PowerVault MD3000i - General Troubleshooting Steps for Communication Issues

Article Summary:

This article provides information on the "PowerVault MD3000i - General Troubleshooting Steps for Communication Issues".

Table of Contents:

1. Discovery Fails
2. Virtual Disks do not Appear in the Operating System (OS)
3. Initiator Application Fails to Load
4. Other Items

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Issue 1.

Discovery Fails

PING the MD3000i.
How-To:

1. For Microsoft Windows® - Ping
2. For General Linux® - Ping

If the PING is successful, perform the following steps.

	Note:
	If these steps do not resolve the issue, please, contact Dell Technical support..

1. Verify CHAP (Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol) is set up correctly.
2. Verify the Initiator is setup correctly.
3. Verify iSNS (iSCSI Naming Service) is configured correctly.
4. Verify unnamed discovery sessions are not disabled.
5. Verify the Source and Destination addresses.
6. Use the following links for more information on the steps above:
   1. Microsoft Windows 2003® and 2008® - iSCSI Users Guide
   2. Microsoft Windows 2008 R2® and 2012® - Installing and Configuring Microsoft iSCSI Initiator
   3. Red Hat™ 5 Linux® - Online Storage Reconfiguration Guide
   4. Red Hat™ 6 Linux ® - Storage Administration Guide
   5. Dell Support - PowerVault MD3000i Documentation - Guides for Setup, Installation, Clustering, Performance, and More

If the PING fails, perform the following steps.

	Note:
	If these steps do not resolve the issue, please, contact Dell Technical support..

1. Verify the hardware and software are supported.
   Link: Dell PowerVault MD3000i Support Matrix
2. Verify the MD3000i is powered on.
   Link: Dell PowerVault MD3000i RAID Enclosure Hardware Owner’s Manual
3. Verify ICMP is enabled.
   1. Link: Microsoft Windows 2003®
   2. Link: Microsoft Windows 2008®
   3. Link: Microsoft Windows 2012®
   4. Link: Red Hat ® Linux®
4. Check the IP configuration of the host server ports and the iSCSI host port.
   1. Link: Microsoft Windows - ipconfig (useful command in command-line)
   2. Link: General Linux - ifconfig (command in command-line)
   3. Dell Support - PowerVault MD3000i Documentation - Guides for Setup, Installation, Clustering, Performance, and More
5. Verify the MD3000i is cabled correctly.
   1. Link: Storage and Network Guide Version 4.4
   2. Link: PowerVault MD3000i Documentation - Guides for Setup, Installation, Clustering, Performance, and More
6. Verify the NIC (Network Interface Card) Ports are set to Auto Negotiate.
   1. If is a Dell PowerEdge Server - find the NIC Manual on Dell's Support site.
   2. If it is another vendor's server or NIC, please engage that vendor.
7. Verify the network card is installed properly.
   1. If is a Dell PowerEdge Server - find the NIC Manual on Dell's Support site.
   2. If it is another vendor's server or NIC, please engage that vendor.
8. Verify the switch or router is not the issue (contact vendor for more information).
9. If Virtual LANs (VLANs) are used on the network, verify they are set up correctly. Contact vendor for more information.
10. If Jumbo Frames are used on the network, verify they are set up correctly. Contact vendor for more information.

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Issue 2.

Virtual Disks do not Appear in the Operating System (OS)

	Note:
	If these steps do not resolve the issue, please, contact Dell Technical support..

1. Verify the host software was installed during the MD (Modular Disk) Storage Manager install.
   
   Link: PowerVault MD3000i Documentation - Guides for Setup, Installation, Clustering, Performance, and More
2. Attempt to log on to the iSCSI Initiator.
3. If you are able to log in.
   1. Verify Host access is configured in MD Storage Manager.
   2. Verify the Virtual Disks have been created.
   3. Verify the virtual disks have been mapped to the host.
4. In Windows®, Rescan the Disks, if the Virtual Disks do not appear, contact Dell Technical Support.
5. In Linux®, run hot_add (at the command line type hot_add and press <Enter>.
   1. Verify and previous LUNs were properly removed from the operating system.
6. If the Virtual Disks do not appear, contact Dell Technical Support.

1. If you are unable to log in, PING the MD3000i.
2. If the PING is successful, determine if the MD3000i is discovered.
3. If it is not discovered use the Discovery Fails section to continue troubleshooting.
4. If the MD3000i is discovered, allow any management operations to complete.
   If the Virtual Disks still do not appear, contact Dell Technical Support.
5. If the PING fails, perform the following steps.
   If theses steps do not resolve the issue, contact Dell Technical Support.
6. Verify the hardware and software are supported.
7. Verify the MD3000i is powered on.
8. Verify ICMP is enabled.
9. Check the IP configuration of the host server ports and the iSCSI host port.
10. Verify the MD3000i is cabled correctly.
11. Verify the Ports are set to Auto Negotiate.
12. Verify the network card is installed properly.
13. Verify the switch or router is not the issue.
14. If Virtual LANs (VLANs) are used on the network, verify they are set up correctly.
15. If Jumbo Frames are used on the network, verify they are set up correctly.

	Note:
	Use the section above for hyperlinks or web pages that can help in troubleshooting these items even further for line item.

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Issue 3.

Initiator Application Fails to Load

1. Verify the correct version of the Initiator is being used.
   Link: Dell PowerVault MD3000i Support Matrix
2. Verify the Host was rebooted after installing the Initiator.
3. Reinstall the Initiator. If the application still fails to load, contact Dell Technical Support.

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Issue 4.

Other Items

The iSCSI Service Fails to Start:

1. Confirm the required patches and hotfixes are installed, these are documented in the MD3000i Support Matrix.
2. Verify the multipath (mpp) driver is installed. (For Linux®)
3. Verify that the iscsi.conf file has been edited or that the sample file included on the MD3000i ResourceCD has been copied to the /etc/ directory.
   (For Linux®)
   
   See Dell's Support Site for the MD3000i ResourceCD.
4. Review and note any kernel messages (/var/log/messages) for any errors that may be related to this issue. (For Linux®)
5. If the iSCSI service still fails to start, contact Dell Technical Support.
6. If this does not resolve the issue, try going through the top section again.

	Note:
	If these steps do not resolve the issue, please, contact Dell Technical support..

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