qlogic and esx - all the stuff you should know
when it comes to iSCSI and when it comes to hba´s qlogic is your friend, especially with vmware esx server, now here are my how-to´s for qlogic in esx environment:
install iscli on esx:
copy the tarball to your esx machine using fastscp, winscp or vc client,
then change to the directory and execute
tar –xvzf iscli….blahblah
finished? then execute
./iscli.dkms.install.sh install
voila. youre done and can use iscli directly on your esx cos. now, the great things to do with it:
first of all you may wonder if it is possible to upgrade the qlogic firmware from within esx without replacing the hba and install it on some windows machine where sansurfer is installed? it is possible, here is how to do it:
download the firmware and place it in some folder on your esx machine. changedir to that folder and execute iscli.
3 HBA-Level,
2 HBA-Options,
2 Update Firmware Image
enter name (eg qla4022.dl)
and you´re done. pretty easy.
now the other interesting thing you may want to do is to configure the nice things iSCSI needs to work properly on esx using hba´s. here is an example for equallogic devies:
enter iscli and....
4 (port level), 3 (edit configured..), 3 (port firmware setting), 7 (conf adv. settings)
ExeThrottle 128
IP_ARP_Redirect on
KeepAliveTO 130
SAVE and Reboot, you are good to go.
21 comments:
After a firmware upgrade, do a "reset to facroty settings" in the BIOS console, I had some problems boot my ESX 3.5 if I didnt do that
hi felix,
never got this problem and it is pure horror in my opinion because all the setting would have to be reset again. i will dig deeper into this and try to reproduce your prob. which card did you use?
best regards
Joerg
I am using QLOGIC 4062C, and if I didnt reset to factory settings, my ESX was just "waiting" on the 4062.dl driver.
And if I enable jumbo frames, my ESX also goes banana :( - so no jumbo :(
yup, the jumbo thing is still not working, frakking up the connection but the other thing -> i have 4062c´s (pci-e), too and never experienced this behaviour.
Do know anything about when jumbo is been solved? - is it a qlogic or vmware issue?
that is one difficult question because jumbo´s work like charm with current qlogic bios using windows and some other os but there are problems on esx BUT the problem ha sto be adressed by the vendor (qlogic) with a bios update (as far as i know). there IS a special beta version you can get fom qlogic (they will give it to you if you ask) but i won´t recommend it as it is still beta...
Thanks
But I did ask Qlogic, and they told me is it a vmware issue, and that they only support have 3.0.1.33 firmware for esx 3.5 - nothing about beta firmare :(
yeah i know but check out this thread:
http://solutions.qlogic.com/KanisaSupportSite/forum/viewthread.do?command=FRShowThread&threadId=Post-14480010&frStartInd=9&NodeId=FB_ISCSIVMWARE_1_2&NodeName=iSCSI+VMware&TaxoName=FB_ForumBrowse
Cool so 3.0.1.45 is available :)
How do I upgrade the BIOS? - can I do it from ESX scli?
felix,
this is *VERY* new, only two days. i personally will wait for three weeks ;-) - glad if i was at help for you.
best regs joerg
ps if ya like to link my site somewhere, it is still brand new and has sooooo little visitors;-)
Hi
Got my HBA opgradet, and now my ESX can se my SAN with jumbo frames enabled :)
I am using "4022_firmware_v3.0.1.45_.bin" and BIOS "1.4"
Can I upgrade BIOS from icli?
But the 3.0.1.45 was removed from qlogic' site
argl ;-)
felix i recommended to wait 3 weeks....grmbl.....
yes you can use iscli to perform the upgrade but i again suggest to wait, this is way too new (but i am some careful kinda guy...)
best regards
Joerg
Thanks but how do I upgrade the BIOS to 1.4 from iscli? - I had to use a boot disk with dos4gw.
Our ESX setup is not ready for production, so I am still testing all the stuff.
So you would think that an official firmware is being released in 3 weeks time?
dear felix,
just do like the post states:
download the firmware and place it in some folder on your esx machine. changedir to that folder and execute iscli.
3 HBA-Level,
2 HBA-Options,
2 Update Firmware Image
enter name (eg qla4022.dl)
and you´re done. pretty easy.
SAVE and Reboot, you are good to go.
i don´t know when they will release a new version, is the version you downloaded still away from the download area? i generally find it a god idea to wait three weeks and let others with test equipment experience the advantages and/or disadvanteges. so if you have testing environment, it is great and you could try as you like ;-)
best regards
Joerg
Still no new official driver/firmware from QLOGIC :(
Hey Felix, check out THAT one:
http://driverdownloads.qlogic.com/QLogicDriverDownloads_UI/SearchByProduct.aspx?ProductCategory=82&Product=1037&Os=167&ProductName=QLE4062C&OSname=VMware%20ESX%20Server
best regarsd
Joerg
Awsome - Thanks :)
Do You where I can download the newest bios? - in the unofficial 3.0.1.49 there was 1.4 bios
When I use the iscli on my HBA with 2 ports, I can only "select" the last port - is that ok when setting up the values?
ExeThrottle etc.
using : Bios 1.14, FW 3.0.1.49
Thanks
Felix
hi felix,
nope, only firmware update automatically covers both controllers, you have to manually set both ports separately to the values. port change should not be a problem as i remember from my own systems (4062c). please re-check this.
best regards
Joerg
Hi
When I did the iscli from the console all was good :)
Thanks
Felix
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