ESXI iSCSI connection to Nimble CS 300

[glarson1]

I have a Nimble CS 300 with an ES1 Version: 3.9.0.0-537270-opt. We had this running on a vsphere 6.7 setup for a very long time but are now repurposing for a DR. I have created the Port groups on the ESXI box and given what I am pretty sure all the correct IP addresses but cannot seem to detect this Nimble. I keep reading about a connection manager for esxi etc but cant seem to even find it if that is the hurdle. Could someone please lend me a bit of guidance on this. 

[Satish04]

Hi glarson1,

To configure and connect your Nimble CS300 storage array to your ESXi host for DR purposes, follow the below steps:

1. Ensure that the Nimble CS300 and the ESXi host are on the same network subnet and can communicate with each other.
Check the network settings, including IP addresses, subnet masks, and default gateways.

2. Access the ESXi host's management interface (vSphere Client or vSphere Web Client) and navigate to the "Configuration" tab.
Select "Storage Adapters" and click the "+" button to add a new iSCSI software adapter if one doesn't exist.
Configure the iSCSI initiator with the appropriate settings, including the IP addresses or DNS names of the Nimble CS300 storage controllers.

3. After configuring the iSCSI initiator, go to the "Dynamic Discovery" tab within the iSCSI software adapter settings. Click the "+" button to add an iSCSI target.
Enter the IP address or DNS name of the Nimble CS300 storage controllers and click "OK" to add the target.

4. Once the iSCSI targets are added, go to the "Storage" tab and click the "Rescan Storage" button.
This will trigger a rescan of the storage adapters to detect the newly added Nimble CS300 targets.
5. After the rescan, the Nimble CS300 storage should be listed under the "Datastores" section. Verify that the storage is accessible and properly detected by the ESXi host.

If you are unable to detect the Nimble CS300 storage, ensure that the network configurations are correct, the iSCSI initiator settings are properly configured,
and there are no firewall or connectivity issues between the ESXi host and the Nimble storage.

If the issue persists, it is recommended to reach out to HPE Nimble Tech support for further assistance.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Satish

[Sheldon Smith]

The connection manager refers to the HPE Storage Connection Manager (NCM) for VMware previously known as Nimble Connection Manager, It is available at https://InfoSight.hpe.com: HPE Alletra 6000, Alletra 5000, Nimble Storage > Software Downloads > HPE Storage Connection Manager (NCM) for VMware.

YOu will want the version for  ESXi6.5/6.7. See the VMware Integration Guide for details, requirements and how to install on each ESXi host.

[Sunitha_Mod]

Hello @glarson1,

Let us know if you were able to resolve the issue.

If you have no further query and you are satisfied with the answer then kindly mark the topic as Solved so that it is helpful for all community members.

[BHBDAA]

Does anyone have documentation on booting Cisco UCS B series blades using iSCSI from a NimbleStorage CS300?

The iSCSI vNIC and IQN creation within the service profile is a bit confusing.

Thanks in advance,

Dan

[Vinky_99]

@BHBDAA 

Good day!

I can provide you with a general overview of how to boot Cisco UCS B-Series blades using iSCSI from a Nimble Storage CS300. However, keep in mind that specific configurations may vary based on your environment and the firmware versions of your Cisco UCS and Nimble Storage systems. For detailed and up-to-date instructions, it's best to consult the official documentation from Cisco and Nimble Storage or reach out to their support.

Here are the general steps to set up iSCSI boot with a Cisco UCS B-Series blade and Nimble Storage:

>> In Cisco UCS Manager, navigate to the appropriate Service Profile or create a new one.
Within the Service Profile, configure an iSCSI vNIC and associate it with a specific network or fabric.

>> You need to provide iSCSI initiator information to the Nimble Storage system. This information typically includes the iSCSI Qualified Name (IQN) of the blade's iSCSI vNIC.

>> In Cisco UCS, find and note the IQN of the iSCSI vNIC you created. This IQN is a unique identifier for the blade.

>> Access the Nimble Storage management interface.
>> Configure the iSCSI target on the Nimble Storage system.
>> Add an iSCSI initiator record for each Cisco UCS blade using the blade's IQN.
>> Define an iSCSI target that corresponds to the boot LUN or volume where your operating system is installed.

>> Go back to Cisco UCS Manager.
Associate the Service Profile, which includes the iSCSI vNIC configuration, with the appropriate blade(s).

>> Access the blade's BIOS settings during the boot process (typically by pressing a specific key like F2 or F12).
- Set the boot order to prioritize iSCSI as the boot device.

>> Start the blade, and it should attempt to boot from the iSCSI target.
>> Install or deploy the operating system as you normally would.
>> Please note that this is a high-level overview, and the specific steps and configurations may vary depending on your environment and requirements. You should refer to the official documentation from Cisco for Cisco UCS and Nimble Storage for more detailed and up-to-date instructions.

Hope this helps!