponsored
Go Premium
Popular Topics
  • Top Products
  • AI
  • Developer
  • Payroll
  • Security
  • Project Management
  • Accounting
  • CRM
  • Academy
  • Project Management
  • Innovation
  • Cheat Sheets
  • Big Data
  • Tech Jobs
View All Topics
Go Premium
Storage

How to connect an ESXi host to an iSCSI storage target

By Rick Vanover February 15, 2011, 3:04 AM PST

Image
1
of 12

Gallery-V12N-HowToConnectAnESXiHostToAnISCSITarget-FigA.jpg
Gallery-V12N-HowToConnectAnESXiHostToAnISCSITarget-FigA.jpg
How to connect an ESXi host to an iSCSI storage target

Configure shared storage for ESXi host

Configure shared storage for ESXi host

ntIn an earlier blog post, I showed how to install ESXi as a virtual machine for testing purposes. This is one of the fundamental steps to building a virtualization test lab to play with features of vSphere.

n

ntAnother fundamental step is configuring some sort of shared storage for an ESXi host. This can be done using software storage products such as StarWind, Openfiler, FreeNAS or Nexenta. Many of these are available in free installations as well. Of course this can connect to hardware SANs that present storage over iSCSI as well.

n

ntThis gallery will walk you through adding iSCSI storage in a lab capacity for vSphere.

How to connect an ESXi host to an iSCSI storage target

ESXi with only local storage

ESXi with only local storage

ntThe first step is to have a virtual storage product configured with a LUN ready to go via iSCSI. Once that is ready, the ESXi host can be configured to add storage. This image shows an ESXi host only with local storage, designated as “datastore1.”

How to connect an ESXi host to an iSCSI storage target

Using the vmkernel interface

Using the vmkernel interface

ntOnce the LUN is ready, the ESXi host needs to be configured to communicate with the iSCSI target. In ESXi, this is done on the vmkernel interface. A vmkernel interface is installed by default, but for storage it should be separated as much as possible. In this image, an additional vmkernel interface is being added.

n

ntEven though this configuration is a lab environment, I’m still separating the storage traffic to new interfaces.

n

ntNote that the default gateway cannot be changed AND is on a separate subnet. This is by design, as that is the first vmkernel interface and is a visual reminder that the storage traffic is separated from the other vmkernel traffic on vmnic0.

How to connect an ESXi host to an iSCSI storage target

ESXi configuration

ESXi configuration

ntOnce the additional vmkernel interface is ready, a simple ESXi configuration may look like what is shown in this image.

n

ntThis particular lab environment has four network interfaces available to the server, vmnic0 through vmnic3. The management traffic will exist on vSwitch0 (a default configuration) and the storage traffic will be configured to run on vSwitch0, a separate physical media than the management traffic.

How to connect an ESXi host to an iSCSI storage target

Enable the iSCSI initiator on the ESXi host

Enable the iSCSI initiator on the ESXi host

ntWe now must enable the iSCSI initiator on the ESXi host. The iSCSI initiator is the software component that connects to the ESXi host to the storage processor running as an iSCSI target. The target owns the disk resource for ESXi and should be configured ahead of time. Individual LUNs for ESXi should be 2TB minus 512 bytes or smaller.

n

ntEnabling the iSCSI initiator is shown in this image by clicking each area in the orange boxes.

n

ntOnce the OK button is selected, the iSCSI qualified name (IQN) number is generated as shown in the yellow box.

How to connect an ESXi host to an iSCSI storage target

Add the storage target to the ESXi configuration

Add the storage target to the ESXi configuration

ntThe next step is to add the storage target to the ESXi configuration. In this example, the IP address is the storage target of the iSCSI SAN in my personal lab. Note the red box with port 3261 configured.

n

ntiSCSI by default runs on port 3260. My storage product is configured to run on 3261, which is why it is configured as shown.

n

ntOnce this information is entered, the iSCSI initiator prompts to do a rescan operation. The rescan will detect any storage if already configured on the iSCSI SAN.

How to connect an ESXi host to an iSCSI storage target

Port scan

Port scan

ntThe scan will probe the ports configured for vmkernel and attempt to reach the storage processor over the specified configuration.

How to connect an ESXi host to an iSCSI storage target

Check to see if the storage is zoned correctly

Check to see if the storage is zoned correctly

ntThe easy way to see if the storage is zoned correctly to the IQN of the ESXi host is immediately shown after the scan is complete. Here, multiple disk targets are visible to the host. In my lab, I allocate 2 TB LUNs for persistent data LUNs for permanent virtual machines and 1 TB LUNs for non-persistent virtual machines. That is the best practice I can have for the single-SAN development environment.

How to connect an ESXi host to an iSCSI storage target

Start wizard to add storage

Start wizard to add storage

ntIf there is a LUN ready for the ESXi host, you can click on the u201cAdd Storageu201d link in the Storage section of host configuration. This will start a wizard to add storage to the host and format a new datastore.

How to connect an ESXi host to an iSCSI storage target

Adding LUN to host

Adding LUN to host

ntTo the point earlier that specifies that 1 TB LUNs are for testing purposes, I’ve selected this particular LUN to add to the host.

n

ntThis next step can be data destructive. Be sure you are proceeding correctly at this point.

How to connect an ESXi host to an iSCSI storage target

Add name and block size

Add name and block size

ntThe wizard will then prompt for a name and block size for the datastore. Always choose 8MB for the datastore, even if the LUN size is not greater than 1 TB. There are a lot of factors related to this, but this is one of those decisions that can save havoc later.

How to connect an ESXi host to an iSCSI storage target

Formatting the LUN on the host

Formatting the LUN on the host

ntA summary is presented, so the host can proceed with the format of the LUN on the host. Once the Finish button is presented, the LUN is ready to hold virtual machines or CD-ROM .ISO files for virtual machine installations.

n

ntThis can be scripted or automated through host profiles, but I find that in lab situations I repetitively build ESXi hosts and their associated storage resources manually.

n

ntHow do you provision iSCSI storage, especially in lab situations? Share your comments below.

  • Storage
  • Account Information

    Share with Your Friends

    How to connect an ESXi host to an iSCSI storage target

    Your email has been sent

Share: How to connect an ESXi host to an iSCSI storage target
Image of Rick Vanover
By Rick Vanover
Rick Vanover is an IT Infrastructure Manager for Alliance Data in Columbus, Ohio. Rick's IT certifications include VMware VCP, Microsoft Windows Server 2008 MCITP, Windows Server 2003 MCSA and others. \ \ Previous experiences included working fo
  • Account Information

    Contact Rick Vanover

    Your message has been sent

  • |
  • See all of Rick's content

Daily Tech Insider

If you can only read one tech story a day, this is it.

TechRepublic TechRepublic
  • TechRepublic on Facebook
  • TechRepublic on X
  • TechRepublic on LinkedIn
  • TechRepublic on YouTube
  • TechRepublic on Pinterest
  • TechRepublic RSS
Services
  • About Us
  • Newsletters
  • RSS Feeds
  • Site Map
  • Site Help & Feedback
  • FAQ
  • Advertise
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • Careers
Explore
  • Downloads
  • TechRepublic Forums
  • Meet the Team
  • TechRepublic Academy
  • TechRepublic Premium
  • Resource Library
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Editorial Policy
  • Legal Terms
  • Privacy Policy
© 2025 TechnologyAdvice. All rights reserved.
CLOSE

Create a TechRepublic Account

Get the web's best business technology news, tutorials, reviews, trends, and analysis—in your inbox. Let's start with the basics.

Already registered? Sign In
Use Facebook
Use Linkedin

* - indicates required fields

CLOSE

Sign in to TechRepublic

Not a member? Create an account
Use Facebook
Use Linkedin

Lost your password? Request a new password

CLOSE

Reset Password

Please enter your email adress. You will receive an email message with instructions on how to reset your password.

Check your email for a password reset link. If you didn't receive an email don't forgot to check your spam folder, otherwise contact support.

Back to login
1 Finish Profile
2 Newsletter Preferences
CLOSE

Welcome. Tell us a little bit about you.

This will help us provide you with customized content.

No thanks, continue without
1 Finish Profile
2 Newsletter Preferences
CLOSE

Want to receive more TechRepublic news?

Newsletter Name
Subscribe
Daily Tech Insider
Daily Tech Insider AU
TechRepublic UK
TechRepublic News and Special Offers
TechRepublic News and Special Offers International
Executive Briefing
Innovation Insider
Project Management Insider
Microsoft Weekly
Cloud Insider
Data Insider
Developer Insider
TechRepublic Premium
Apple Weekly
Cybersecurity Insider
Google Weekly
Toggle All
No thanks, continue without

You're All Set

Thanks for signing up! Keep an eye out for a confirmation email from our team. To ensure any newsletters you subscribed to hit your inbox, make sure to add [email protected] to your contacts list.

Back to Home Page
×