DIY iSCSI for learning

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AMD_Gamer

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Does anyone know a good way to build your own iSCSI for learning with windows server and ESXi?
 
Not sure what you are asking. Do you mean esxi serving up iscsi to windows server?
 
iSCSI is a protocol...you can't build it. That's like saying you want to build a SATA. If you wish to build a server that functions as an iSCSI target, you're going to have to be far more specific.
 
The term you want to search for is iSCSI Target. Basically you will have one box setup as a "server" which advertises iSCSI LUN's. Other computers on the network can connect to these with appropriate software (the search term you want here is iSCSI initiator). I'm assuming you want to setup a server, as getting the initiator going is pretty straightforward.

If you have technet/MSDN you can run windows storage server 2k8 which has an built in iSCSI target software.

Kernsafe - Free version for a single lun/connection

iSCSI Cake - trial, cheap licenses

I probably wouldn't use one of the 3rd party windows packages unless you just want experience with that package.

Since you have ESXi you can run a linux or solaris based VM.

Linux has openfilter and freenas which both support iSCSI target mode (as well as various other packages that support target mode)

Solaris has COMSTAR baked in which is a pretty solid iSCSI target mode solution - you can get at that via Solaris Express 11, Open Nevada, or Nexenta.

If you go the solaris route a member of this forum, _Gea, has a url=http://www.napp-it.org]Web interface, called napp-it[/url] which makes setting up a iSCSI target a cinch.

Finally there's FreeBSD - i'm not all that familiar with it, but it also has iSCSI target software.
 
Easiest way to set up an iSCSI target is Solaris Express 11 / OpenIndiana + nappit. You can run it as a stand-alone or under VMware.

Load SE11/Openindiana, load nappit, setup COMSTAR from the nappit menus. Done. 100% free with OpenIndiana, still free with SE11 as long as you don't meet Oracle's definition of "production use".

See here for simple steps to load SE11 / nappit under vmware: http://www.napp-it.org/doc/downloads/all-in-one.pdf
 
I cannot recommend iSCSI with FreeBSD. It's only trouble,
I've tried with istgt target and I only get following error message when I try to connect from a FreeBSD initiator or Ubuntu
Code: 
istgt[3440]:istgt_iscsi.c:4328:istgt_iscsi_send_nopin: ***ERROR*** before Full Feature
istgt[3440]: istgt_iscsi.c:4817:worker: ***ERROR*** iscsi_send_nopin() failed
 
There are probably two targets you can go with if you're Windows fan :) Own Microsoft one (you only need to be TechNet subscriber, see second link below) and the free version from StarWind software. Both cannot be used for production if you don't pay.

StarWind option is here:

http://www.starwindsoftware.com/starwind

Just make sure you write to support@starwindsoftware.com telling you need a key and no plans for production. They had removed free download form quite a time ago and I don't remember password to customer portal to check it's availability now :)

You can read how to proceed with MS software here:

http://blogs.technet.com/b/josebda/...ble-to-msdn-and-technet-plus-subscribers.aspx

Other options are either very expensive as DataCore is or OEM only as FalconStor or are pulled from the market like Nimbus or have horrible quality and sparse support.

Hope this helped :)

AMD_Gamer said:
Does anyone know a good way to build your own iSCSI for learning with windows server and ESXi?
Click to expand...
 
I don't see much sense in experimental environment running target under Windows. What for?

You cannot do anything with one connection access. Cannot do VMotion. Cannot do HA. What use in such a software? Marketing only? LOL

Running target inside two ESX nodes to feed storage to each other is possible but it's not a beginners task in any case.

P.S. And cake support forum is very impressive :) I did not see so many "buy viagra" links in the single place. Compare with say openfiler.com community status to see the difference.

QUOTE=ChrisBenn;1037013088]The term you want to search for is iSCSI Target. Basically you will have one box setup as a "server" which advertises iSCSI LUN's. Other computers on the network can connect to these with appropriate software (the search term you want here is iSCSI initiator). I'm assuming you want to setup a server, as getting the initiator going is pretty straightforward.

If you have technet/MSDN you can run windows storage server 2k8 which has an built in iSCSI target software.

Kernsafe - Free version for a single lun/connection

iSCSI Cake - trial, cheap licenses

I probably wouldn't use one of the 3rd party windows packages unless you just want experience with that package.

Since you have ESXi you can run a linux or solaris based VM.

Linux has openfilter and freenas which both support iSCSI target mode (as well as various other packages that support target mode)

Solaris has COMSTAR baked in which is a pretty solid iSCSI target mode solution - you can get at that via Solaris Express 11, Open Nevada, or Nexenta.

If you go the solaris route a member of this forum, _Gea, has a url=http://www.napp-it.org]Web interface, called napp-it[/url] which makes setting up a iSCSI target a cinch.

Finally there's FreeBSD - i'm not all that familiar with it, but it also has iSCSI target software.[/QUOTE]
 
+1

COMSTAR shines if managed to configure properly.

P.S. I'm turning to big Nexenta fan more and more :)

PigLover said:
Easiest way to set up an iSCSI target is Solaris Express 11 / OpenIndiana + nappit. You can run it as a stand-alone or under VMware.

Load SE11/Openindiana, load nappit, setup COMSTAR from the nappit menus. Done. 100% free with OpenIndiana, still free with SE11 as long as you don't meet Oracle's definition of "production use".

See here for simple steps to load SE11 / nappit under vmware: http://www.napp-it.org/doc/downloads/all-in-one.pdf
Click to expand...
 
Olga-SAN said:
I don't see much sense in experimental environment running target under Windows. What for?
You cannot do anything with one connection access. Cannot do VMotion. Cannot do HA. What use in such a software? Marketing only? LOL
Running target inside two ESX nodes to feed storage to each other is possible but it's not a beginners task in any case.
P.S. And cake support forum is very impressive :) I did not see so many "buy viagra" links in the single place. Compare with say openfiler.com community status to see the difference.
Click to expand...


He didn't specify an OS requirement, so was just trying to give a quick overview of what was out there. Wasn't trying to start a pissing contest over which was better :) (COMSTAR was my recommendation anyway - at least that's what I'm using, can't say I've tried any of the others packages other than Windows Storage Server 2k8).
 
Don't like people calling me a bitch but... OP referenced "windows" and "ESX" in his very first post :))))

Olga

ChrisBenn said:
He didn't specify an OS requirement, so was just trying to give a quick overview of what was out there. Wasn't trying to start a pissing contest over which was better :) (COMSTAR was my recommendation anyway - at least that's what I'm using, can't say I've tried any of the others packages other than Windows Storage Server 2k8).
Click to expand...
 
Olga-SAN said:
Don't like people calling me a bitch but... OP referenced "windows" and "ESX" in his very first post :))))
Olga
Click to expand...

I declare this thread over anyway, OP's not coming back.

Now on to the pedantic arguments :D
He said windows server, which could mean he wants to host an iSCSI target on there, or (what I assumed) he wants to consume an iSCSI LUN with windows - the iSCSI server could be any OS (since he's under ESXi anyway)
:cool:
 
as another option which might be easier, but cost a little, he could pick up a nas like a qnap or synology or readynas and setup iscsi on it for use w/vmware or windows... could also function as other uses if he moves on from it...
 
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