Manage storage adapters
Introduction
About storage adapters
A host uses storage adapters to access different types of storage devices. Space Console supports SCSI, iSCSI, FC HBA, and FCoE HBA storage adapters.
A host has a default local-SCSI storage adapter and a default open-iSCSI storage adapter. The local-SCSI storage adapter is used to access local disks. The open-iSCSI storage adapter is used to access iSCSI storage.
If the host is configured with hardware FC HBAs or FCoE HBAs (for example, CNA) for accessing FC storage, the storage adapter list also displays detailed information about the FC HBAs or FCoE HBAs.
The system also supports software FCoE adapters. The FCoE protocol stack of the host processes protocols for software FCoE adapters, and the NIC forwards FCoE. Software FCoE adapters must work with NICs that support data center bridging and I/O offloading.
About multipath storage policies
If multiple paths exist between a host and a SAN storage, traffic can be switched to an available physical link when any element in the SAN network fails, for example, an adapter, switch, or cable. Besides link switchover, the paths can load balance the traffic to reduce or even eliminate potential bottlenecks.
By default, the system applies the multipath policies defined by vendors to their respective storage devices. The system provides four multipath policy types, including most recently used, fixed, round robin, and optimal. You can select a multipath policy for a storage device as needed after enabling multipathing on the storage device.
You can configure multipathing for different storage pools on a host as follows:
iSCSI shared file system—When you add an iSCSI shared file system, enter multiple service IP addresses for an IP SAN. If you enter only one IP address, multipathing is still enabled by default. For more information, see "Manage storage pools."
FC shared file system—When you add an FC shared file system as a storage pool, select Multipath for the HBA parameter. For more information, see "Manage storage pools."
iSCSI network storage—Multipathing is disabled by default and is not configurable.
FC network storage—Multipathing is enabled by default and is not configurable.
About storage adapter scanning
Administrators can scan storage adapters on Space Console to discover available LUNs after carving LUNs and configuring LUN mappings on storage servers.
To discover the LUNs on iSCSI storage that are assigned to a host, you must add the corresponding storage pools on the host.
If Space Console cannot discover the LUNs on FC storage for a host, reboot the host.
Prerequisites
Before you configure software FCoE adapters, complete FCoE configuration on switches.
Restrictions and guidelines
ARM hosts do not support software FCoE adapter.
Use the following methods to troubleshoot the creation failure of a software FCoE adapter:
Verify that cables are correctly connected. Click Refresh on the Storage tab.
Verify that the FCF switch is correctly configured.
Execute the shutdown command and then the undo shutdown command on the interface that connects the FCF switch to the host NIC.
If the rate of the NIC used to create the adapter is 8 Gbps, the Rate column displays Unknown for the adapter.
You cannot delete a software FCoE adapter if its storage devices have mounted storage pools. To delete the adapter, you must first delete the storage pools.
Set the IQN of a storage adapter
From the left navigation pane, select Data Center >Virtualization > Cluster name > Host name.
Click the Storage Adapters tab.
Click Set IQN for an open-iSCSI storage adapter.
Enter an IQN, and then click OK.
Scan storage devices
|
|
Space Console supports the following scanning modes: · Normal Scanning: Scan storage devices. This type does not reset HBA ports. · Forced Scanning: Scan storage devices and reset storage interconnects. To be discovered after storage assignment, some HBAs require a forced scan. The forced scan operation is disruptive and might cause I/O operation timeout. |
From the left navigation pane, select Data Center >Virtualization > Cluster name > Host name.
Click the Storage Adapters tab.
Click Scan for a storage adapter or click Scan All.