iSCSI storage enables efficient use of a disk space while ensuring data safety and increased performance. Moreover, centralized storage management utilizing iSCSI and RAID technology makes administration more comfortable and reduces downtime in case of a hard drive failure.

From a technical perspective, iSCSI storage is a set of hardware and software designed to serve LUNs (Logical Unit Numbers) over a network. Such a server, designed for simultaneous access of multiple users, must meet the highest standards in terms of performance, reliability and redundancy.

Hardware

A dedicated hardware for iSCSI storage solutions should meet certain conditions to provide good performance, capacity and to guarantee safety. Here are the general hardware requirements:

• Server platform with two quad-core CPUs for high performance
• H/W RAID controller with support for RAID5 or RAID6 for data safety and good performance
• Enterprise class SATA drives for high speed drive transfers and data reliability
• 10GbE NIC for high speed network connection or multiple 1GbE NICs for iSCSI MPIO network connection
• A large number of SATA/ATA/SAS drives for large capacity
• Redundant power supply for system reliability

Software

The general requirements for the software are similar to those, defined for hardware - this means: manageability (usability and flexibility), network security (backup and data leakage prevention) and high performance (enabling full use of the hardware capabilities). Additional, but important criterion for iSCSI implementations is a low price of the software.
Below are the general requirements for software:

• Support for iSCSI Multipath I/O (MPIO) to iSCSI target – allowing multiple connections to one target, which increases performance and reliability
• Support for iSCSI CHAP – allowing CHAP users to be assigned to a specific iSCSI target
• Support for IP address restrictions for an iSCSI target - allowing administrators to set up a range of IP addresses which have access to targets
• Support for SAS/SATA RAID Controllers for large capacity and data safety
• Built-in, SNMP Based Monitoring System and E-mail notification for system monitoring

We recommend Open-E DSS V7 as a software solution for the iSCSI storages. It meets all the requirements presented above, guaranteeing both high performance and a low price.

Related content

Solutions

• How to Connect to a DSS V6 iSCSI Target volume from a Microsoft Windows*
• How to Configure DSS V6 MPIO with Windows 2008 Server*
• How to Connect a DSS V6 to another DSS V6 with an iSCSI Target Volume*

Blog posts

• How to boot an operating system from a remote iSCSI disk?*
• A few practical tips about Iometer
• Bonding versus mpio explained

Case studies

• Financial Services - VBRB Mangfalltall-Rosenheim eG (German version)*
• Streamline IT Infrastructure and reduce Storage Costs with ibc and Open-E*
• Protection against fall not only for mountain climbers*
• Handelshof: Centralized IT Services on ES-8700 Cluster*
• Eine Erfolgsgeschichte aus der Lebensmittelindustrie (German version)*

Webinars

• Setup a Ubuntu Server with iSCSI and MPIO to connect to an iSCSI Target in Open-E DSS V7
• Storage Solutions with iSCSI Auto Failover to install your Virtual Machine
• Typical Administrator tasks done while iSCSI Failover is running | German version
• Accessing iSCSI volumes without downtime when Failover is disabled