User manual

Chapter 2 Getting started
2.1 Before starting
Before starting, prepare the following items.
1. Check the “Certification list” in Appendix A to confirm the hardware
setting is fully supported.
2. A server or worksation with a NIC or iSCSI HBA.
3. CAT 5e, or CAT 6 network cable s for web GUI IP port and iSCSI data
ports. We recommend CAT 6 cables for best performance.
4. Prepare storage system configuration plan.
5. Management (web GUI IP port) and iSCSI data ports network
information. When using static IP, prepare static IP addresses, subnet
mask, and default gateway.
6. Gigabit LAN switches. (Recommended)
7. CHAP security information, includi ng CHAP usernames and secrets.
(Optional)
8. Setup the hardware connection before powering up servers and
ISC8P2G-S iSCSI subsystem. Connect web GUI IP port cable, and
iSCSI data port cables first.
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 SA Ns (Storage Area Networks) which allow 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.
IP-SANs also incl ude mechanisms for security, data replication, multi -path and
high availability.
Storage protocol, such as iSCSI, has “two ends” in the connection. These ends
are the initiator and the 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 Software initiator).