Configuration
This chapter presents the following topics:
Set up a Windows host to use VNXe iSCSI storage ... 50
Volume configuration ... 58
Set up a Windows host to use VNXe iSCSI storage
In Chapter 4: VNXe Connectivity Configuration, an iSCSI server (also known as an iSCSI target) was configured to receive incoming requests for stored data. This chapter describes configuration of the corresponding iSCSI initiator, which connects the SQL host to the target through Ethernet.
The steps in this section have the following dependencies: 1. The SQL host is running Windows Server 2008 R2.
Note The overall procedure is applicable to other versions of Microsoft Windows, however other versions may have different interfaces. The product documentation from Microsoft for iSCSI configuration provides more information.
2. Two network connections on the SQL host (in addition to the public user login connection) are dedicated to iSCSI connectivity.
Note EMC recommends assigning either dedicated gigabit Ethernet NICs or TCP offload adapters (ToE adapters) to handle iSCSI traffic. It is not advisable to share the user-facing network connection for storage traffic.
This procedure assumes the VNXe is configured with two connections, which is the minimum requirement for high availability. However, the VNXe supports 1 to 4 connections.
3. Two IP addresses in the same subnet as the addresses configured on the VNXe iSCSI target in Chapter 4: VNXe Connectivity Configuration.
Note Ideally, the iSCSI connections are on a separate, private network dedicated to storage traffic. By placing storage traffic on its own network that is routed separately from the main network, the overall security of the storage infrastructure increases, and the overall configuration is simpler.
Connect host to VNXe storage
To connect the SQL host to VNXe storage configured in Chapter 5: SQL Server Storage Provisioning, complete the following steps:
1. From the Start menu, open iSCSI Initiator. The iSCSI Initiator Properties dialog box appears.
Note When accessing the iSCSI initiator for the first time, a popup will appear noting that the service must be started. Click Yes to start the service.
SQL Server Connectivity Configuration
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 on EMC VNXe Series
Deployment Guide 51
Figure 26. iSCSI Initiator Properties
2. Click the Discovery tab, and then click Discover Portal. The Discover Target Portal dialog box appears.
3. Specify the target portal information:
a. In the IP address or DNS name field, type one of the IP addresses of the VNXe iSCSI server configured in Chapter 4: VNXe Connectivity
Configuration.
Note A popup will appear if the iSCSI initiator is unable to reach its intended target. Although the wizard will add the intended target to the Target portals list, it is recommended that the issue be resolved before continuing. Troubleshooting failed network connections is beyond the scope of this guide.
Figure 27. Discover Target Portal 4. Click OK.
5. On the Discovery tab of the iSCSI Initiator Properties dialog, verify the following information:
a. The Address column displays the address entered for the iSCSI Target in Step 3a.
b. The Port column displays 3260.
c. The Adapter and IP Address columns display Default.
Figure 28. iSCSI target added
6. Click the Targets tab, select the VNXe target in the Discovered targets pane and click Connect. The Connect to Target dialog box appears.
Figure 29. Connect to a target
SQL Server Connectivity Configuration
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 on EMC VNXe Series
Deployment Guide 53
Figure 30. Connect to Target dialog box
8. Specify the advanced settings for the iSCSI target:
a. In the Local Adapter list box, select Microsoft iSCSI Adapter.
b. In the Initiator IP list box, select the IP address configured for Local Area Connection 2 in “Connect host to VNXe storage” on page 50.
c. In the Target portal IP list box, select one of the two IP addresses configured for the iSCSI server in Chapter 4VNXe Connectivity Configuration.
Figure 31. Advanced Settings dialog with default values 9. Click OK. The Connect to Target window reappears.
10. ClickOK to return to the iSCSI Initiator Properties window. 11. Verify that the status of the iSCSI target is Connected.
Configure multiple connections per session
To increase storage availability by configuring multiple connections per session, complete the following steps:
1. Open the iSCSI Initiator Properties dialog box from the Start menu, or continue from Step 5 onpage 51.
2. On the Targets tab, select the VNXe target in the Discover targets pane and verify that the status is Connected.
3. Click Properties. The Properties dialog box appears.
Figure 32. iSCSI target
4. Edit the properties of the VNXe iSCSI target: a. In the Identifier pane, select the session ID.
SQL Server Connectivity Configuration
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 on EMC VNXe Series
Deployment Guide 55
Figure 33. Multiple Connected Session (MCS) dialog box 5. Click Add. The Add Connection dialog box appears.
Figure 34. Add Connection dialog box
6. Click Advanced. The Advanced Settings dialog box appears. 7. Complete the following steps:
a. In the Initiator IP list box, select the second ISCSI initiator IP, typically bound to Local Area Connection 3.
b. In the Target portal IP list box, select the second IP configured on the iSCSI server in Chapter 4: VNXe Connectivity Configuration.
c. Verify that Data digest, Header digest, and Enable CHAP logon are not selected.
Figure 35. MCS add connection Advanced Settings 8. Click OK. The Add Connection dialog box appears.
9. Click Connect to establish the connection and return to the Multiple Connected Session (MCS) dialog. The Multiple Connected Sessions dialog box appears displaying two connections.
SQL Server Connectivity Configuration
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 on EMC VNXe Series
Deployment Guide 57
Figure 36. New connection added
MCS policy may be left as Round Robin.
Note Testing has shown that Round Robin is best in an environment where the network paths are equivalent. If another option is desired, please refer to the Microsoft documentation on the iSCSI Initiator software. 10. Click OK. The Properties dialog box reappears.
11. Click OK. The ISCSI Initiator Properties window reappears. 12. Click OK.
Volume configuration
After the iSCSI connection with the VNXe target is established, the VNXe storage appears to the Windows host as two or more new, uninitialized disks. This section explains the procedures to create and configure volumes on the new disks, completing the SQL deployment setup.
Create and configure disk volumes
The Windows Disk Manager sees the SQL storage provisioned in Chapter 5: SQL Server Storage Provisioning as two or more new, uninitialized disks.
Complete the following steps to prepare the uninitialized disks for use:
1. To verify the number of disks to be formatted, complete the following steps: a. From the Start menu, select Administrative Tools > Open iSCSI Initiator.
The iSCSI Initiator Properties dialog box appears.
b. Click the Targets tab. The list of available targets appears in the Discovered targets area.
c. Click Devices. The Devices dialog box appears.
Figure 37. Devices: iSCSI-connected disks
2. Verify the number of disks and the disk names are correct, and click OK. 3. Click OK to exit the iSCSI Initiator Properties dialog box.
4. On the Windows host, open Server Manager.
5. In the left pane, expand Storage and select Disk Management. The Disk Management window appears.
SQL Server Connectivity Configuration
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 on EMC VNXe Series
Deployment Guide 59
Figure 38. Disk Management
Each new disk displays as Unknown and Offline. Note the correlation of disk names to the names shown in Figure 37.
6. Right-click the first uninitialized disk, and then click Online. Repeat this for all offline disks.
7. After the disks are online, right-click one and select Initialize Disk. The Initialize Disk dialog box appears.
8. To initialize the disks, complete the following steps: a. Select the disks to initialize.
b. Select MBR (MBR Boot Record).
Figure 40. Initialize Disk dialog box 9. Click OK.
10. Right-click the online raw disk, and then select New Simple Volume. The New Simple Volume Wizard appears.
SQL Server Connectivity Configuration
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 on EMC VNXe Series
Deployment Guide 61
11. Click Next. The Specify Volume Size window appears.
Figure 42. Specify Volume Size
12. Verify the simple volume size matches the maximum disk space, and click Next. The Assign Drive Letter or Path window appears.
13. Select adrive letter, and click Next. The Format Partition window appears. Note NTFS mount can also be used. In this case, mount a local drive to an
empty folder on an NTFS volume by using a drive path instead of a drive letter.
Figure 43. Select a drive letter 14. Perform the following steps:
a. Select Format this volume with the following settings. b. In the File system list box, select NTFS.
c. In the Allocation unit size list box, select 64K.
d. In the Volume label field, type a name for the volume. e. Verify Perform a quick format is selected.
Figure 44. Select drive format settings
15. Click Next. The Completing the New Simple Volume Wizard window appears. 16. Verify the details, and click Finish. A new volume is created.
Figure 45. Completing the New Simple Volume Wizard 17. Repeat Steps 7-14 for each new, uninitialized disk.
The storage is prepared for SQL server. Microsoft SQL product documentation provides more information on how to set up SQL on the VNXe storage.
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 on EMC VNXe Series
Deployment Guide 63