Storage Adapter:
Nope.. by default it’s not installed, you must manual add the adapter by clicking Configuration > Storage Adapter > Add Storage Adapter
- Select: Add Software iSCSI Adapter
A new software iSCSI adapter will be added to the Storage Adapters list. After it has been added, select the software iSCSI adapter in the list and click on Properties to complete the configuration
Event: Change Software Internet SCSI Status = Completed
Create new vSwitch (in my case two VMkernel ports):
- Network label: iSCSI01
- Configure IP Address and Subnet Mask
..
- Finish the configuration, repeat this step to configure the 2nd iSCSI02 port
vSwitch2 result:
VMkernel – Override switch failover order:
Now we need to change the failover order for each VMkernel:
iSCSI01: Active Adapter VMNIC4 – Unused Adapter: VMNIC5
iSCSI02: Active Adapter VMNIC5 – Unused Adapter: VMNIC4
Configure Software iSCSI Initiator:
Go to the properties of the iSCSI initiator: Configuration > Storage Adapters > iSCSI Storage Adapter: vmhba** > Properties
And setup Dynamic Discovery – Sent Target location (in my case the StarWind VSA)
- Add target: 192.168.70.2:3260
Next we need to bind a pNIC to the iSCSI VMkernel.. looong loooong time ago (vSphere 4) ..we need to configure this by CLI (esxcli swiscsi nic add -n vmk1 -d vmhba33) but now it’s possible to do this via the GUI.
When you go to tab: Network Configuration > Add..
- Click: Add..
- Now you can select a Physical NIC to bind the VMkernel for your iSCSI targets
Overview:
VMkernel Port Bindings
iSCSI01
VMkernel Adapter
vmk1
Port Group Policy
Compliant
Path Status
Not Used
Physical Network Adapter
VMNIC4
Switch
vSwitch2
IP Address
192.168.70.10
Subnet Mask
255.255.255.0
Configured Speed
1000 Mbps (Full Duplex)
VMkernel Port Bindings
iSCSI02
VMkernel Adapter
vmk2
Port Group Policy
Compliant
Path Status
Not Used
Physical Network Adapter
VMNIC5
Switch
vSwitch2
IP Address
192.168.70.11
Subnet Mask
255.255.255.0
Now you can add the storage by clicking the “Add storage wizard”