Connect to an iSCSI Target

IMPORTANT:

If the Storage volume has CHAP authentication, you must have the correct user name and password or secret.

See Find Volumes with CHAP Authentication.

HPE Storage Connection Manager GUI and the Connection Services calculate the optimal number of iSCSI connections based on the number of host initiator ports with access to the target's published network interfaces (iSCSI target portals).

By default, the HPE Storage Connection Manager GUI establishes no fewer than two connections and no more than eight for VST, or thirty-two for GST. If you need to change these default values, contact Support for assistance.

The Connection Services also monitors changes to the host and to the group hosting the target over time, and adjusts the optimal number of connections as needed. If a login attempt fails, the HPE Storage Connection Manager GUI will retry the login at the next work cycle. It still makes the optimal number of connections to the target. However, for a short time, those connections may not be balanced across the host network interfaces and the array's target portals.

  1. Open the HPE Storage Connection Manager GUI and click the Volumes tab.
  2. In the Discovered Volumes list, highlight the target you want, and click Connect….
    The Connect to Target dialog box appears. It displays the iSCSI target name and the target IQN.
  3. (Optional) Check Connect on startup if you want the system to automatically attempt to restore the connection each time the Windows host reboots. This is checked by default if no Favorites exist.
  4. Optional: Select the Advanced down arrow to specify any of the following options:
    • Use global digest policy – This option is selected by default.
    • Use target specific digest:
      • Enable header digest – Performs a checksum on each PDU header to verify its integrity.
      • Enable data digest – Performs a checksum on each PDU data part to verify its integrity.
    • Use CHAP Authentication – Required for any Storage target with CHAP authentication. You must enter a CHAP user name and password. This option helps ensure connection security by providing authentication between a target and an initiator
      • Enter the CHAP user name in the field provided.
      • Enter the CHAP password (secret) in the field provided
  5. Click OK.
    IMPORTANT: When the disk arrives, the HPE Storage Connection Manager GUI gets the array count, and connection method needed to calculate and proceed to make the optimal number of connections. If the disk takes too long to arrive, the HPE Storage Connection Manager GUI will only make one connection before abandoning the request.
Under Recent Tasks, look for an entry similar to this:

When the connections are made, the volume displays a green check icon.

IMPORTANT: Microsoft Windows limits the total number of iSCSI connections to 255. HPE Storage Connection Manager will not attempt to make additional connections if the total number of iSCSI connections exceeds 250. If you need to modify the 250 iSCSI connection limit, call Support for assistance.

If this disk is uninitialized, it appears as Unknown. If the disk is initialized and formatted as NTFS, it appears as a basic volume, formatted as NTFS. Its Windows disk number is listed under Mapping Info.

When you initialize a disk in Windows Disk Management, it goes from Unknown disk to Basic, Online disk.

Caution:
Do not convert the Basic disk to a Dynamic disk. Storage volumes are already distributed across multiple array physical disks removing the need for dynamic disks.
NOTE:
  • The Connection Services performs a work cycle, then sleeps for two minutes, then wakes up and performs another work cycle. A work cycle can take a variable amount of time depending on the number of connections, the number of connected targets, and the activity on the host.

    If you need to change the Connection Services time interval, contact Support for assistance.

  • You can manually add a connection beyond what HPE Storage Connection Manager creates. However, if the number of connections exceeds the optimal number, at the next Connection Services work cycle, the Connection Services automatically deletes the connection that you added.
  • The HPE Storage Connection Manager GUI does not display target snapshots, even if they are online at the array. This is by design, to avoid accidentally selecting and disconnecting snapshots in progress.