Unable to create datastore with ESXi 5

[MarkLFT]

I have created an iSCSI target using the instructions on this site, I created a iSCSI initiator on my ESXi 5 host, I added the VMKernal adaptor, I configures the iSCSI Initiator, and can see the device, and the targets. But when I try to add a datastore, the device location table is empty.

I have doubled checked all the settings based on the information on this site, and have spent the last three hours trying all the options and variations I can think of. I have reset the host serveral times, but that does not seem to make any difference.

Please help and tell me where to look to find the solution to this.

Thanks

[Max (staff)]

Hi Mark,
Can you tell me which device have you created in StarWind?
99.999% of cases this error comes out if you try to export your C drive using the disk bridge feature (hard disk - > physical)
If it's not - we're should probably start looking in VMware's corner.

[MarkLFT]

I little while ago I downloaded the demo version of Starwind Enterprise, I have created a HA iSCSI Target, with the disks being based on img files on both servers, i.e. one img file on each server.

[Constantin (staff)]

Are StarWind and VMkernel running in one subnet? Since vSphere 5 VMkernel doesn`t support routing for storage traffic.

[MarkLFT]

The starwind iscsi and the VMKernal are on 192.168.64.x, 255.255.255.0 and all other traffic is on 192.168.32.x, 255.255.255.0.

[Constantin (staff)]

Hm. Pretty strange. Need to see it live. Send me an email to constantin dot videnski @ starwind software dot com

[MarkLFT]

Thanks for helping me trying to solve this problem, but I do find it dissapointing that I need to upgrade my server software to be able to use Starwind, as I mentioned, I thought the point was to use sligthly older hardware and windows as an iSCSI target. Seems we must have the latest versions to work.

Have to say I am very disappointed.

[Constantin (staff)]

As I told you during the session Windows Server 2003 (R2?) is not latest OS, moreover it`s not support in general support by Microsoft. Here is link to MS KB about it: http://support.microsoft.com/gp/lifean36. As result currently we have dropped support of Windows Server 2003 (R2). Maybe we`ll revert back support of WS2k3 in next version but this is not guaranteed. Anyway non-HA configurations are fully supported with this OS.