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HCI
1.10

Create and manage initiators

Contributors netapp-dbagwell amgrissino

You can use initiators for CHAP-based rather than account-based access to volumes. You can create and delete initiators, and give them friendly aliases to simplify administration and volume access. When you add an initiator to a volume access group, that initiator enables access to all volumes in the group.

What you'll need
  • You have cluster administrator credentials.

  • You have upgraded your management services to at least version 2.17. NetApp Hybrid Cloud Control initiator management is not available in earlier service bundle versions.

Create an initiator

You can create iSCSI or Fibre Channel initiators and optionally assign them aliases.

About this task

The accepted format of an initiator IQN is iqn.yyyy-mm where y and m are digits followed by text which must only contain digits, lower-case alphabetic characters, a period (.), colon (:) or dash (-).
A sample of the format is as follows:

iqn.2010-01.com.solidfire:c2r9.fc0.2100000e1e09bb8b

The accepted format of a Fibre Channel initiator WWPN is :Aa:bB:CC:dd:11:22:33:44 or AabBCCdd11223344.
A sample of the format is as follows:

5f:47:ac:c0:5c:74:d4:02
Steps
  1. Log in to NetApp Hybrid Cloud Control by providing the Element storage cluster administrator credentials.

  2. From the Dashboard, expand the name of your storage cluster on the left navigation menu.

  3. Select Volumes.

  4. Select the Initiators tab.

  5. Select the Create Initiators button.

    Option Steps

    Create one or more initiators

    1. Enter the IQN or WWPN for the initiator in the IQN/WWPN field.

    2. Enter a friendly name for the initiator in the Alias field.

    3. (Optional) Select Add Initiator to open new initiator fields or use the bulk create option instead.

    4. Select Create Initiators.

    Bulk create initiators

    1. Select Bulk Add IQNs/WWPNs.

    2. Enter a list of IQNs or WWPNs in the text box. Each IQN or WWPN must be comma or space separated or on its own line.

    3. Select Add IQNs/WWPNs.

    4. (Optional) Add unique aliases to each initiator.

    5. Remove any initiator from the list that might already exist in the installation.

    6. Select Create Initiators.

Add initiators to a volume access group

You can add initiators to an volume access group. When you add an initiator to a volume access group, the initiator enables access to all volumes in that volume access group.

Steps
  1. Log in to NetApp Hybrid Cloud Control by providing the Element storage cluster administrator credentials.

  2. From the Dashboard, expand the name of your storage cluster on the left navigation menu.

  3. Select Volumes.

  4. Select the Initiators tab.

  5. Select one or more initiators you want to add.

  6. Select Actions > Add to Access Group.

  7. Select the access group.

  8. Confirm your changes by selecting Add Initiator.

Change an initiator alias

You can change the alias of an existing initiator or add an alias if one does not already exist.

Steps
  1. Log in to NetApp Hybrid Cloud Control by providing the Element storage cluster administrator credentials.

  2. From the Dashboard, expand the name of your storage cluster on the left navigation menu.

  3. Select Volumes.

  4. Select the Initiators tab.

  5. In the Actions column, expand the options menu for the initiator.

  6. Select Edit.

  7. Make any needed changes to the alias or add a new alias.

  8. Select Save.

Delete initiators

You can delete one or more initiators. When you delete an initiator, the system removes it from any associated volume access group. Any connections using the initiator remain valid until the connection is reset.

Steps
  1. Log in to NetApp Hybrid Cloud Control by providing the Element storage cluster administrator credentials.

  2. From the Dashboard, expand the name of your storage cluster on the left navigation menu.

  3. Select Volumes.

  4. Select the Initiators tab.

  5. Delete one or more initiators:

    1. Select one or more initiators you want to delete.

    2. Select Actions > Delete.

    3. Confirm the delete operation and select Yes.

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