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E-Series Systems

Define a host

Contributors netapp-jolieg NetAppZacharyWambold netapp-jsnyder

Using SANtricity System Manager, you define the hosts that send data to the storage array. Defining a host is one of the steps required to let the storage array know which hosts are attached to it and to allow I/O access to the volumes.

About this task

Keep these guidelines in mind when you define a host:

  • You must define the host identifier ports that are associated with the host.

  • Make sure that you provide the same name as the host's assigned system name.

  • This operation does not succeed if the name you choose is already in use.

  • The length of the name cannot exceed 30 characters.

Steps
  1. Select Storage  Hosts.

  2. Click Create  Host.

    The Create Host dialog box appears.

  3. Select the settings for the host as appropriate.

    Setting Description

    Name

    Type a name for the new host.

    Host operating system type

    Select one of the following options from the drop-down list:

    • Linux for SANtricity 11.60 and newer

    • Linux DM-MP (Kernel 3.10 or later) for pre-SANtricity 11.60

    Host interface type

    Select the host interface type that you want to use.

    Host ports

    Do one of the following:

    • Select I/O Interface

      If the host ports have logged in, you can select host port identifiers from the list. This is the recommended method.

    • Manual add

      If the host ports have not logged in, look at /etc/nvme/hostnqn on the host to find the hostnqn identifiers and associate them with the host definition.

      You can manually enter the host port identifiers or copy/paste them from the /etc/nvme/hostnqn file (one at a time) into the Host ports field.

      You must add one host port identifier at a time to associate it with the host, but you can continue to select as many identifiers that are associated with the host. Each identifier is displayed in the Host ports field. If necessary, you also can remove an identifier by selecting the X next to it.

  4. Click Create.

Result

After the host is successfully created, SANtricity System Manager creates a default name for each host port configured for the host.

The default alias is <Hostname_Port Number>. For example, the default alias for the first port created for host IPT is IPT_1.