MPIO - two or more iSCSÌ paths to one StarWind Server?

[raymondjt]

Hi,
I would like to have at least two iSCSI ports per Client and on the StarWind server over different switches.
With the free MS iSCSI Target 3.3 no problem.
If I try the free version 5.7 of StarWind only the first "target-ip" is available to choose on the initiaor client.
Same (more important) if I use the trial key and build a HA disks on two different storage servers.
Does the product not support real MPIO? Or how do I have to do it?
THX
Raymond

[Max (staff)]

Hello Raymond,
StarWind does support MPIO, if you are connecting to a single server you need to enable multiple concurrent iSCSI connections to the device.
To connect on all pathes use the quick connect tool in the Microsoft iSCSI initiator to connect the target - it will connect on all pathes available.
If you want to connect specific pathes you need to go to the MS initiator advanced logon settings and specify the interfaces, although it will not show all the target IPs available you just need to select the desired initiator IP.

If you need to see all the interfaces anyway - go to the StarWind installation folder, open the starwind.cfg with notepad, find <!---<iScsiDiscoveryListInterfaces value="1"/>--> and remove the <!--- and ---> to make it look like <iScsiDiscoveryListInterfaces value="1"/>, save the changes and restart the StarWind service.

[raymondjt]

Hi Max,
I tried your suggestions, didn't work.
On the StarWind Server are 4 nics, two are dedicated for iSCSI and "allowed" in the network config list.
At the client iSCSI we have both iSCSI networks as portal, with the first connect (adv) I can choose MS iSCSI Initiator, the "client" iSCSI IP and the StarWind Server IP for this iSCSI network.
MPIO is installed on the Win2008R2 Server and Mutli-Paths found, rebooted and so on.
If I try to add the second connect I can choose the second iSCSI Initiator, but for the server only the first iSCSI StarWind IP or Standard are available.
Any idea?

AND please tell us, if we have two storage servers (StarWind HA), could we have two (or more) iSCSI paths to StarWind Server A and the same to the StarWind Server B?

Additional question: Can we migrate from the free edition to HA edition? What would have to be done?
THX
Raymond

[Anatoly (staff)]

Could you please send us your starwind.cfg file (you can find it starwind installation folder)? And also, just to doublecheck - have restarted starwind service after changes in config file?


About HA question - yes, it is definitely possible.

About migration to HA: yes, it is possible. To upgrade our server to HA edition you should simply install license with HA included to this host (you can get it from our sales (sales@starwindsoftware.com). About targets - it depends on their type. Could you please specify what targets type are you using - basic image, cdp?

[raymondjt]

Hi Anatoly,
we did a complete reinstall of Win2008R2 and took the free edition from the latest StarWind server.
Looked like the same "error", but after changing the starwind.cfg -> iScsiDiscoveryListInterfaces... thing and a restart -->
now I can see all avaible interfaces in the iSCSI Initiator.
Gives me a better feeling than just hoping MPIO will work.

If there will be a changing from free edition to HA then it should be virtual disks type basic img.
Or would CDP be more stable / easier to migrate?

THX a lot
Raymond

PS: those sales guys don't seem to work, I tried a couple of request before these forum entries... no reply

[Anatoly (staff)]

Nice to hear that its been solved:)

If there will be a changing from free edition to HA then it should be virtual disks type basic img.
Or would CDP be more stable / easier to migrate?

It should be .img file with 65536 header size.

PS: those sales guys don't seem to work, I tried a couple of request before these forum entries... no reply

Actually we can`t see any email from you from for some reason
Lets do next: could you please mail to account manager responsible for your region using this email: tatiana.gusarova@starwindsoftware.com and attach the mail that you`ve sent on sales@starwindsoftware.com mail box for we to could investigate where the mail was lost (we really need it because every email is important for us)?

Thank you