How to Setup ISCSI Server Using Windows Server 2016?

In this post, we are going to setup ISCSI Server by using Windows Server 2016 and use for Vmware datastore.

Enabling iSCSI Target Server to provide block storage leverages your existing Ethernet network.

[On Windows Server 2016]
Add Roles & Features by using Server Manager snap-in.

Under File & Storage Services, tick "ISCSI Target Server"

After install ISCSI Target roles, you can start to add iSCSI Virtual Disk

Server Manager -> File & Storage Services -> iSCSI -> New iSCSI Virtual Disk

Select Disk Volume

 Enter iSCSI Virtual Disk Name

Enter iSCSI Virtual Disk Size. We select dynamic expanding disk type since we use for lab environment.
Create a virtual disk size 50GB

Next, enter iSCSI Client that going to connect to iSCSI Target.
We use IP Address for Host 1 & Host 2

Click Finish to complete the configuration. You have create iSCSI Virtual Disk and allow ESX Host 1 and Host 2 to use virtual disk. Next let move on to ESX host so we can start to use as datastore.

[ESX Host]
 After added iSCSI Software Adapter, you can edit the Properties and ENTER iSCSI Target information on

• Static Discovery or
• Dynamic Discovery

Note:- Key in iSCSI Target IP Address

Once down, click "Rescan All" to rediscover.

 Click Add Storage | Select Disk/LUN

 If ESX Host can establish connection to iSCSI Server, you able to view 50GB virtual disk and select it.

 Enter new datastore name to represent as "iSCSI Datastore"

 Click Finish to add as new datastore
[Result]

On Datastore, you just added iSCSI Virtual Disk that you have created from Windows Server 2016.

If you're interested on use NFS as datastore, feel free to check out:

• How to setup NFS Server Using Windows Server 2016 ?