StarWind iSCSI SAN

Software clustering technology enables you to make several servers to work as a unit. Various cluster configurations can be implemented. One of the most frequently used configurations is the fail‐over cluster. This configuration assumes that if one of the cluster nodes fails, the reserved node automatically brings online, serving the applications. With that the workflow remains uninterrupted and secured.
Fail‐over cluster configuration includes two (or more) server nodes that share an external storage. Based on the iSCSI technology, StarWind enables to create an external storage in Windows environment without implementation of expensive FC or external SCSI solutions. With StarWind you can create a shared disk array on a host running Microsoft Windows.

StarWind Installation

StarWind iSCSI SAN can be used as shared storage for almost any application, it is fully compatible for use with VMware, Hyper-V or Server Clusters for applications as SQL Server, Exchange and SharePoint.

I will guide you through installation steps of StarWind iSCSI SAN software on Windows system.

Once you have downloaded the setup launch it on the server that you want to turn into SAN storage.

A Setup Wizard window will appear:

Read and accept the license agreement, then Click the Next button to continue.
Select the installation path.

Specify the installation type:

Full installation – includes both StarWind Service and Management Console so that you can manage the resources from the macine where you are installing the product.

StarWind iSCSI Service – best fits for installing on as server which will be managed remotely.

StarWind Management Console – The Graphical User Interface (GUI) part of the program, which allows you to create devices on the target servers in you service.

Click the OK button to continue

From Services double click “Microsoft iSCSI initiator Service..”
Modify Startup type to “Automatic”, and start the service

After the installation process is complete, you will see a window confirming that you have successfully installed StarWind iSCSI SAN. Tick the checkbox if you want to run StarWind management console immediately.

After the installation process is complete, start the StarWind management console

StarWind SAN Configuration

At this stage installation completed we will start configuring the StarWind Enterprise SAN

We will start by adding host (Add Host –> New Host)

Since we are configuring local host, use IP address: 127.0.0.1

Click “connect” and for the first time login use default password “starwind” for the “root” logon account

Select the host and Add Target

Select “Hard Disk” for the storage type

I will select “Basic Virtual” in order to create a virtual disk; you can select a physical hard disk or select advanced virtual if you want to support (Mirror, Snapshot and HA)

Basic Virtual                                                     Advanced Virtual
 

Create virtual hard disk that uses a file as its storage.

Basic Virtual                                                     Advanced Virtual
  
Create a virtual disk and specify disk location and parameters

To allow multiple concurrent connections (for clustering, CSV…Etc)

Configure the cache mode, I will choose normal (No Caching)

Confirm the setting and click “Next” to create the device
  
In my next post while building private cloud, I will show you how to configure the initiator and access vSAN.