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March 23rd, 2022 14:00
MD4024 SAN Direct Connect - with iSCS?
We ordered Dell r750s and a ME4024
R750s with 4 10GB ports and 2 1 GB Ports
The SAN that was ordered with a 10Gb iSCSI SFP+ 8 Port Dual Controller
Controller 1 has 4 10GB ports
Controller 2 has 4 10GB ports
We only have one switch which will be used for ESXi mgt and VM mgt and plan on using
Local Dell reps said we can use Direct Connect from ESXi to the SAN with something like:
ME4024 Controller A0 to ESXi Server 1 nic1
ME4024 Controller B0 to ESXi Server 1 nic2
ME4024 Controller A1 to ESXi Server 2 nic1
ME4024 Controller B1 to ESXi Server 2 nic2
This Dell video is for setting up the ME4 for iSCSI, but is using a switch. We want to Direct Connect.
Is the video still valid for setting up Direct Connect in vSphere with the iSCSI initiators ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03mosqjdeHQ
DELL-Joey C
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March 23rd, 2022 20:00
Hi @SJNAPL,
You can refer to this deployment documentation for ME4 configuration https://dell.to/3NrSBqi
What you're trying to achieve is direct attached connection. You also refer to the video as guide for the configuration, or you can refer to the deployment guide: https://dell.to/3wFhIzE
SJNAPL
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March 24th, 2022 04:00
Hi
Yes,,I understand the connections from the Controller to the ESXi for direct attached connection.
Since the SAN controller is 10Gb iSCSI SFP, my question is about assigning IPs to the NIC and using iSCSI Initiator to make the connections as shown in the video beginning at the 1:50 minute mark.
This video shows an iSCSI set up to a switch which we are not doing. We have direct attached connection and not going to a switch.
So what is the process from the ESXi vSphere client to follow?
DELL-Erman O
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March 24th, 2022 06:00
Hi, I think there was some confusion. The video you shared in your first post (https://dell.to/3us0p2m) shows the ESXi host and iSCSI storage direct connection. Also, if you want, you can review the "iSCSI host server configuration for VMware ESXi" topics on pages 58-61 of the pdf here, https://dell.to/36jozo0 I hope it helps.
SJNAPL
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March 24th, 2022 12:00
Hi,
I assume then that, steps 58-61 in then deployment guide for iSCSI will work for what we are doing - direct-connect the 2 ESXi hot to the SAN (not going to a switch) since the SAN controller is 10Gb iSCSI SFP iSCSI ?
esxcli system settings advanced set --int-value 0 -option /VMFS3 /
DELL-Joey C
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March 24th, 2022 18:00
Hi @SJNAPL,
Referring to the deployment guide, the configuration should work. Here is another documentation that I found, maybe it can come in handy in future: https://dell.to/3wxHpSU
Just to clarify, the command that you referred, has some missing content, it should be:
esxcli system settings advanced set --int-value 0 -option /VMFS3 /HardwareAcceleratedLocking
SJNAPL
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March 28th, 2022 07:00
In the command, any reason why /VMFS3 is shown and not /VMFS5 ?
DELL-Marco B
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March 28th, 2022 08:00
Hello,
no particular reason, it is just the alias for the command option.
SJNAPL
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140 Posts
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April 4th, 2022 06:00
Can we verify if the below is correct in the diagram, in that the ports on the Controllers each have an IP assigned and then, on the vSphere side, an IP is used for iSCSI to establish the connection to the controllers?
Do the IPs look ok for
ESXi MGT
iSCSI ESXi 177.1.96.0/24 and 177.2.96.0/24
SAN Controllers 177.1.96.0/24 and 177.2.96.0/24
DELL-Marco B
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April 4th, 2022 07:00
Hello,
IPs seems ok to me, thanks
Marco