ISCSI and VM ESXI 6.0

Here's a good article I've used before.  It's for ESXi 5.x, but the basics are the same.  This article uses the VSphere Client rather than the web interface, so if you don't have the client installed, I suggest doing that.  Although it's not the "preferred" method in ESXi 6 and above, it still works more easily for certain things, IMO:

http://www.vkernel.ro/blog/creating-configuring-iscsi-in-vmware-vsphereesxi-5

you have to add iscsi to storage adapters and storage.

You mention iSCSI and then Fibre ?

is this iSCSI SAN or Fibre SAN.

You can check out my EE Article, for Best Practice...

HOW TO: Add an iSCSI Software Adaptor and Create an iSCSI Multipath Network in VMware vSphere Hypervisor ESXi 5.0

This is also applicable for 6.x.

But check with Nimble what method of teaming/multi-path is recommended.

Fiber

So, it's not iSCSI, so all of the above articles are NOT relevant.

So quite simply, you plug your Fibre HBA to your FC Switch, FC Switch to your Nimble, make a note of your WWNN (HBA) in ESXi, and make sure that your Map/Grant Access to the LUN in your Nimble, using the WWNN of the HBA.

Depending on the number of HBAs in ESXi , normally two for dual paths, you would have two FC Switches, and two FC cables running to two heads/controllers on your Nimble SAN.

Simply then Re-SCAN the HBA on your ESXi host, and LUNs should appear, then Add "New" Datastore, and follow the wizard.

Now I'm having an issue with the Fiber G-beck.  I'm getting an error suddenly Driver failed to load because unsupport module type.

Hi,

I suppose you mean GBIC. Well, don't sure about your cables and protocols used here (again fiber or iSCSI? FCoE ??).
And don't know about where you got this error message, but it seems you have an incompatible GBIC : this is the physical module between a fiber or 10GbE port, and the fiber cable. And each card have a list of compatible gbic...

Calling Dell right now.  I'm hoping it's just a bios setting.  It's a fiber connection to an ISCSI

yes, I hope for you.

LOL if not project gets pushed back again!

Well project delays or not, you need to establish what technology you have, so a good time to do some fresh research, ready for when the project starts again,and you'll be ready to go, and get it all working....

OK project is on hold.  We purchased a 10 GBIC card and the system can only take 16, 8, 4 or 2.  So I'll get back to this once we get a new GBIC.

You may really want a PAIR for resilience!

OK I have the ISCSI connected however I can't add the datastore.

have you created and presented a LUN?

can you see a LUN presented to the HBA ?

if you click Add Datastore......does a LUN appear to use as a datastore ?

no it does not.  I think I'm going to delete everything and start over.

We purchased a 10 GBIC card and the system can only take 16, 8, 4 or 2

it is really right time to figure out if you have 10 gigabit ethernet, and then what sort of cabling is installed
XOR
you have 2...4...8...16 gigabit Fibre Channel

no I added gbic to the nic card which is 10 gigs and put fiber in that.

Can't get the ISCSI to bind.  See attached.
vm1.png

Yes.  Here's what we did.  I have an Ethernet card with 2 gbics in them plus a cat 6 all are attached.  This should work I have light on the GBics too.  I'm going to take out all of the network stuff and try again. This should work it's ISCSI no big deal.  I've attached my network configs.
vm3.png

What I'm trying to do is use the gbic in the nic card for ISCSI - it just doesn't want to bind.  also the nic address is 10.75 and the iscsi is 172.16.  OK I think regardless of the link lites on the fiber in the NIC card it's just not seeing the fiber.  I only see I nic card on the 10.75 network and I'm trying to bind 172 on ISCSI.  I need to find a way to configure those gbics attached to that nic card. If I can do that I should be ok.

does not look like my Article configuration!

time to start using ping and vmkping to check you can ping your iSCSI SAN.

please select a solution, if one is applicable.

Not yet I'm sorry.  I'm waiting on 2 new gbics.  I called Dell and they told me that what we added was not compatible. So we order what Dell told us to however we've not received it yet.

OK I got the GBics on and I believe they are working.  I can't bind them?  I've created a second vswitch with the 2 gbics the adapters are on but no bindings when I try to do team them.  I'm not sure what's up with that.

do you require additional help to close out this question?

After I got the correct gbics it was a breeze with your instructions. Thanks.