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Chapter 2 Getting started
2.1
Before starting
Before starting, prepare the following items.
1.
Check “Certification list” in Appendix A to confirm the hardware setting is fully supported.
2.
Read the latest release note before upgrading. Release note accompany with release
firmware.
3.
A server with a NIC or iSCSI HBA.
4.
CAT 5e, or CAT 6 network cables for management port and iSCSI data ports. Recommend
CAT 6 cables for best performance.
5.
Prepare storage system configuration plan.
6.
Management and iSCSI data ports network information. When using static IP, please prepare
static IP addresses, subnet mask, and default gateway.
7.
Gigabit LAN switches. (recommended) Or Gigabit LAN switches with VLAN/LCAP/Trunking.
(optional)
8.
CHAP security information, including CHAP username and secret. (optional)
9.
Setup the hardware connection before power on servers and storage unit. Connect console
cable, management port cable, and iSCSI data port cables in advance.
2.2
iSCSI introduction
iSCSI (Internet SCSI) is a protocol which encapsulates SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) commands
and data in TCP/IP packets for linking storage devices with servers over common IP infrastructures. iSCSI
provides high performance SANs over standard IP networks like LAN, WAN or the Internet.
IP SANs are true SANs (Storage Area Networks) which allow few servers to attach to an infinite number
of storage volumes by using iSCSI over TCP/IP networks. IP SANs can scale the storage capacity with any
type and brand of storage system. In addition, it can be used by any type of network (Ethernet, Fast
Ethernet, and Gigabit Ethernet) and combination of operating systems (Microsoft Windows, Linux, Solaris,
etc.) within the SAN network. IP-SANs also include mechanisms for security, data replication, multi-path
and high availability.
Storage protocol, such as iSCSI, has “two ends” in the connection. These ends are initiator and target. In
iSCSI, we call them iSCSI initiator and iSCSI target. The iSCSI initiator requests or initiates any iSCSI
communication. It requests all SCSI operations like read or write. An initiator is usually located on the
host/server side (either an iSCSI HBA or iSCSI SW initiator).
The target is the storage device itself or an appliance which controls and serves volumes or virtual
volumes. The target is the device which performs SCSI command or bridge to an attached storage device.
