Introduction

In ElastiCenter to create an extra Pool in a particular NODE, we have to perform either one of these:

• Adding a JBOD to that NODE, or
• Adding additional disks to the JBOD already attached to the NODE.

But what if

• We don’t have an extra JBOD, or
• The JBOD is been used in some another ElastiCenter or
• We don’t have extra Disks for the JBOD.

In that case we either had to purchase extra disks or a new JBOD itself which might be a bit costly. But what if I say that we do not have to do any of these and still we can create a Pool for your node. Want to know how, lets find out.

Pools over iSCSI Lun

In ElastiCenter 2.0.0 we have a feature that allows adding a iSCSI Luns to a NODE, which later used to create POOL. In order to do so we have a bunch of steps that need to be performed on ElastiCenter 2.0.0.

NOTE: 
- The following steps are performed using two different ElastiCenter setup
- The iSCSI Lun from one of the ElastiCenter is used as a Disk in another ElastiCenter

Configuration Steps

STEP 1:

• In Elasticenter, got to HA Groups section and click on Tasks action tab.

• In the dropdown you will get a list of tasks, select Manage iSCSI Targets.

  

STEP 2:

• In the iSCSI Targets page select the Discover iSCSI Targets option.

  

• Fill the Target IP Address (in this case VSM IP Address) and Authentication Method (Can be CHAP or MUTUAL CHAP) you want to use.

  

STEP 3

• Once the above step is done the iSCSI Lun will be added to the iSCSI Targets.

• Now connect to the iSCSI Lun in order to use it.

  

• You will get the following Job status after the iSCSI Target Lun is connected.

  

STEP 4

• Now go the the NODE, and check the newly added iSCSI Lun in the Shared Storage section.

  

• If the disk is shown as above then proceed with the creation of a POOL.

Why to use it ?

• Using this feature we can add multiple iSCSI Lun of different Vendor’s like Solidfire, Nexenta, etc; to the ElastiCenter and thus can use it as a Data Disk or for some other purposes too.