VCP4 Exam Blueprint – Objective 3.2 – Configure iSCSI SAN Storage

VCP4 Exam Blueprint

Objective 3.2 – Configure iSCSI SAN Storage

Knowledge

Page numbers refer to the VMware iSCSI SAN Configuration Guide pdf.

1.  Identify iSCSI SAN hardware components (pg. 9)
-Host Bus Adapters (HBA)
-Network Interface Cards (NIC)
-Switches
-Routers
-Cables
-Storage Processors (SP)
-Storage Disk Subsystems

2.  Determine use cases for hardware vs. software iSCSI initiators
-Hardware Initiator – specialized iSCSI HBA, responsible for all iSCSI and network processing and management
-Hardware initiators provide better performance and throughput by offloading iSCSI and TCP processing overhead.

-Software Initiator – Code built into the VMkernel that allows host to connect to the storage device through a std Ethernet adapter.
-Software initiators provide adequate performance for most applications, are less complex and easier to implement.

3.  Configure the iSCSI Software Initiator (pg. 30)
-Configure a VMkernel port for the physical network adapter.
-Enable the software iSCSI initiator
-Activate multi-pathing using the port binding technique on the ESX host if you use multiple network adapters
-Enable jumbo frames if needed and supported.  Jumbo frames must be enabled for each vSwitch via the CLI.
vicfg-vswitch -m <MTU> <vSwitch>
-For jumbo frames, you must create a VMkernel network interface enabled with jumbo frames.
esxcfg-vmknic -a -I <ip address> -n <netmask> -m <MTU> <port group name>

4.  Configure Dynamic/Static Discovery (pg. 35)
-Dynamic Discovery (Send Targets) – the server sends a list of available targets in response to the Send Targets request.
-Targets discovered via Dynamic Discovery are added to the Static Discovery tab
-Static Discovery – the initiator uses a list of targets (IP addresses and target names)
-Required privilege: Host.Configuration.Storage Partition Configuration
-Configuration>Storage Adapters>Properties>Dynamic Discovery>Add
-You cannot change the IP address, DNS name, or port number of an existing Send Targets server. delete the existing server and add a new one.

5.  Configure CHAP Authentication (pg. 37)
-ESX/ESXi supports CHAP at the adapter level.
-Software iSCSI supports per-target CHAP
-For software iSCSI, the CHAP name should not exceed 511 and the CHAP secret 255 alphanumeric characters.
-For hardware iSCSI, the CHAP name should not exceed 255 and the CHAP secret 100 alphanumeric characters.
-Required privilege: Host.Configuration.Storage Partition Configuration
-Configuration>Storage Adapters>Properties>General Tab>CHAP

6.  Configure VMkernel port binding for iSCSI Software multi-pathing  (pg. 32)
-You must create one VMkernel port for each network adapter before you can set up multipathing
-esxcli swiscsi nic add -n <port_name> -d <vmhba>

7.  Discover LUNs  (pg. 60)
-Perform a rescan each time you create a new LUN on the SAN
-By default, the VMkernel scans for LUN 0 to LUN 255 for every target (a total of 256 LUNs).
-You cannot discover LUNs with a LUN ID number that is greater than 255.
-Modify the Disk.MaxLUN parameter to improve LUN discovery speed.
-Configuration>Advanced Settings>Disk>Disk.MaxLUN

8.  Identify iSCSI addressing in the context of the host (pg. 10)
-IP Address
-iSCSI name (world wide unique name)
-iSCSI alias (friendly name, not unique)

-IQN (iSCSI Qualified Name) format  iqn.yyy-mm.naming-authority:unique name
-the naming authority is listed in reverse syntax

-EUI (Enterprise Unique Identifiers) format  eui.<16 hex digits>

Tools
-iSCSI SAN Configuration Guide
-Product Documentation
-VMware vSphere Client
-esxcli

vSphere Install, Configure & Manage – Day Four

We wrapped up the last day of vSphere ICM with some in depth coverage of HA, FT, DRS and backups.  The new backup capabilities in vSphere are worth a closer look as there are some features in the API that overlap with the third party solutions offered by Vizioncore and Veeam.

This was a great class.  The instructors, Bill Griffith and John Ilgenfritz were outstanding.   Like I mentioned in an earlier post, I’m completely sold on using Webex as a training delivery method.

I have the VCP4 exam scheduled for September 22nd.

vSphere Install, Configure & Manage – Day Three

Today made my head hurt.

Resource pools, roles, permissions and privileges.  As with some/most operating systems, permissions can require a good deal of study to gain a complete understanding.

I had ordered Scott Lowe’s new book, Mastering VMware vSphere 4 and it arrived in the mail today.  I read through chapter nine last night, which helped in my understanding of access controls.  So far the book looks pretty good.