iSCSI Manager
iSCSI Manager provides basic configuration, monitoring, and troubleshooting of iSCSI channel connections on the storage server. (Refer to Best Practices for iSCSI High Availability for important information about using iSCSI.) iSCSI Manager is available from the SANmelody console tree.
SANmelody software provides an iSCSI target driver. The iSCSI Manager tool allows you to configure targets and initiator for use with an iSNS server. There are separate target channels for each NIC, but only one initiator channel per storage server. (This is by design, specific selections for initiators are performed by the tool.) Support for authentication, including mutual authentication, is available through the CHAP settings. Security and integrity can be guaranteed by means of the IPSEC encryption protocol. The configuration of IPSEC parameters is performed through standard Microsoft Windows tools. See iSCSI Security and Error Detection.
The iSCSI Manager tool shows information about local iSCSI ports. The view below shows the information displayed when the iSCSI Manager component is selected. Information is displayed for all local iSCSI channels in the right pane.
Refer to Icons for information.
|
iSCSI Manager Selected |
Information for Local Targets and Initiator |
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Alias |
Name assigned to the port. These can be customized. |
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Node Name |
iSCSI node name. |
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SCSI mode |
SCSI mode of the port. |
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State |
Unavailable, Link Down, Link Up, Ready. |
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IP Address: Port |
The local IP address and the TCP port number. |
iSCSI Target Port
When you select a target port in the iSCSI Manager component, information is displayed for all initiators seen by the target.
The view below shows the information that you see when you select a port in the left column under iSCSI Manager:
Below is a description of the column information when the MS iSCSI Initiator component is selected.
|
iSCSI Port Selected |
Description |
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Node Name |
iSCSI node name. |
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Alias |
User-friendly name assigned to the port. |
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IP Address: Port |
The local IP address and the TCP port number. |
|
Session State |
States include: Connected – Connection is logged on. Not Connected – Connection is logged off. In Progress - Currently establishing a connection. Failed – Connection failed. |
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SCSI mode |
SCSI mode of the port. |
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Registered |
Yes or No. Shows if this node was discovered through the iSNS server. |
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Port Tag |
iSCSI internal number to identify the active session. |
iSCSI Initiator Port
When you select the initiator port in the iSCSI Manager component, information is displayed for all targets seen by the initiator.
Below is a description of the column information when the MS iSCSI Initiator component is selected.
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MS iSCSI Initiator Selected |
Information for All Targets Seen by the Initiator |
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Device Name |
Target name for an adapter card port. |
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Alias |
User-friendly name assigned to the port. |
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Session State |
States include: Connected - Connection is logged on. Reconnecting - Trying to re-establish the connection. Available – Target is added, but not connected. |
|
SCSI mode |
SCSI mode of the port: target or initiator. |
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Local IP Address: Port |
The IP address and the TCP port number for the system you are using. |
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Remote IP Address: Port |
The remote IP address and the TCP port number for the target. |
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Persistent |
Indicates whether the connection is persistent after system restarts. |
Context Menu Items
Following are the context (or shortcut) menu items available in iSCSI Manager. Context menus are activated when an element is selected and the appropriate mouse button is clicked. (The context menu items below are also available from the Action menu in the menu bar.) Review any referenced topics for additional information.
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Selection |
Context Menu Items |
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iSCSI Manager (left pane) |
Show Aliases – Displays the iSCSI port names listed beneath using aliases. Show iSCSI Names – Displays the iSCSI port names listed beneath using the node name. |
|
iSCSI port name (left pane) |
Reinitialize Port - Performs a full port re-initialization: may reload firmware, reinitializes hardware, resets the link, and logs in to all ports. Cleanup Session Database - Removes all “not present”/”not logged in” ports from the iSCSI port list in the right pane. Properties - Opens the dialog box where iSCSI port configuration is performed in the General, Basic, Advanced, Authentication, and iSNS tabs. |
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MS iSCSI Initiator (left pane) |
Refresh – Allows you to refresh the initiator manually. (An automatic refresh of the current sessions and available targets is performed once every minute.) Add/Remove Targets – Opens the Target Portals dialog box, used to add or remove targets from the existing target list. Properties - Opens the Properties dialog box used to change initiator name, enter a CHAP secret or assign an iSNS Server. |
|
Node Name (right pane when the port name is selected) |
Ping - Initiates a message to test the selected connection. A message will display stating success or failure of the test. Logout Port - Disconnects the selected port. Properties - Opens an information box that displays all the settings of the selected initiator connection. |
|
Device Name (right pane when the MS iSCSI Initiator is selected) |
Logon - Opens the Target Logon dialog box used to logon to targets and configure advanced settings for the selected connection. Refer to Logon/Logoff Targets using iSCSI Manager. Logoff - Logs off the selected target. Disable Persistent Login – Disables the ability for the selected connection to logon to the selected target automatically after a system restart. Properties - Opens an information box that displays all the settings of the selected target connection. |