iSCSI connections to EMC San from Windows 2003 Server

Do you have an AX4-5 (fiber channel) as well as an AX4-5i (iSCSI)?

The management ports on the controllers aren't iSCSI ports.

Also; a server can connect to up to 4 EMC SANs, but due to the flare on the AX4-5, all connections should be of the same type (fiber channel or iSCSI). On the CX4-series with one of the newer flares I think you can connect a server with iSCSI and fiber channel, but I'd have to double check to be sure.

I have the AX4-5 connected to the 2950 using an HBA Qlogic 220 on the server and directly to one side of the SAN.  We will only connect this one SAN to this one server.  I have the management ports connected to a Cisco 3750 switch and really don't know whether I'm able to manage the SAN from the server based on the HBA or based on the management ports connected to the Cisco switch.

I tried to connect the other fiber connectors on the SAN to the Switch using the fiber connections but have yet to be able to get the Cisco switch to light up on the fiber ports - ethernet ports light up fine.  Can get blue blinking lights on the SAN fiber ports when using Cisco G-bits on the SAN to the Cisco switch but still the Cisco does not light up where I have the fiber coming from the other fiber ports on the SAN.  I'm sure I'm doing something wrong, but would like to know if I'm trying something that I shouldn't be trying.

Bottom line is that I have the SAN connected to the server using the 1 Fiber connection from side B of the SAN to the Qlogic 220 HBA.  All data that is shared to the server is available, but just wanted to know if it is possible to also have iSCSI connections.

If I can't have both iSCSI ethernet connections and fiber connections does that mean that I'm wasting my time trying to connect through the switch?

Appreciate any comments.

A few things about this SAN and fiber channel:

- you can only manage the array through the management ports (assign it an IP and use the web interface)

- fiber channel is a different protocol than ethernet, so, even though the physical cable/connector is the same, you cannot plug a fiber channel connection into an ethernet switch (and expect it to work). If you want to run your fiber channel ports through a switch, you'll want to look into a Cisco MDS series switch, or you can go Brocade.

All data that is shared to the server is available

- the SAN doesn't "share data"; it "gives storage space to a server". The term "sharing" is commonly used for file level storage access and causes people new to SAN to sometimes give a disk/LUN to more than 1 server (that aren't clustered) and then be surprised that data starts corrupting.

To connect additional servers, they'll need their own fiber channel HBAs. If you're running out of ports on the SAN, you'll need to get 1 or 2 fiber channel switches (these are generally not the same as ethernet switches). Only the CX4-series has the capabilities to do both fiber channel and iSCSI (using certain ports for fiber channel and other (RJ-45) ports for iSCSI.

I know that the sharing data is on the Windows 2003 Server.  Have isolated that is only shared to this server. 

Thanks for the info on the type of switch that I need to be able to connect the fiber from the SAN.  Will do further research on that and see if we have a switch that can be used in that manner.

Now I have another 2950 server ready to configure and I can discover the SAN in Unisphere but not with Navisphere.  On the SAN side I can get to the SAN using http to the ip address but cannot register the SAN to the server. 

The Qlogic 220 HBA appears to be working ok on the server side in hardware manager.  Thus Unisphere can discover the SAN.  The SAN is initialized.

So far nothing is on the SAN and I could reinitialize if necessary.  Matter of fact, I'm just about to that place if I can't find an answer.  Don't know what I'm doing wrong.  The fiber connection on the SAN is blinking blue and yellow, but the fiber connection on the server is blinking orange.

What do you think could be the problem.  Any comments, recommendations would greatly be appreciated. 

Cheryl

Yes,  Using a Qlogic QLE2210 HBA card - the same that I have running on the other server.

Yes I have a supported version of Powerpath

Yes I have created a diskpool and 2 virtual disks on the SAN - and assigned it to the server, but somehow can't get it to be seen on the server.

Have done a rescan of the disks on the server and rebooted several times.

Any reason why the Unisphere would be able to Discover the San but the Navisphere could not?

I would suggest you look into finding someone to show you around the SAN.

A few more things:

- are you using an EMC supported driver (for the Qlogic card)?

- are you using a supported version of Powerpath?

- did you create a diskpool/virtual disk and assign it to the server?

That is a Qlogic QLE220 not a QLE2210

But are you using an EMC supported driver for that QLE220? The Windows native driver definitely isn't EMC supported and shouldn't be used when connecting to an EMC SAN.