Windows Server 2022 includes a built-in tool called the iSCSI Initiator for connecting to an iSCSI target server. In this guide, we’ll walk through the process of enabling and configuring the iSCSI initiator to connect to an iSCSI target.
To read more about it, please click here iSCSI Target Server Overview
Table of Contents
To read more about it, please click here iSCSI Target Server Overview
Step 1: Launch iSCSI Initiator
- Open Server Manager:
- In the Server Manager, go to the Tools menu and select iSCSI Initiator.
- Start the iSCSI Service:
You may receive a notification indicating that the Microsoft iSCSI service is not running. Click Yes to start the service and ensure that it will start automatically on system restart.
As you can see, Microsoft iSCSI indicates that the Microsoft iSCSI service is not running. The iSCSI service must be started if the iSCSI initiator is to function correctly. Click the Yes button to enable the service, and it will ensure that it starts automatically every time Windows is restarted.
Step 2: Configure iSCSI Initiator
- iSCSI Initiator Properties:
- Once the iSCSI service is running, you need to configure the initiator. Open the iSCSI Initiator Properties window, then select the Discovery tab.
- Discover Portal:
- Click the Discover Portal button. Enter the IP address of the iSCSI target (the default port is 3260), then click the Advanced button.
- Configure Advanced Settings:
- Ensure that the Local Adapter is set to Microsoft iSCSI Initiator and the Initiator IP is the target server’s IP. Click OK twice to save and close the windows.
- Connect to the Target:
- Return to the Targets tab of the iSCSI Initiator Properties window. Select the discovered target and click Connect.
- Connection Successful:
- Once connected, you should see the target listed as connected.
In the discovery target portal, type the IP address (the default port is 3260). Click on the Advanced button.
Make sure the Local Adapter settings are Microsoft iSCSI Initiator, and the Initiator is Target IPs. Click ok twice
Select the iSCSI initiator, and then select the Connect button.
The iSCSI initiator should discover the iSCSI target, and then click OK.
Now the iSCSI target is connected.
Step 3: Enable iSCSI Initiator using PowerShell
Alternatively, you can enable the iSCSI initiator service using PowerShell:
- Start the iSCSI Service:
- Open PowerShell and run the following command to start the iSCSI service:
powershell
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Start-Service msiscsi
- Set Service to Start Automatically:
- Change the startup type of the service to automatic:
powershell
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Set-Service msiscsi -StartupType “Automatic”
Click on Disk Management from the left panel. Right-click on the disk whose size equals that of your LUN, and then select Online.
Again, right-click on the disk, and then select Initialize Disk.
Click OK, and the disk status will become online.
Step 4: Initialize and Configure the Disk
- Open Disk Management:
- Go to Tools in the Server Manager and select Computer Management, or type compmgmt.msc in the Run dialog to open the Computer Management console.
- Bring Disk Online:
- In Disk Management, right-click on the disk that corresponds to your LUN, and select Online.
- Initialize the Disk:
- Right-click on the disk again and choose Initialize Disk. Select the partition style (usually MBR or GPT) and click OK.
- Create a New Volume:
- Right-click on the unallocated space of the disk, and select New Simple Volume.
- Complete Volume Wizard:
- Follow the wizard:
- Choose the volume size, click Next.
- Assign a drive letter, click Next.
- Format the partition, provide a label, and click Finish.
- Follow the wizard:
- New Volume Created:
Once complete, the new volume will be available in Windows Explorer with the assigned drive letter.
Click next
Click next
Assign the drive letter, and then click next.
Type a volume label and click next.
Click Finish
Now Windows has an additional volume with the drive letter as extra storage.
Conclusion
By following these steps, you have successfully connected your Windows Server 2022 to an iSCSI target server and configured a new volume using the built-in iSCSI initiator. You now have additional storage accessible in your system.
