Question : Problem: WTF's up with my iSCSI network config ???

Experts:

I just purchased an EMC AX4-5i dual-SP SAN appliance; two racks, one for SAS drives and the other with SATA drives. I'm just setting up the appliance and I'm stuck, hoping you all can help me figure something out.

If you look at the attached file you'll notice my vanilla setup: 1 server with 3 NICs connected to a pair of GigE switches configured in a meshed network connecting a pair of SP units, each with two iSCSI ports of their own.

The problem I'm having is that on the server i can only ping one of two switches and only two of four iSCSI ports

C:\Program Files\Support Tools>ipconfig /all

Windows IP Configuration

   Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : galapagos
   Primary Dns Suffix  . . . . . . . : xxx.local
   Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
   IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
   WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
   DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : xxx.local


Ethernet adapter 192.168.253.98:

   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . : xxx.local
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/1000 MT Server Adapter
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-04-23-AB-6A-0B
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
   IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.253.98
   Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :

Ethernet adapter 192.168.253.99:

   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/1000 MT Server Adapter #2
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-04-23-AB-6A-0C
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
   IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.253.99
   Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :

Ethernet adapter 192.168.10.25:

   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : HP NC3163 Fast Ethernet NIC
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-50-8B-EB-15-1C
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
   IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.10.25
   Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.10.1
   DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.10.13
                                       192.168.10.25
   Primary WINS Server . . . . . . . : 192.168.10.13
   Secondary WINS Server . . . . . . : 192.168.10.25

C:\Program Files\Support Tools>ping 192.168.253.199

Pinging 192.168.253.199 with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 192.168.253.199: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.253.199: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.253.199: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.253.199: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64

Ping statistics for 192.168.253.199:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
    Minimum = 1ms, Maximum = 3ms, Average = 2ms

C:\Program Files\Support Tools>ping 192.168.253.198

Pinging 192.168.253.198 with 32 bytes of data:

Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.

Ping statistics for 192.168.253.198:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 4 (100% loss),

C:\Program Files\Support Tools>ping 192.168.253.200

Pinging 192.168.253.200 with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 192.168.253.200: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.253.200: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.253.200: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.253.200: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=64

Ping statistics for 192.168.253.200:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
    Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 0ms, Average = 0ms

C:\Program Files\Support Tools>ping 192.168.253.201

Pinging 192.168.253.201 with 32 bytes of data:

Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.

Ping statistics for 192.168.253.201:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 4 (100% loss),

C:\Program Files\Support Tools>ping 192.168.253.202

Pinging 192.168.253.202 with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 192.168.253.202: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.253.202: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.253.202: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.253.202: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=64

Ping statistics for 192.168.253.202:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
    Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 1ms, Average = 0ms

C:\Program Files\Support Tools>ping 192.168.253.203

Pinging 192.168.253.203 with 32 bytes of data:

Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.

Ping statistics for 192.168.253.203:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 4 (100% loss),

C:\Program Files\Support Tools>

So before I go any further and start configuring iSCSI initiators or LUNs, etc...I wanted to clear up this networking mystery


Thanks,
juckyt

Answer : Problem: WTF's up with my iSCSI network config ???

The short answer is that if you can't do port forwarding, then you can't do this without spending some $$$. If the clipmail absolutely must have its own external IP address, then you'll need to pay your service provider for another one.

Then you'll have to get router that can handle more than 1 IP address (or see if your ISP has already set up lines so you can just feed a separate, physical network cable straight into the server to let it use that new IP). Generally, you don't have to spend 3k for a top-of-the-line, Cisco router. Chances are that you can ask your ISP for recommendations on how to use that 2nd IP and they can recommend a much cheaper router or some other solution we haven't suggested yet. You might even check the manual to see if your router can already handle multiple external IPs - you might be surprised at what a cheap router can do. It's hard to know without knowing your model # though. A free firmware upgrade might also give you the ability to do this, but again, this all depends on what router you have.

I don't know how others will know where to connect to you (i.e. how they'll your IP address - do you advertise it somewhere?), but if you have the ability to inform your users of how/where to connect to Clipmail, you could also dictate the port number, like 123.123.123.123:2100 (or port 2100). Then, route all incoming request to port 2100 on the router to port 21 on the Clipmail machine.

Again, if you can't do any port forwarding whatsoever, then you'll have to dish out some dough. Sorry, buddy.

- Jonathan
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