Installing StarWind iSCSI SAN Free Edition

This is a step-by-step guide on how to install and configure StarWind iSCSI SAN Free Edition. StarWind iSCSI SAN is an iSCSI Target that converts any Windows server into a SAN. You can deploy it in your test lab, and create iSCSI targets, without having to utilise other, more cumbersome tools, such as FreeNAS. Its very easy to set up iSCI SAN, and then utilize it to test for example failover clustering.

• Software you will need to perform this exercise
  » Starwind iSCSI SAN Free Edition

1. Installation of Starwind iSCSI SAN Free Edition

1.1 After having downloaded the software, double-click starwind.exe to start the installation Wizard.
1.2 Click Next

1.3 Accept the License Agreement

1.4 Click Next

1.5 Select the location where you want to install the software. It doesn’t make a difference where you choose to install it.

1.6 Choose Full Installation, and click Next

1.7 Click Next

1.8 Next again

1.9 Choose Request FREE version key, if you don’t already have a key, then download the key, and choose you already have a key.

1.10 Provide the path to the license key, and click Next

1.11 Click Next

1.12 Click Install

1.13 And finally you are finished installing the software. As you can see, its basically just next, next, next.. finish.

2. Creating Targets and Storage

2.1 In the StarWind Management Console, right-click Targets, and choose Add Target

2.2 Give the target a name, and then tick off for Allow multiple concurrent iSCSI Connections (clustering), then click next, Finish.

2.3 The target will be created

2.4 Right-click the target and choose Add a New Device to the Target

2.5 Choose Virtual Hard Disk

2.6 Choose Image File Device

2.7 Choose Create New Virtual Disk

2.8 Click on the … button (… = browse)

2.9 Choose a location for the virtual disk file and then click OK

2.10 Choose size for your virtual disk and then click NeXT

2.11 Click Next

2.12 Choose No Caching, then click Next, Next, Finish

And thats it. You have now created a target (you can connect to), and storage you will find on that target.

3. Connecting to the target

3.1 Log on as a user with administrative privileges on the server you want to connect to the target
3.2 Click Start → Administrative Tools → iSCSI Initiator. Choose Yes on this Message Box.

3.3 In Target, Write the IP address of the server you created the target on, and then click Quick Connect

3.4 You will receive a message that you have connected succesfully to the target. Its really that simple.

3.5 Go to the Volumes and Devices tab, and click Auto Configure

3.6 You will be connected to the virtual disk you created on that iSCSI target

If you are creating a failover cluster, repeat steps 3.1 to 3.6 on all nodes of the cluster.

3.7 You can now start Disk Management, and find the disk there. Bring it online, initialize it, and create volumes on it, as you see fit. If you are creating a failover cluster, you only need to execute this step on one node.