You need to complete several tasks to configure
the system to work with iSCSI-attached hosts. The tasks include general
tasks on the host system before you configure a system.
Before you begin
Before you complete any iSCSI-configuration tasks on the system, it is important
that you complete all the iSCSI-related configuration on the host machine. Because the system
supports various host machines, consult the documentation for specific instructions and requirements
for a particular host. For a list of supported hosts, see this website:
www.ibm.com/support
About this task
To configure a system for iSCSI, follow these general tasks on the host
system:
- Select a software-based iSCSI initiator, such as Microsoft
Windows iSCSI Software Initiator and verify the iSCSI
driver installation.
- If required, install and configure a multipathing driver for the host
system.
In addition, determine a naming convention for iSCSI names, such as iSCSI
qualified names (IQNs) for your system. Hosts use iSCSI names to connect to the node. Each node, for
example, has a unique IQN, and the system name and node name are used as part of that IQN. Each
node, for example, has a unique IQN, and the system name and node name are used as part of that
IQN.
Port IP addresses are the IP addresses that are used
by iSCSI-attached hosts to process I/O.
- To configure a new port IP address to a specified Ethernet
port of a node with an IPv4 address, enter the following command-line
interface (CLI) command:
cfgportip -node node_name | node_id -ip ipv4addr
-gw ipv4gw -mask subnet_mask -failover -vlan vlan_id port_id
where node_name
| node_id specifies the name or ID of the node that is being
configured, ipv4addr is the IPv4 address for the
Ethernet port, ipv4gw is the IPv4 gateway IP address, subnet_mask is
the IPv4 subnet mask, and port_id specifies the
Ethernet port ID (1 or 2). To view a list of ports, use the lsportip command.
The optional -failover parameter specifies that the IP is a failover IP and
is related to the partner node. If the node that is specified is the only online node in the I/O
group, the address is configured and presented by this node. When another node in the I/O group
comes online, the failover address is presented by that node. If two nodes in the I/O group are
online when the command is issued, the address is presented by the other node to the partner
node.
The optional -vlan parameter sets the virtual local area network (VLAN) ID
for an IPv4 address that is configured for iSCSI host attachment.
For details
regarding the -vlan parameter, see the information
about configuring VLAN for iSCSI using the CLI.
- To configure a new port IP address to a specified Ethernet port of a node with an IPv6 address,
enter the following CLI command:
cfgportip -node node_name | node_id -ip_6 ipv6addr
-gw_6 ipv6gw -prefix_6 prefix -failover -vlan_6 vlan_id port_id
where node_name | node_id specifies the name or ID of the node that is being
configured, ipv6addr is the IPv6 address for the Ethernet port,
ipv6gw is the IPv6 gateway IP address, subnet_mask is the IPv6
subnet mask, and port_id specifies the Ethernet port ID (1 or 2). To view a list
of ports, use the lsportip command.
The optional -failover parameter specifies that the IP is a failover IP that
is related to the partner node. If the node that is specified is the only online node in the I/O
group, the address is configured and presented by this node. When another node in the I/O group
comes online, the failover address is presented by that node. If two nodes in the I/O group are
online when the command is issued, the address is presented by the other node to the node that is
specified.
The optional -vlan_6 parameter sets the virtual local area network (VLAN) ID
for an IPv6 address that is configured for iSCSI host attachment.
For details regarding the -vlan parameter, see the information about
configuring VLAN for iSCSI using the CLI.
- To remove an iSCSI IP address from a node Ethernet port,
enter either of these CLI commands. The following command
deletes an IPv4 configuration for the specified iSCSI Ethernet port:
rmportip -failover
-node node_name | node_id port_id
where node_name
| node_id specifies the name or ID of the node with the
Ethernet port that the IP address is being removed from and port_id specifies
the Ethernet port ID. To list the valid values for the Ethernet port,
enter the lsportip command. The optional -failover parameter
indicates that the specified data is failover data.
The following
command deletes an IPv6 configuration for the specified iSCSI Ethernet
port:
rmportip -ip_6 -failover
-node node_name | node_id port_id
where -ip_6 indicates
that this command removes an IPv6 configuration, node_name
| node_id specifies the name or ID of the node with the
Ethernet port that the IP address is being removed from, and port_id specifies
the Ethernet port ID. To list the valid values for the Ethernet port,
enter the lsportip command. The optional -failover parameter
indicates that the specified data is failover data.
What to do next
After you configure your IP addresses, you can optionally create or configure the following
iSCSI items: