StarWind iSCSI SAN & NAS: Installing StarWind on Windows Server 2008 R2 Server Core

PUBLISHED/UPDATED: July 19th, 2011

Getting Started with StarWind

This guide is intended for experienced Windows system administrators who will be installing the StarWind iSCSI SAN software on Windows Server 2008 R2 Server Core.

 

Preparing Windows Server 2008 R2 Server Core

Start Microsoft iSCSI service before installing StarWind Software on your server. To do this, type the following in the command prompt:

sc start msiscsi

You can find the status of the service at any time by using the interrogate command. To find the status of the iSCSI service, type the following in the command prompt:

sc interrogate msiscsi

To have the service start automatically on boot, type the following in the command prompt:

sc config msiscsi start= auto

There is no need to configure the Windows Firewall from Windows Server 2008 R2 Server Core to allow iSCSI traffic.

 

Downloading and Installing

First thing you need to do is obtain StarWind setup executable file from our website.

https://www.starwindsoftware.com/starwind-virtual-san

Once executable setup file has been downloaded, launch it on the server which you want to turn into a SAN storage. In our case the file was downloaded into the G:\Install\. Type the following into the command prompt to change disk:

g:

To launch the installation type the following:

g:\>install\starwind.exe

A Setup Wizard window appears:

Click the Next button to continue.

Read and accept the license agreement.

Click the Next button to continue.

Read the information.

When you are ready to continue with setup, click the Next button.

Select the installation path.

Click the Next button to continue.

Specify the installation type:

StarWind iSCSI Service fits best for installing on a server which will be managed remotely.

Click the Next button to continue.

Specify the Start Menu folder.

Click the Next button to continue.

Review the settings you have specified during the installation setup, click the Back button if you need to make any changes.

Click the Install button to continue.

After the installation process is complete, you will see the window confirming that you have successfully installed StarWind iSCSI SAN.

Click the Finish button to close the installation wizard.

 

Installing Starwind Management Console on Remote Computer

Launch previously uploaded setup file on the remote computer from which you will manage your SAN storage.

A Setup Wizard window appears:

Click the Next button to continue.

Read and accept the license agreement.

Click the Next button to continue.

Select the installation path.

Click the Next button to continue.

Specify the installation type:

StarWind Management Console is the Graphical User Interface (GUI) part of the program, which allows you to create devices on the target servers in your service. Also you have an opportunity to install StarWind Manuals.

Click the Next button to continue.

Specify the Start Menu folder.

Click the Next button to continue.

Select the Create a desktop icon checkbox if you need a desktop icon.

Click the Next button to continue.

Review the settings you have specified during the installation setup, click the Back button if you need to make any changes.

Click the Install button to continue.

After the installation process is complete, you will see a window confirming that you have successfully installed StarWind iSCSI SAN. Select the Launch StarWind Management Console checkbox if you want to run StarWind Management Console immediately.

Click the Finish button to close the installation wizard.

 

Registering the Software

Open the StarWind Management Console by double clicking on the StarWind tray icon. StarWind Management Console allows you to manage multiple StarWind servers from one computer.

 

By default there are no servers in the Management Console.

Add New Host window will appear.

Specify the target server’s IP address. In our case IP address of our Windows Server 2008 R2 Server Core is 192.168.1.216.

Click OK to continue.

The server appears in the StarWind Servers section of the StarWind Management Console.

You will be prompted to enter the login and password.

The default login and password are “root” and “starwind”. You can always change them later.

Click the OK button to continue.

Now, when you are connected to the StarWind service on the server, you have to go through registration procedure.

Select the server you have connected to and click the Configuration tab. Click the Registration link. You will see the information about the license installed on this server.

Click the Install link to apply a license.

Click the Load button and select the license file you have received.

Click OK to continue.

You will see a confirmation window saying that your license has been successfully installed:

Click OK to close the window.