When adding an iSCSI Storage Repository (SR) to Citrix Xenserver, remember the following checkpoints:
- Use a dedicated interface for storage traffic.
This is done by right-clicking on a host in the XenCenter GUI, and selecting “Mangement Interfaces…”.
Create a new interface, giving it a good name such as “iSCSI LAN 10.x.x.x”.
Set the IP address of the new interface.
Do this for all XenServer hosts that require access to the iSCSI shared storage.
Remember that all hosts should have access to the same iSCSI LAN(s). - Give each XenServer host a meaningfull iSCSI IQN (name).
This is done on the General tab on each XenServer host.
Click Properties, and then change the iSCSI IQN.
This will help you in identifying each host when allowing their access on the SAN. - Map volumes to all XenServer hosts.
On your preferred iSCSI SAN, create a volume and map it to all XenServer Hosts.
Remember to map to the same LUN # for each XenServer Host. So if using LUN # 10 for Volume_1, use this for all of your hosts, as identified by their iSCSI IQN’s.
Remember to map all XenServer hosts to every volume you intend to use for “agile” VM’s at pool level. - Create the new SR on a pool level.
Right click your pool in the XenCenter GIU, and select New Storage Repository…
Select iSCSI. Enter a good descriptive name. Enter the IP address of the SAN controller that has ownership of the vdisk in question.
Click Discover IQNs. Make sure that the correct controller (which has ownership of the vdisk) is selected.
Click Discover LUNs, and select your desired LUN.
Click Finish.
Once you start populating your SR with Virtual Disks, make sure you give them all a name, and a description. This is very helpfull if you have to re-build your XenServer farm.