sBlock - iSCSI Linux Guide

• Prerequisites
• Install Initiator
• Verify Daemon
• Discover Target
• Mount Volume
• View Volume
• Format Volume
• Unmount Volume

This guide will delve into the steps required to connect to and utilize an iSCSI volume from the Linux operating system. iSCSI (Internet Small Computer System Interface) provides access to storage devices over an IP network, allowing for flexible and efficient storage solutions in various computing environments.

Prerequisites

Before proceeding, ensure you have the following details readily available, as they were provided during the creation of the Block Storage:

Dummy data for representation purpose only.

Install the iSCSI Initiator Utilities

Log in to your Linux host system and install the necessary iSCSI initiator utility package on your Linux system. This package is vital for establishing connections to iSCSI volumes.

For Ubuntu/Debian

After installation, start the iSCSI service and enable it to start automatically on system boot.

For RHEL 7/8/CentOS

After installation, start the iscsid service and enable it to start automatically on system boot.

Verify iSCSI Daemon Status

Check if the iSCSI daemon is running on your system using the appropriate command based on your Linux distribution.

For Ubuntu/Debian

For CentOS/RHEL 7/8

Discover the iSCSI Target

Use the `iscsiadm` command to discover the iSCSI volume on your network.

- Replace <IP address> with the Target address of the block gateway provided during creation.

Mount the iSCSI Volume

Initiate the connection to the iSCSI volume using the target address and IP address. This needs to be done in the following steps

Step 1: Update Initiator Name

Before you mount the volume, you need to update the Initiator Name with the one provided by us at the time of sBlock creation. To edit the information, please use the following command

Now, replace the entire string after "InitiatorName=" with the Initiator IQN.

Sample output

Step 2: Set the authentication method to CHAP

- Replace `<target address>` with Target IQN and `<IP address>` with iSCSI Target Adress. This information is shared during the setup.

Step 3: Set the username for CHAP authentication

Step 4: Set the password for CHAP authentication:

Step 5: Login to the iSCSI target

Note: iSCSI volumes cannot be mounted simultaneously across multiple Linux clients due to protocol limitations.

View the iSCSI Volume

Confirm the successful connection and view the iSCSI volume on your system.

You should see the mounted iSCSI volume listed as an available raw disk, enabling read and write operations from your host.

Format the iSCSI Volume

Now, format the volume with a file system. Common file systems include ext4 (for Linux environments).

Sample Output

Unmount the iSCSI Volume

When done with the volume, unmount it using the following command:

- Replace `<target name>` and `<IP address>` with the appropriate details for the volume.

By following these steps, you can effectively connect to and utilize iSCSI volumes within your Linux environment, enhancing storage capabilities for your computing needs.