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.

Next-

Data

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