StarWind Targets and Linux Open iSCSI Initiator

Symptoms

1. After a short time when a StarWind device is connected in a Linux based OS, the device encounters random disconnect and needs to be reconnected.
2. After mounting StarWind device as ext3 or ext4 datastore inside Linux, StarWind service immediately crashes.

Resolution

1. The issue is related to the Open iSCSI when it is trying to send iSCSI NoPout request while the target is busy. For correct work of Open-iSCSI with StarWind targets and to avoid timeouts and intervals for iSCSI pings, edit “iscsid.conf” configuration files (/etc/iscsi/iscsid.conf). Use any built-in text editor (nano, vi, etc.) to set the below values:
   node.conn[0].timeo.noop_out_interval = 0
   node.conn[0].timeo.noop_out_timeout = 0
   
   Also, make sure that “Replacement timeout” parameter is not bigger than 120:
   node.session.timeo.replacement_timeout = 120
   
   After accepting these changes, StarWind device will not encounter random disconnects anymore.
2. The issue is related to the wrong processing of hardware acceleration SCSI command from Open-iSCSI. To disable hardware acceleration support in StarWind, perform the following steps:
   Please note: In StarWind VSAN, till 8.9996 build version, VAAI/ODX support is disabled by default.
   For StarWind VSAN builds 8.10547 – 8.11456:
   – Stop StarWind Service
   -Open StarWind configuration file in StarWind root folder (default path is C:\Program Files\StarWind Software\StarWind\StarWind.cfg)
   – Find the string <HardwareAccelerationEnabled value=”yes”/> and change it to <HardwareAccelerationEnabled value=”no”/>
   – Save the changes and start StarWind service
   For StarWind VSAN build 8.11456 and later
   – Stop StarWind Service
   – Open StarWind configuration file in StarWind root folder (default path is C:\Program Files\StarWind Software\StarWind\StarWind.cfg)
   – Find the strings
   <VaaiExCopyEnabled value=”yes”/>,
   <VaaiCawEnabled value=”yes”/>,
   <VaaiWriteSameEnabled value=”yes”/>and change them to
   
   <VaaiExCopyEnabled value=”no”/>,
   <VaaiCawEnabled value=”no”/>,
   <VaaiWriteSameEnabled value=”no”/>-Save the changes and start StarWind service.

After disabling Hardware Acceleration in StarWind VSAN, StarWind device should be mounted as ext3 or ext4 in Linux-based machine without any issues.

Request a Product Feature

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