Configuring iSCSI
S e n d d o c u m e n t a t i o n c o m m e n t s t o m d s f e e d b a c k - d o c @ c i s c o . c o m
Proxy Initiator Mode
In the event that the Fibre Channel storage device requires explicit LUN access control for every host
using the transparent initiator mode (presenting one iSCSI host as one Fibre Channel host) means every
iSCSI host has to be configured statically. This can mean several configuration tasks for each iSCSI host.
In this case, using the proxy initiator mode simplifies the configuration.
In this mode, only one virtual host N port (HBA port) is created per IPS port. All the iSCSI hosts
connecting to that IPS port will be multiplexed using the same virtual host N port (see
This mode simplifies the task of statically binding WWNs. LUN mapping and assignment on the Fibre
Channel storage array must be configured to allow access from the proxy virtual N port's pWWN for all
LUNs used by each iSCSI initiator that connects through this IPS port. The LUN is then assigned to each
iSCSI initiator by configuring iSCSI virtual targets (see the
LUN mapping and iSCSI access control (see the
Figure 43-11
Host A
iSCSI
iSCSI
Host B
iSCSI
iSCSI
Host C
iSCSI
iSCSI
Proxy initiator mode can be configured on a per IPS port basis, in which case only iSCSI initiators
terminating on that IPS port will be in this mode.
When an IPS port is configured in proxy-initiator mode, fabric login (FLOGI) is done through the virtual
iSCSI interface of the IPS port. After the FLOGI is completed, the proxy-initiator virtual N port is online
in the Fibre Channel fabric and virtual N port is registered in the Fibre Channel name server. The IPS
module or MPS-14/2 module registers the following entries in the Fibre Channel name server:
•
•
•
•
Similar to transparent initiator mode, the user can provide a pWWN and nWWN or request a system
assigned WWN for the proxy initiator N port.
Cisco MDS 9000 Family CLI Configuration Guide
43-16
Multiplexing IPS Ports
MDS
IP network
iSCSI interface name iSCSI slot /port is registered in the symbolic-node-name field of the name
server
SCSI_FCP in the FC-4 type field of the name server
Initiator flag in the FC-4 feature of the name server
Vendor specific flag (iscsi-gw) in the FC-4 type field to identify the N-port device as an iSCSI
gateway device in the name server
"Static Mapping" section on page
"iSCSI Access Control" section on page
Proxy initiator
host
Chapter 43
Configuring iSCSI
Figure
43-19).
OL-18084-01, Cisco MDS NX-OS Release 4.x
43-11).
43-7) with