Configure Access to an iSCSI and NFS Datastores
How To Create a VMkernel Port on a Standard Virtual Switch
How to create a VMkernel port on a standard switch for accessing IP storage.
1. Go to Home > Inventory > Hosts and Clusters.
2. Select your ESXi host and click the Configuration tab.
3. In the Hardware list, select Networking.
4. Click Properties link next to vSwitch0.
5. Click Add.
6. When prompted by Add Network wizard, do the following (field):
a. Select VMkernel (Connection Types).
b. Type IP Storage (Network Label).
c. Leave default (VLAN ID). Optional
d. Leave deselected (Use this port group for vMotion).
e. Leave deselected (Use this port group for Fault Tolerance logging).
f. Leave deselected (Use this port group for management traffic).
g. Leave selected (Use the following IP settings).
h. Enter VMkernel port’s IP address.
i. Enter VMkernel port’s subnet mask.
j. Verify that the correct VMkernel gateway address is entered. Click Next. If the VMkernel gateway address is incorrect, click Edit and enter the VMkernel default gateway address.
k. Click Finish (Summary).
7. After you create the VMkernel port, click Close to dismiss the vSwitch Properties dialog box.
8. Verify that the VMkernel port named IP Storage appears in the Networking pane.
How To Configure the iSCSI Software Adapter on VMware ESXi
How to enable iSCSI software initiator, configure dynamic discovery, and display the iSCSI software adapter properties.
1. Go to Home > Inventory > Hosts and Clusters.
2. Select your ESXi host and click Configuration tab.
3. In the Hardware list, select Storage Adapters.
4. Select iSCSI Software Adapter in the Device Column.
5. Click Properties link the Details pane. The iSCSI Initiator (iSCSI Software Adapter) Properties dialog box appears.
6. Identify the status of software initiator. It should be disabled. To enable it, click Configure.
7. Select the Enabled check box and click OK.
8. Monitor task completion in the Recent Tasks pane at the bottom of the VMware vSphere Client. Wait for task to complete.
9. Verify that the General tab shows the iSCSI initiator name and the status of Enabled. Leave Properties dialog box open.
10. Click Dynamic Recovery tab and click Add.
11. Enter name of iSCSI target.
12. Leave port set to 3260 and click OK.
13. Monitor the Recent Tasks pane and wait for task to complete.
14. Verify that iSCSI target’s name and port number are listed in Send Targets panel and click Close.
15. When prompted to rescan host bus adapter, click Yes. Wait for rescan task to complete.
How To Configure Access to an NFS Datastore
How to create an NFS datastore.
1. Click Configuration tab of your ESXi host.
2. Select Storage (Hardware list).
3. Select Add Storage (Datastores list).
4. When prompted by Add Storage wizard, do the following (field):
a. Select Network File System and click Next (Storage Type).
b. Enter NFS server host name (Server).
c. Enter NFS share name (Folder).
d. Select the check box (Mount NFS read only).
e. Enter in a name for your datastore and click Next (Datastore name).
f. Click Finish (Ready to Complete).
How To View iSCSI and NFS Storage Information
How to view information about your iSCSI and NFS storage and view the contents of the NFS datastore.
1. Click Storage Views tab of your ESXi host.
2. In the list of reports, select Show all SCSI Paths. Click the Update link in upper-right corner to see previously added iSCSI adapter.
3. Select Show all SCSI Targets (Array Ports) from list of reports. You can view information about your iSCSI storage.
4. Select Show all NAS Mounts from list of reports. You can view information about your NFS storage.
5. To view the contents of the NFS datastore:
a. Click Configuration tab of your ESXi host.
b. Right-click NFS datastore and select Browse Datastore.
c. Click the / folder in upper-left pane. You should see several files and directories, including ISO images.
d. Close the Datastore Browser when finished.