Configuring iSCSI on AIX 5.3L

After a long deliberation, I decided to go for iSCSI Storage as compare to Fibre Channel (FC) Storage. My experience with Fibre Channel (FC) SAN (IBM DS4800) is wonderful and I enjoyed it very much, but considering the cost of FC Storage Hardware i.e. FC (Switches, HDD, HBA and Controller) and emerging SAS technology (upto 6 Gbps) it revealed that iSCSI with SAS HDD will be next stop for Storage in Medium Enterprise.

Right now, I don’t have any branded iSCSI Solution with me, therefore, I considered a software based iSCSI server for evaluation. I am using Open-E software based iSCSI server software on HP DL-380 G5 with 4 GB RAM and 820 GB (RAID5) Storage.

I have successfully configured iSCSI Target on Windows and Linux but configuring iSCSI on AIX needs little more knowledge, please find below the necessary steps for configuring iSCSI on AIX 5.3L.

!!!! YOU MUST SET YOUR ISCSI TARGET TO "ISCSI ENTERPRISE TARGET [IET]" MODE. SCST, STGT, LIO DID'NT WORK FOR ME!!!!
!!!! I AM USING "OPEN-E DSS V6 LITE !!!!

*******This configuration is without CHAP Authentication********
You must know your iSCSI node name before configuring iSCSI on any host.
My iSCSI target node name: iqn.2011-01:dss.target4

1. Verify the Maintenance level server is running:

# oslevel -r
5200-03

2. Verify the correct iSCSI FileSets have been installed and should be COMMITTED in state:
# lslpp -l | grep -i iscsi
devices.common.IBM.iscsi.rte 5.2.0.30 COMMITTED Common iSCSI Files
devices.iscsi.disk.rte 5.2.0.30 COMMITTED iSCSI Disk Software
devices.iscsi.tape.rte 5.2.0.0 COMMITTED iSCSI Tape Software
devices.iscsi_sw.rte 5.2.0.1 COMMITTED iSCSI Software Device Driver
devices.iscsi_sw.rte 5.2.0.1 COMMITTED iSCSI Software Device Driver

3. Verify the iSCSI device is available in the kernel:
# lsdev -C | grep iscsi
iscsi0 Available iSCSI Protocol Device

4. Add the IP Address, default iSCSI port number, and iSCSI NodeName in "/etc/iscsi/targets"

# vi /etc/iscsi/targets
10.1.2.32 3260 iqn.2011-01:dss.target4

To verify issue the mentioned below command:
# tail -2 /etc/iscsi/targets
10.1.2.32 3260 iqn.2011-01:dss.target4

5.Verify the iSCSI Node Name of the AIX server:
# lsattr -El iscsi0
disc_filename /etc/iscsi/targets Configuration file False
disc_policy file Discovery Policy True
initiator_name iqn.1996-04.wasmq.hostid.0a3cac46 iSCSI Initiator Name True
max_targets 16 Maximum Targets Allowed True
num_cmd_elems 200 Maximum number of commands to queue to driver True

6. Modify the iSCSI Node Name of the AIX server:
# lsattr -El iscsi0
iqn.1996-04.wasmq.hostid.0a3cac46

To Modify issue the mentioned below command:
# chdev -l iscsi0 -a initiator_name=iqn.1992-08.com.ibm:wasmq
iscsi0 changed

7. Verify that the block devices have not been created for you on the AIX server:
# lsdev -Cc disk
hdisk0 Available 10-60-00-9,0 16 Bit SCSI Disk Drive

8. Rescan the iSCSI subsystem for new devices:
# cfgmgr -l iscsi0 OR cfgmgr

9. Verify that the block devices have been created for you on the AIX server:
# lsdev -Cc disk
hdisk0 Available 10-60-00-9,0 16 Bit SCSI Disk Drive
hdisk1 Available Other iSCSI Disk Drive (!!!!Congratulation!!!!)

For more info regarding disk issue the following command:
# lsattr -El hdisk1

10. Create a VG by issuing the following command:
# mkvg hdisk1

!!!! You are done !!!!