Skip to main content
VCP

Create and manage initiators

Contributors netapp-pcarriga netapp-dbagwell
PDFs

Initiators enable external clients access to volumes in a cluster, serving as the entry point for communication between clients and volumes.

You can create, edit, 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.

Options

Create an initiator

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

Steps

  1. In your vSphere Web Client, open the Management tab:

    • Beginning with Element vCenter plug-in 5.0, select NetApp Element Remote Plugin > Management > Management.

    • For Element vCenter plug-in 4.10 and earlier, select NetApp Element Management > Management.

    Note If two or more clusters are added, ensure that the cluster you intend to use for the task is selected in the navigation bar.

  2. Select the Initiators sub-tab.

  3. Select Create Initiator.

  4. To create a single initiator:

    1. Select Create a Single Initiator.

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

      The accepted format of an initiator IQN is iqn.yyyy-mm where y and m are digits followed by text that 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

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

  5. To create multiple initiators:

    1. Select Create Multiple Initiators.

    2. Do one of the following:

      • Click Scan Hosts to scan vSphere hosts for initiator values not defined in the NetApp Element cluster.

      • Enter a list of IQNs or WWPNs in the text box, and select Add Initiators.

    3. (Optional) Under the Alias heading, select the field for each entry to add an alias.

    4. (Optional) Remove an initiator from the list, as required.

  6. Click OK to create the initiator.

Edit an initiator

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

Steps

  1. In your vSphere Web Client, open the Management tab:

    • Beginning with Element vCenter plug-in 5.0, select NetApp Element Remote Plugin > Management > Management.

    • For Element vCenter plug-in 4.10 and earlier, select NetApp Element Management > Management.

    Note If two or more clusters are added, ensure that the cluster you intend to use for the task is selected in the navigation bar.

  2. Select the Initiators sub-tab.

  3. Select the check box for the initiator you want to edit.

  4. Select Actions.

  5. In the resulting menu, select Edit.

  6. Enter a new alias for the initiator in the Alias field.

  7. Click OK.

Add initiators to an access group

You can add initiators to an access group to allow access to volumes in the volume access group without requiring CHAP authentication. When you add an initiator to a volume access group, the initiator has access to all volumes in that volume access group.

Steps

  1. In your vSphere Web Client, open the Management tab:

    • Beginning with Element vCenter plug-in 5.0, select NetApp Element Remote Plugin > Management > Management.

    • For Element vCenter plug-in 4.10 and earlier, select NetApp Element Management > Management.

    Note If two or more clusters are added, ensure that the cluster you intend to use for the task is selected in the navigation bar.

  2. Select the Initiators sub-tab.

  3. Select the check boxes for the initiators you want to add to an access group.

  4. Select Actions.

  5. In the resulting menu, select Add to Access Group.

  6. In the Add to Access Group dialog box, choose an access group from the drop-down list.

  7. Click OK.

Delete an initiator

You can delete an initiator after it is no longer needed. 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. In your vSphere Web Client, open the Management tab:

    • Beginning with Element vCenter plug-in 5.0, select NetApp Element Remote Plugin > Management > Management.

    • For Element vCenter plug-in 4.10 and earlier, select NetApp Element Management > Management.

    Note If two or more clusters are added, ensure that the cluster you intend to use for the task is selected in the navigation bar.

  2. Select the Initiators sub-tab.

  3. Select the check box for the initiators you want to delete.

  4. Select Actions.

  5. In the resulting menu, select Delete.

  6. Confirm the action.

Find more information