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25 Configuring iSCSI Connectivity with VMware vSphere 6 and Dell PS Series Storage | TR1075
7 Part 2: Configure VMware iSCSI software initiator
Now that the virtual switch (vSS or vDS) is configured and the VMkernel ports are bound to physical NICs
in a 1:1 fashion, the next thing to configure is the iSCSI initiator. This section details the enablement and
configuration of the VMware iSCSI software initiator. These steps are done on each ESXi host that needs
connectivity to the SAN.
7.1.1 Step 1: Enabling the iSCSI software initiator
VMware ESXi does not enable the iSCSI software initiator by default, and it can be enabled using the
following steps:
1. From the vCenter Web Client GUI, select the ESXi host, select the Manage tab, click the Storage
button, and then select Storage Adapters.
2. Click Add new storage adapter (the green plus button), and select Software iSCSI Adapter.
3. Click OK on the Add Software iSCSI Adapter dialog box.
7.1.2 Step 2: Binding VMkernel Ports to the iSCSI software initiator
The next step is to bind each of the iSCSI VMkernel ports to the iSCSI software adapter. This indicates to
the iSCSI software adapter which VMkernel ports to use for connectivity to the SAN.
1. Continuing from the previous section, select the newly enabled iSCSI Software Adapter from the
Storage Adapters list. Select the Network Port Binding tab, and then click the Add button (the
green plus icon).