VMware iSCSI host attachment

iSCSI Ethernet hosts for the VMware operating system can be attached to the system.

Before you begin host attachment procedures:

Read the information about setting up the host server.
Ensure that you are familiar with the command-line interface (CLI) commands.

Installing the VMware initiator software
Attach a VMware host to the system using iSCSI.
Virtual Switches
A virtual switch (or vSwitch) is a software program that enables one virtual machine to communicate with another.
About VMkernels
The VMkernel is the operating system of your ESX or ESXi server and has complete control over all hardware including CPU, memory, network interface adapters, and host bus adapters.
VM consoles
The VM service console is a specialized virtual machine that enables management of the ESX host.
VM port groups
The network port group connects all guest operating systems to the network.
Configuring vSwitches
You must configure the vSwitches on the VMware host before creating any virtual machines on the host.
Adding a service console to the vSwitch
You must add a service console to this vSwitch to access the ESX server and provide the hosts with access to the external environment. Then, to access the internal environment, you must add a second vSwitch and service console.
Creating the VMkernel
You must create a VMkernel to assign I/O traffic to a vSwitch.
Setting the initiator name
The iSCSI IQN can be viewed or changed from the Configuration tab of the iSCSI software adapter control panel.
Discovering targets on VMware
Two methods are supported for iSCSI target portal discovery: iSNS and Send Targets discovery.
Mapping VMware iSCSI volumes to a guest OS
You can map VMware iSCSI volumes to a guest OS.
Setting up authentication for VMware hosts
One-way CHAP authentication for VMware hosts can be set up. Two-way CHAP authentication for VMware hosts is not supported.
Host multipathing
Multipathing in VMware supports several paths.
Enabling IPv6
You can enable IPv6 support on a host in VMware 4.0 or later.
iSCSI guest OS initiator
Configuration of a VMware host includes understanding several requirements that relate to the iSCSI guest OS initiator.

Parent topic: iSCSI Ethernet host attachment