Deployment Guide

Configure the software iSCSI Adapter on the ESXi host

Perform the following steps to configure a software iSCSI adapter on the ESXI host:

NOTE: If you plan to use VMware ESXi with 10GBase-T controllers, you must perform

one

of the following tasks:

• Update the controller firmware to the latest version posted on Dell.com/support before connecting the ESXi host to the ME4 Series

storage system.

• Run the following ESX CLI command on every ESXi host before connecting it to the ME4 Series storage system:

esxcli system settings advanced set --int-value 0 -option /VMFS3 /HardwareAcceleratedLocking

1. Log in to the VMware vCenter Server.

2. On the Configure tab, select Storage > Storage Adapters.

3. Click the plus (+) icon, then select software iSCSI adapter > OK. The adapter is added to the list of available storage adapters.

4. Select the newly added iSCSI adapter, then click Targets > Add.

5. Enter the iSCSI IP address that is assigned to the iSCSI host port of storage controller A, then click OK.

6. Repeat steps 4-5 for the iSCSI host port of storage controller B.

7. If multiple VMkernels are used on the same subnet, configure the network port binding:

a. On the software iSCSI adapter, click the Network Port Binding tab, then click the plus (+) icon to add the virtual network port

to bind with the iSCSI adapter.

NOTE: This step is required to establish a link between the iSCSI Adapter and the Vmkernel adapters that are

created in the

Configure the VMware ESXi VMkernel

procedure.

If each of the VMkernels used for iSCSI are on separate subnets, skip this step.

b. Select the VMKernel adapters that are created in the Configure the VMware ESXi VMkernel procedure, then click OK.

c. Select Rescan of storage adapters.

Perform the following steps to register the host, create volumes, and map volumes:

1. Log in to the PowerVault Manager.

2. Access the Host Setup wizard by doing one of the following:

• From the Welcome screen, click Host Setup.

• From the Home topic, click Action > Host Setup.

3. Confirm that you have met the listed prerequisites, then click Next.

4. Enter a hostname.

5. the information from step 5 of the Attach hosts to the storage system procedure to identify the correct initiators, select the FC

initiators for the host you are configuring, then Next.

6. Group hosts together with other hosts.

a. For cluster configurations, use the “Host groups” setting to group hosts in a cluster.

• If is the first host in the cluster, select Create a new host group, then provide a name and click Next.

• If this host is to be part of a host group that exists, select Add to existing host group. Select the group from the dropdown

list, then click Next.

b. For stand-alone hosts, select the Do not group this host option, then click Next.

7. On the Attach Volumes page, specify the name, size, and pool for each volume, and click Next.

To add a volume, click Add Row. To remove a volume, click Remove.

NOTE: Dell EMC recommends that you update the name with the hostname to better identify the volumes.

8. On the Summary page, review the host configuration settings, and click Configure Host.

If the host is successfully configured, a Success dialog box is displayed

9. Click Yes to return to the Introduction page of the wizard, or click No to close the wizard.

Perform host setup