IBM N Series Hardware Manual page 232

System storage
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connectivity. An iSCSI HBA offloads most iSCSI processing to the HBA card, which also
provides network connectivity.
The iSCSI software initiator typically provides excellent performance. In fact, an iSCSI
software initiator provides better performance than an iSCSI HBA in most configurations. The
iSCSI initiator software for Windows is available from Microsoft for no additional charge. In
some cases, you can even SAN boot a host with an iSCSI software initiator and a supported
NIC.
iSCSI HBAs are best used for SAN booting. An iSCSI HBA implements SAN booting just like
a Fibre Channel HBA. When booting from an iSCSI HBA, use an iSCSI software initiator to
access your data LUNs.
Select the appropriate iSCSI software initiator for your host configuration. Table 17-1 lists
operating systems and their iSCSI software initiator options.
Table 17-1 iSCSI initiator instructions
Operating
Instructions
System
Windows Server
Download and install the iSCSI software initiator.
2003
Windows Server
The iSCSI initiator is built into the operating system. The iSCSI Initiator Properties dialog
2008
is available from Administrative Tools.
Windows Server
The iSCSI initiator is built into the operating system. The iSCSI Initiator Properties dialog
2008 R2
is available from Administrative Tools.
Windows XP
For guest systems on Hyper-V virtual machines that access storage directly (not as a
guest systems on
virtual hard disk mapped to the parent system), download and install the iSCSI software
Hyper-V
initiator. You cannot select the Microsoft MPIO Multipathing Support for iSCSI option.
Microsoft does not support MPIO with Windows XP. A Windows XP iSCSI connection to
IBM N series storage is supported only on Hyper-V virtual machines.
Windows Vista
For guest systems on Hyper-V virtual machines that access storage directly (not as a
guest systems on
virtual hard disk mapped to the parent system), the iSCSI initiator is built into the
Hyper-V
operating system. The iSCSI Initiator Properties dialog is available from Administrative
Tools. A Windows Vista iSCSI connection to IBM N series storage is supported only on
Hyper-V virtual machines.
SUSE Linux
For guest systems on Hyper-V virtual machines that access storage directly (not as a
Enterprise Server
virtual hard disk mapped to the parent system), use an iSCSI initiator solution. This
guest systems on
solution must be on a Hyper-V guest that is supported for stand-alone hardware. A
Hyper-V
supported version of Linux Host Utilities is required.
Linux guest
For guest systems on Virtual Server 2005 virtual machines that access storage directly
systems on
(not as a virtual hard disk mapped to the parent system), use an iSCSI initiator solution.
Virtual Server
This solution must be on a Virtual Server 2005 guest that is supported for stand-alone
2005
hardware. A supported version of Linux Host Utilities is required.
Installing multipath I/O software
You must have multipathing set up if your Windows host has more than one path to the
storage system.
The MPIO software presents a single disk to the operating system for all paths, and a
device-specific module (DSM) manages path failover. Without MPIO software, the operating
system might see each path as a separate disk, which can lead to data corruption.
212
IBM System Storage N series Hardware Guide

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