Connect an iSCSI SAN to Server 2008 R2 using the Microsoft iSCSI Initiator

Scenario

You’ve installed FreeNAS 8.2 and configured it as a free iSCSI SAN. Now you need to connect to the iSCSI SAN using an iSCSI Initiator.

Solution

Note: This process is the same for both Server 2008 R2 and Win7 machines.

1. Open the iSCSI Initiator control panel by running the iSCSICPL.exe command or navigating to Administrative Tools > iSCSI Initiator:
   
2. The first time you run this, you’ll get this message. Click Yes:
   
3. Enter the IP Address of your SAN into the Target field, then click Quick Connect:
   
4. If you have enabled CHAP authentication on the SAN, you’ll get this Authentication Failure:
   
5. On the Discovery Tab, click Discover Portal:
   
6.  Enter the IP Address of your SAN into the IP Address or DNS name field, then click Advanced:
   
7. Tick the Enable CHAP log on tickbox, then enter your CHAP credentials. Click OK twice:
   
8. The available Targets will now be displayed on the Targets Tab. Click Connect:
   
9.  Click Advanced:
   
10. As before, tick the Enable CHAP log on tickbox, then enter your CHAP credentials. Click OK twice:
    
11. The Target will now show as Connected:
    
12. On the Volumes and Devices Tab, click Auto Configure to, erm, auto-configure that bad-boy!
    
13. Navigate to Computer Management > Disk Management, and Initialise the new Disk that you just connected to:
    
14. Now you can format the disk how you normally would:
    
    
    
    
    
    
15. Job done:
    

More information can be found at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee338476(v=ws.10)