6.0

Configuring Software iSCSI Adapters in the VMware Host Client
With the software-based iSCSI implementation, you can use standard NICs to connect your host to a remote
iSCSI target on the IP network. The software iSCSI adapter that is built into ESXi communicates with the
physical NICs through the network stack.
N Before you can use the software iSCSI adapter, you must set up networking, activate the adapter, and
congure parameters such as CHAP.
The iSCSI adapter conguration workow includes the following procedures:
n
Enabling iSCSI on your host. See“Enable iSCSI for an ESXi Host in the VMware Host Client,” on
page 99
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Adding a port binding. See “Add Port Binding in the VMware Host Client,” on page 99
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Removing port binding. See“Remove Port Binding in the VMware Host Client,” on page 100
Setting Up iSCSI Network
Software and dependent hardware iSCSI adapters depend on VMkernel networking. If you use the software
or dependent hardware iSCSI adapters, you must congure connections for the trac between the iSCSI
component and the physical network adapters.
Conguring the network connection involves creating a virtual VMkernel adapter for each physical network
adapter. You then associate the VMkernel adapter with an appropriate iSCSI adapter. This process is called
port binding.
For specic considerations on when and how to use network connections with software iSCSI, see the
VMware knowledge base article at hp://kb.vmware.com/kb/2038869.
Multiple Network Adapters in iSCSI Configuration
If your host has more than one physical network adapter for software and dependent hardware iSCSI, use
the adapters for multipathing.
You can connect the software iSCSI adapter with any physical NICs available on your host. The dependent
iSCSI adapters must be connected only to their own physical NICs.
N Physical NICs must be on the same subnet as the iSCSI storage system they connect to.
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