
Issue 11
© Solarflare Communications 2014
349
Solarflare Server Adapter
User Guide
10.3 iSCSI Boot
Introduction
Solarflare adapters support diskless booting to a target operating system over Internet Small
Computer System Interface (iSCSI). iSCSI is a fast, efficient method of implementing storage area
network solutions.
The Boot ROM in the Solarflare adapter contains an iSCSI initiator allowing the booting of an
operating system directly from an iSCSI target.
10.4 Configuring the iSCSI Target
To the server (iSCSI initiator), the iSCSI target represents the hard disk from where the operating
system is booted from. To enable connections from the server, you will need to allocate and
configure a logical unit number (LUN) on an iSCSI target. The server (iSCSI initiator) will see the LUN
as a logical iSCSI device and will attempt to establish a connection with it. You may need to enter
details of the Solarflare adapter ID (MAC address) and other details to validate the connection.
Refer to the iSCSI target documentation for details on how to configure your target.
10.5 Configuring the Boot ROM
The server (iSCSI initiator) needs to contain at least one Solarflare network adapter. To enable the
adapter for iSCSI booting, you will need to configure the Boot ROM with the correct initiator, target
and authentication details. This can also be configured via the sfboot command line tool on all
platforms, and through SAM on Windows.
For Windows, see
Sfboot: Boot ROM Configuration Tool on page 174
For Linux, see
Configuring the Boot ROM with sfboot on page 56
For VMware, see
Configuring the Boot ROM with Sfboot on page 242
For SAM, see
Using SAM for Boot ROM Configuration on page 159
NOTE:
Adapter teaming and VLANs are not supported in Windows for iSCSi remote boot enabled
Solarflare adapters. To configure load balancing and failover support on iSCSI remote boot enabled
adapters, you can use Microsoft MultiPath I/O (MPIO), which is supported on all Solarflare
adapters.