Configuring iSCSI virtual disks

Configuring iSCSI virtual disks is required for the Windows clustering setup that this guide later describes. The iSCSI initiator is where all database read/write activity is initiated. The iSCSI target is the actual disk that the initiator writes to.

The virtual disk is critical, as database servers write into this disk. If the disk is offline, database services are disrupted, affecting EMS operations. You should engage with relevant Microsoft parties to plan a highly scalable database infrastructure. This is a Microsoft SQL requirement and is unrelated to EMS requirements.

To configure iSCSI virtual disks:

1. Create a new volume in the iSCSI target server. In this example, the iSCSI target server is an EMS server. This is not best practice and does not provide a proper availability design from a database clustering point of view.
2. Install the iSCSI target server role:
   1. In Server Manager, on the Manage menu, click add Roles and Features.
   2. Proceed to the Server Roles page. Under File and Storage Services > File and iSCSI Services, select iSCSI Target Server. Click Install.
3. Create the virtual disk:
   1. After the server installs the role, in Server Manager, go to File and Storage Services > iSCSI.
   2. From the TASKS dropdown list, select New iSCSI Virtual Disk.
   3. The wizard prompts for access server details. The access server is the same as the iSCSI initiator. You can obtain the iSCSI initiator details by doing the following:
      1. In Server Manager on the iSCSI initiator server, go to Tools > iSCSI Initiator.
      2. On the Configuration tab, note the Initiator Name value.

         

   4. Provide the value that you obtained in step 6 in the wizard.
   5. Repeat steps 6-7 if you have multiple iSCSI initiator servers.
4. On the iSCSI initiator server, on the Targets tab, enter the target server name or IP address in the Target field.
5. Click Quick Connect. The discovered targets should autopopulate. Click Connect.

   

6. The Targets tab should show the status as connected. If not, click Connect.
7. After the target connects, on the Volumes and Devices tab, click Auto Configure. The volume list autopopulates with some configuration. Click OK. Repeat this step on other iSCSI initiator servers as needed.
8. Refresh the File and Storage Services > File and iSCSI Services page on the iSCSI target server. The virtual disk status displays as connected.
9. Initialize the virtual disk on the iSCSI initiator server:
   1. In Server Manager, go to Tools > Computer Management > Storage > Disk Management.
   2. The new volume displays as offline. Right-click on it, then select Online.
   3. Right-click the volume again, then select Initialize Disk.
   4. Select the necessary partition style. In this example, MBR is selected.
   5. At this point, the disk displays as online, but the disk space is unallocated. Right-click the disk, select New Simple Volume, and complete the process in the wizard.

      

   6. Confirm that you can see the new volume on the iSCSI initiator server. The volume should not contain any files, as the database is not installed. After installing the database, you can see Microsoft SQL files written to the virtual disk.
   7. Repeat the process on other iSCSI initiator servers as needed.