Manage Your Network Storage with Openfiler

Openfiler is a network storage operating system, fronted by a Web based
management user interface. It can take advantage of file-based Network Attached
Storage and block-based Storage Area Networking functionality in a single
cohesive framework. Openfiler claims to convert any industry standard x86 or
x86/64 server into a powerful multi-protocol network storage appliance.

Openfiler can be considered a powerful networked storage solution that
exports your data via a full suite of industry standard storage networking
protocols. Openfiler lowers deployment and maintenance costs for networked
storage without compromising functionality or performance. File-based storage
networking protocols such as CIFS and NFS ensure cross-platform compatibility in
homogeneous networks with client support for Windows, Linux, and Unix. Fibre
channel and iSCSI target features provide excellent integration capabilities for
virtualization environments such as Xen and VMware. iSCSI target functionality
is especially useful for enterprise applications such as Microsoft Exchange
Server integration, Oracle 10g RAC backend storage or video surveillance and
disk-to-disk backup.

Features Overview

Openfiler includes support for volume-based partitioning, iSCSI (target and
initiator), scheduled snapshots, resource quota, and a single unified interface
for share management which makes allocating shares for various network
file-system protocols very easy. Some of the features available in Openfiler
include powerful block storage virtualization, extensive share management,
accounts management, quota /resource allocation, full industry-standard protocol
suite, UPS management support and built-in SSH client Java applet.

How to install

To proceed with the installation of Openfiler, just put the Openfiler CD/DVD
into your hard drive and reboot through the CD/DVD. Openfiler installs through a
wizard driven installation screen just like any other Red Hat Based Linux
installation. There are options for a GUI or a text based install which can be
chosen according to comfort and level of expertise. Openfiler installation takes
about 15-20 minutes. The step by step installation guide can be viewed at
http://www.openfiler.com/learn /how-to.

Addition of a new iSCSI Target or selection of an existing target can be done from the 'iSCSI Target' option.

An existing logical volume is mapped to the selected target using the LUN Mapping Tab with the option to choose write mode and I/O transfer type.

The Configuration

Start configuring Openfiler by pointing your browser at the host name or IP
address of the Openfiler system. The interface is accessible from 'https port
446. e.g.. https://:446.'Type the Administrator Username
as 'openfiler'And Administrator Password as 'password'.

Step 1 -Set up the 'Network Access Configuration': This is the host or
subnet you wish to provide access from. Select the 'System' tab and from the
'Network Access Configuration' section at the bottom of the page, enter in
either the IP from which you wish to access the Openfiler from or enter in a
whole subnet from which the Open filer will accept traffic from.

Step 2 -Create a physical volume: To do this, select 'Block Devices'
from the 'Volumes section' menu. Select 'Edit Disk' on the hard disk you want to
create this new physical volume. If you are not intending to create a RAID set
for your physical volume then select 'Physical volume' as your partition type
and select the 'Mode' as 'Primary'. Adjust the start and end cylinders to
determine the size of physical volume and press the 'Create' button.

Step 3 -Create a new 'Volume Group: Click on the 'Volumes' tab and
then select 'Volume Groups' from the 'Volume section' menu. Enter in a 'Volume
group name' and select (check box) the physical volume to which you wish to
associate the Volume Group. Then press 'Add Volume group'.

Step 4 -Create a 'Volume': Click on 'Add volume' from 'Volumes
section' menu. Now select the 'Volume Group' you just created and press the
'Change' button. You will now be presented with the screen where you determine
the size of the 'Volume' you are going to create within your 'Volume Group'.Once
the 'Volume' is created you see a green pie chart indicating the amount of the
'Volume Group' that the volume has consumed.

Step 5 — Enable the iSCSI Target Service: Click on the 'Services' tab
of the main window. Next click on the 'Services' tab and enable the 'iSCSI
target server'.

Step 6 — Add an iSCSI Target: Select 'iSCSI Targets' from the 'Volumes
section' menu.Create a new iSCSI target and do by select the first sub-tab
called 'Target Configuration' in the 'iSCSI Targets' section. Now press the
'Add' button.You will now be given a screen with a summary of the settings for
the new iSCSI Target.

Step 7 -Select the 'LUN Mapping' tab and click on the 'Map' button.

Step 8 — Allow access to the iSCSI Target: Select 'Network ACL' tab
and from the 'Access' drop down list box select 'Allow' and press 'Update'
button. In the next menu tab 'CHAP Authentication' section, specify a logon name
and password with incoming access to this iSCSI target.

This is now a basic Openfiler configuration up and running with a LUN ready
to be added to any iSCSI initiator.

Adding the LUN in Windows

To connect Windows to an iSCSI target, you need to first go to Control Panel
and double click on the iSCSI Initiator.When you see the dialog box, answer Yes
to start the iSCSI service every time the system boots, in future. Answer Yes
to unblock the iSCSI service from the Windows Firewall. When the iSCSI Initiator
Properties come up, click on the Discovery tab. Click on Add Portal. Enter the
IP address or DNS name of the iSCSI server when the Add Target Portal window
appears. Click on 'OK'. Go to the Targets tab and click on 'Refresh'.

You should see the name of your iSCSI Target in the list. Select your target
server and click Log on. Check to automatically restore this connection when the
computer starts and click on OK. You should now see that you are Connected.
Click on OK and close out the iSCSI Initiator Properties. Now the iSCSI disk can
be initiated just like any newly connected disk. This storage space is now ready
for use.

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