Install and Configure Windows Server 2012 iSCSI Target SAN

How to Install and Configure Windows Server 2012 iSCSI Target SAN

Explain steps to build an iSCSI SAN using only Windows Server 2012. If you do not already know, instead of a separate download and install for the iSCSI target software in Windows Server 2008 R2, this feature comes build into the latest build of Windows.

First up, now all you need is a plain vanilla installation of Windows Server 2012. It does not need to be part of a domain and that’s how it’s gonna be for me in this posting.

Ensure that you have enough disk space on your VM, so in my case I’ve got another drive just for my iSCSI.

Here’s how my VM configuration looks like.

Once you’ve set a static IP address – best practices, in Server Manager, click Add Roles and Features.

Click Next on the Add Roles and Features Wizard

Select Role-based or feature-based installation and then click Next.

Just ensure that you’ve got the right server listed there, then click Next.

Expand File And Storage Services > File and iSCSI Services, then click to select iSCSI Target Server, then click Next.

If a windows appears, click Add Features.

No features to install here, so just click Next.

Click to select Restart the destination server automatically if required and then click Install.

If a window appears, click Yes.

Be patient and you’ll see that the role is installed successfully.

Next, to configure it go to Server Manager > File and Storage Services > iSCSI. Click on To create an iSCSI virtual disk, start the New iSCSI Virtual Disk Wizard.

Select where you would like to create the virtual disk then click Next. For me, I’ve chosen to place it in the S: drive.

Give it a name.

I’m just gonna give a 50GB but that’s up to you.

I’m creating a new iSCSI target, click Next.

Provide a name for your target then click Next.

Click Add to add the servers that will be connecting to your iSCSI SAN.

Since I know the server that is gonna connect to my SAN, I’m just gonna add it here.

So now I’ve got 2 servers ready to connect to my SAN.

Use the defaults and then proceed.

Confirmation..click Create.

And it is done!

Now, that’s ready for the 2 server to connect to it. So on the servers, go to Control Panel > iSCSI Initiator.

Click Yes to start the iSCSI service.

Enter the IP address of your iSCSI SAN which you’ve just configured, then click Quick Connect…

It will show connected.

Now you’re connected to the SAN.

Going to your Disk Management indeed shows you’ve now got a new drive.

Configure BIOS Before Installing Windows Server 2012 and Hyper-V

Configure BIOS Before Installing Windows Server 2012 and Hyper-V 

Bios Requirements for Enabling Hyper-V. Short video to show exactly where you might find these settings.

*X64 Server with Hardware Assisted Virtualization (Likely found under Configuration then “Virtualization” or “Processor”

• Intel: Intel VT

• AMD: AMD-V

*Hardware enables Data Execution Prevention (Likely found under Configuration then “Security”)

• Intel: XD bit (Execute Disable)

• AMD: NX bit (no Execute bit)

*Hyper-V does not support Itanium (IA-64 processors)

*You CAN install windows without these settings, they are only important when you Enable the Hyper-V Role.

* “Hyper-V cannot be installed error” if not set when trying to enable role

Boot computer into bios (Enable or Verify BIOS settings (i.e. DEP & VT) For Hyper-V)

a.       Enable Virtualization  (Processor) *X64 Server with Hardware Assisted Virtualization (Likely found under Configuration then “Virtualization” or “Processor”)

·   Intel: Intel VT or AMD: AMD-V

b.      Enable Data Execute Protection  (Security)  *Hardware enabled Data Execution Prevention (Likely found under Configuration then “Security”)

·   Intel: XD bit (Execute Disable) or AMD: NX bit (no Execute bit)

c.       Enable Boot from CD/DVD – Usually found under Startup – Boot – Boot Priority Order

·   Make sure the DVD is a higher priority than the HDD (not required if installing on a clean/empty drive)

You will want to make sure yu have “Second Level Address Translation [SLAT]” and it is enabled which is required for Hyper-V on Windows 8.   If you have this feature in BIOS you should Enable it for Windows Server 2012 as well!  If SLAT does not appear in BIOS, it does not me

Hyper-V on Client (Windows 8) MUST have SLAT ****

** Intel: EPT  Intel processors whose names start with ‘i‘, e.g. i3, i5, i7, i9

*** AMD: RVI/NPT

**** SLAT is a feature of the CPU  = Second Level Address Translation

Samples:

• Lenovo T410, T510, W510, W520, T420s, T520, X201 
• Samsung 900x 
• Dell Precision M4600

• Bios Requirements for Enabling Hyper-V. Short video to show exactly where you might find these settings. http://aka.ms/BiosHyper-V

** Intel: There may be exceptions Any Intel CPUs based on Nehalem, Westmere, or Sandybridge micro-architectures (there may be exceptions)

*** AMD Support http://support.amd.com/us/kbarticles/Pages/GPU120AMDRVICPUsHyperVWin8.aspx

**** SLAT AKA Extended Page Tables (EPT) AKA Nested Page Tables (NPT) AKA Rapid Virtualization Indexing (RVI) More on TechNet regarding SLAT: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/1401.hyper-v-list-of-slat-capable-cpus-for-hosts.aspx

an you do not have it.  It is more likely, that you simply cannot turn it off.

- See more at: http://itproguru.com/expert/2012/07/configure-bios-before-installing-windows-server-2012-and-hyper-v/#sthash.mMRooCwa.dpuf

Installing Windows Server 2012

How to Install Windows Server 2012

1. Download Windows Server 2012 – http://aka.ms/getwin2012

2. Follow Step-By-Step Instructions to configure BIOS – Configure BIOS Before Installing Windows Server 2012 and Hyper-V

3. Press ENTER to boot from DVD.

Files will start loading.

4. Take the defaults on the Language screen, and click Next.

5. Click Install now on the install screen.

6. Click the second line item for the GUI. The default install is now Server Core. Then click Next.

7. Read License Agreement, Turn on Checkbox “I accept the license terms,” and then click Next.

8. Click Custom: Install Windows only (Advanced).

.

9. The disk you are using should be listed. If not, you will need to Load driver. Select the disk you will be installing on. If you do not want to change drive options (optional), Click Next. If you want to use Dual boot using Native Boot To VHD (Boot2VHD), see below:

10. [Optional:] Click drive options; then you can create custom partitions.

11. [Optional:] Add a drive using Native Boot To Vhd: SHIFT-F10 to open a command prompt window; Find installation drive (dir c:, dir d:, dir e:, etc). Diskpart to open the Disk Partition Utility (the first four lines below are all the same command and must run on the same line, separated here to make it easier to read).Create vdisk file=e:\BootDemo.vhd type=expandable maximum=40000. Attach disk. Exit. Then Refresh.

12. It will then start copying files. This will take a while (could be 20 mins or so depending on hardware performance).It will reboot a couple times (automatically). After the first reboot, it will no longer be running off of the DVD.

13. In the Password box, enter a new password for this computer. It must meet complexity requirements. Re-enter the password in the second password box, and then click Finish.

14. Press Ctrl-Alt-Delete at the same time to get the login screen

 15. Enter password and press enter.

The Desktop will be displayed and Server Manager will be opened automatically.

16. Pressing Windows Key on the keyboard will bring up the start screen (formerly known as Start Menu). If youRight-Click on Computer, you will see the new right-click menu is on the bottom of the screen instead of in a dropdown box. Select Properties.

17. You will see that the System Properties screen looks almost identical to prior versions of windows. We can now change the computer name by clicking on Change Settings.

18. Type new computer name you would like to use and click OK.

19. Click OK on the information box. Click OK to allow a restart.

20. Then click Restart Now on the final dialog box.

.

21. When the computer restarts it will have the new name, just login.