Overview of iSCSI operations

Internet SCSI (iSCSI) is a protocol for sending and receiving SCSI commands through an IP network. iSCSI transfers data in block units. An IP-SAN that uses an existing Ethernet can be constructed by using iSCSI. In a network for iSCSI, LUN Manager manages access paths between hosts and volumes for each port in your storage system.

LUN Manager provides the following features for managing iSCSI-connected volumes:

• Connecting multiple hosts to an iSCSI port

  You can connect more than one host to a port on your storage system.

  When setting up host connections, for each host you specify the settings for host mode, volume, and iSCSI target. Each host can access a volume simulating a dedicated port to the host even if that host shares the port with other hosts.

• Mapping volumes to hosts

  You can map or assign volumes to the hosts on your network. You have complete flexibility to share or restrict volume access among the hosts.

• Network security

  You can enable or disable CHAP (Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol), a security protocol that requires users to enter a secret for access.

Parent Topic

• Managing logical volumes

  After provisioning your system, you can begin to manage open-system logical volumes. Managing logical volumes includes tasks such as configuring hosts and ports, configuring LU paths, setting LUN security on ports, and setting up Fibre Channel authentication. LUN Manager is required to manage logical volumes.

Child Topics

• Network configuration for iSCSI
• Multi VLAN operations with iSCSI virtual port mode

  Multi VLAN operations are supported with the iSCSI virtual port mode. The iSCSI virtual port mode enables you to add up to 16 virtual ports to a single physical iSCSI port. Virtual ports are used to access the storage system using multiple segments that are divided by VLAN, enabling efficient use of ports and network resources.