Introduction

Internet Small Computer Systems Interface (iSCSI) is a high-performance/low-cost IP-based standard used to transmit SCSI commands over TCP/IP.
This walkthrough provides step-by-step instructions on how to configure VMware ESXi 6.7 to use iSCSI with Network Attached Storage (NAS) .
The NAS appliance I use is the QNAP TS-269L, a high-performance 2-bay/hot-swappable, dual GbE NAS server, configured with RAID 1 (mirroring) using (2) 2TB Seagate Barracuda XT Series (ST32000641AS) 7200RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s drives.
Prerequisites
- A SOHO NAS device, i.e. QNAP TS-269, or a Linux Server running Openfiler (free, licensed under GNU GPLv2).
- Free VMware vSphere Hypervisor 6.7 (VMware ESXi).
Overview
- Configure the NAS
- Configure VMware ESXi 6.7
Configure the NAS
Create an iSCSI Target with a mapped LUN
- From a web browser, log into the NAS and launch Storage Manager.
- iSCSI Storage
- Create
- Follow the Quick Configuration Wizard.



- NOTE: I did not enable CHAP Authentication (as this is a lab environment).


- NOTE: Thick Provisioning allocates all disk space at creation time, whereas, Thin Provisioning allocates disk space on demand.




The iSCSI Target is created and enabled

- This concludes the NAS configuration.
Configure VMware ESXi 6.7
Add and configure a VMkernel NIC
- From a web browser, log into the VMware ESXi Console.
- Networking
- VMkernel NICs Tab
- Add VMkernel NIC
- New port group: qnapiscsi02
- IPv4 settings: Static
- Enter an available IP address on your network.
- Enter Subnet mask
- Create


- While on Networking, select the Virtual switches Tab.
- vSwitch0
- Review the vSwitch0 Details and Topology.

Setup the iSCSI Software Adapter
- Storage
- Adapters Tab
- Configure iSCSI
- Check Enabled
- Dynamic targets
- Add dynamic target
- Enter the IP address of the NAS.
- Save configuration

- While on the Adapters Tab, press Refresh.
- Configure iSCSI
- The Static targets should have auto populated as shown below.
- Cancel to continue

- Storage
- Devices Tab
- Find the new iSCSI connected device as shown below.

Create a Datastore
- Storage
- Datastores Tab
- New datastore
- Configure as follows
- Select Create new VMFS datastor and click Next.

- You should see the new iSCSI Disk.
- Enter a descriptive Name and click Next.

- Use the defaults (Use full disk and VMFS 6) and click Next.
- NOTE: If you need to partition the disk, don’t do it here. It’s highly recommended you partition the volume directly on the NAS appliance.

- Verify the below and click Finish.

- Click Yes to erase the disk.

- The new Datastore is ready for use.

References
- QNAP TS-269L: https://www.qnap.com/en-us/product/ts-269l
- Openfiler: https://www.openfiler.com/
- Seagate Barracuda XT Series SATA: https://www.seagate.com/staticfiles/support/disc/manuals/desktop/Barracuda%20XT/100586689a.pdf
- VMware vSphere Hypervisor 6.7 Download Center: https://my.vmware.com/en/web/vmware/evalcenter?p=free-esxi6