Hyper-V Core - iSCSI Setup

[eysfilm136]

Anyone out there have a Nimble setup with Hyper-V Core?  I'm going to start some testing and wanted to see how people setup the the iSCSI through Hyper-V Core.  There is some links online but nothing directly related to Nimble.  Nimble doesn't have any notes on this either (yet).

Any input would be great.

Thanks in advance.

†Shawn

[#2]

I hope this answers your question:

Configure the iSCSI initiator in Windows Server Core or Hyper-V Server | TechRepublic

[#3]

This will also give you a GUI to work with, makes managing Core a whole lot easier:

http://coreconfig.codeplex.com/

[eysfilm136 · Accepted solution]

Thanks for the links...  I was playing around with it the other day and managed to get it working.  Complied some notes for others.

Hope this helps someone else eventually...

†Shawn

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The following goes through configuring a Nimble Storage Array for use with the free Hyper-V Server 2012 or Server 2012 Core.

Note:  You cannot install the MPIO features in the free Hyper-V version.

Note:  Prior to starting the following was completed.

1. Nimble SAN had an Initiator group created.
2. The Hyper-V host’s iSCSI IQN was added to the initiator group.
3. Nimble SAN has a volume (LUN) created and assigned to the new above initiator group.

1. Login to your server console and go to Command Prompt.
2. Type ‘  iscsicpl  ’ to launch the iSCSI Initiator.
3. You will be prompted to start the Microsoft iSCSI service, click ‘Yes’.
4. Once the ‘iSCSI Initiator Properties’ window appears, enter in your Nimble SAN IP address and click ‘Quick Connect’.
5. A ‘Quick Connect’ window will appear.  Select the devices and volumes to connect to and select ‘Connect’.  You should then see the “Progress report” show ‘Login Succeeded’.  Connect to all the required volumes.  
6. Move to your management workstation and open Server Manager.
7. Make sure your Hyper-V server is already added, if not be sure to add it.
8. Browse to ‘File and Storage Server > Volumes > Disks’.
9. Find your server, and you will notice the new iSCSI disk is offline.
10. Right-Click the disk and select ‘Bring Online’.
11. Agree to the warning message.
12. Right-Click the disk and select ‘New Volume’.
13. Run through the New Volume Wizard to create the new volume.

If your wanting to setup Multi-Path you can do so now (I was just running free Hyper-V so I couldn't set this up).

Notes

Install Nimble Windows Integration pack

1. Install .Net 3.5 Framework (from cmd)
   %WINDIR%\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\PowerShell.exe -command Import-Module ServerManager ;Add-WindowsFeature Net-Framework-Core
2. Browse to server share where Nimble software is and run the EXE file.

Resources

• http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/datacenter/configure-the-iscsi-initiator-in-windows-server-core-or-hyper-v-server/3945
• http://blogs.technet.com/b/canitpro/archive/2012/02/27/connecting-to-an-iscsi-san-using-command-line-options-on-hyper-v-server-amp-server-core.aspx
• http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee338476%28v=WS.10%29.aspx

[rbrowne40]

Thanks Shawn - this was very useful.(Beats trying configure everything via iscsicli).

Good Job

[pbitpro96]

MPIO can be added to Hyper-V 2012 R2 (the free hypervisor) because it is a feature, not a role.

No other roles can be added to this server.

Make sure your iSCSI initiator service is running (PowerShell or RSAT), run Install-WindowsFeature Multipath-IO (or use RSAT to add the feature), reboot, finish setting it up (timeouts, load-balancing, etc) and you are ready for MPIO goodness!

[pranav_malvade]

Hi Shawn,

Thanks for the details.

But I am getting stuck at step #5. When I provide IP address of my storage, it gives me error that Connection Failed.

I have WWN number configured on my SAN Switch and Nimble storage under initiator group but still it is failing.

Please guide.

Regards,

Pranav