Configuring array-side networking - iSCSI, VMware

You use the ThinkSystem System Manager GUI to configure iSCSI networking on the array side.

1. From your browser, enter the following URL: https://<DomainNameOrIPAddress>

   IPAddress is the address for one of the storage array controllers.

   The first time ThinkSystem System Manager is opened on an array that has not been configured, the Set Administrator Password prompt appears. Role-based access management configures four local roles: admin, support, security, and monitor. The latter three roles have random passwords that cannot be guessed. After you set a password for the admin role you can change all of the passwords using the admin credentials. See ThinkSystem System Manager online help for more information on the four local user roles.
2. Enter the System Manager password for the admin role in the Set Administrator Password and Confirm Password fields, and then select the Set Password button.
   When you open System Manager and no pools, volumes groups, workloads, or notifications have been configured, the Setup wizard launches.
3. Close the Setup wizard.
   You will use the wizard later to complete additional setup tasks.
4. Select Hardware.
5. If the graphic shows the drives, click Show back of shelf.
   The graphic changes to show the controllers instead of the drives.
6. Click the controller with the iSCSI ports you want to configure.
   The controller's context menu appears.
7. Select Configure iSCSI ports.
   The Configure iSCSI Ports dialog box opens.
8. In the drop-down list, select the port you want to configure, and then click Next.
9. Select the configuration port settings, and then click Next.
   To see all port settings, click the Show more port settings link on the right of the dialog box.

   Port Setting	Description
   Configured Ethernet port speed	Select the desired speed. The options that appear in the drop-down list depend on the maximum speed that your network can support (for example, 10 Gbps). Note: The optional iSCSI host interface cards in the DE6000H and DE6000F controllers do not auto-negotiate speeds. You must set the speed for each port to either 10 Gb or 25 Gb. All ports must be set to the same speed.
   Enable IPv4 / Enable IPv6	Select one or both options to enable support for IPv4 and IPv6 networks.
   TCP listening port (Available by clicking Show more port settings.)	If necessary, enter a new port number. The listening port is the TCP port number that the controller uses to listen for iSCSI logins from host iSCSI initiators. The default listening port is 3260. You must enter 3260 or a value between 49152 and 65535.
   MTU size (Available by clicking Show more port settings.)	If necessary, enter a new size in bytes for the Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU). The default Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) size is 1500 bytes per frame. You must enter a value between 1500 and 9000.
   Enable ICMP PING responses	Select this option to enable the Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP). The operating systems of networked computers use this protocol to send messages. These ICMP messages determine whether a host is reachable and how long it takes to get packets to and from that host.

   If you selected Enable IPv4, a dialog box opens for selecting IPv4 settings after you click Next. If you selected Enable IPv6, a dialog box opens for selecting IPv6 settings after you click Next. If you selected both options, the dialog box for IPv4 settings opens first, and then after you click Next, the dialog box for IPv6 settings opens.
10. Configure the IPv4 and/or IPv6 settings, either automatically or manually. To see all port settings, click the Show more settings link on the right of the dialog box.

    Port setting	Description
    Automatically obtain configuration	Select this option to obtain the configuration automatically.
    Manually specify static configuration	Select this option, and then enter a static address in the fields. For IPv4, include the network subnet mask and gateway. For IPv6, include the routable IP address and router IP address.
    Enable VLAN support (Available by clicking Show more settings.)	Important: This option is only available in an iSCSI environment. Select this option to enable a VLAN and enter its ID. A VLAN is a logical network that behaves like it is physically separate from other physical and virtual local area networks (LANs) supported by the same switches, the same routers, or both.
    Enable ethernet priority (Available by clicking Show more settings.)	Important: This option is only available in an iSCSI environment. Select this option to enable the parameter that determines the priority of accessing the network. Use the slider to select a priority between 1 and 7. In a shared local area network (LAN) environment, such as Ethernet, many stations might contend for access to the network. Access is on a first-come, first-served basis. Two stations might try to access the network at the same time, which causes both stations to back off and wait before trying again. This process is minimized for switched Ethernet, where only one station is connected to a switch port.

11. Click Finish.
12. Close System Manager.