Connecting the Microsoft iSCSI Initiator

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Applies To: Microsoft iSCSI Software Target

The Microsoft iSCSI Software Target 3.3 supports connections from many standard iSCSI initiators. The Microsoft iSCSI Initiator is installed by default in the following Windows operating systems:

  • Windows Server 2008 R2

  • Windows Server 2008

  • Windows 7

  • Windows Vista

You can download the Microsoft iSCSI Initiator at Microsoft Download Center (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=129784), and install it on the following operating systems:

  • Windows Server 2008 R2

  • Windows Server 2008

  • Windows Server 2003 R2

  • Windows Server 2003

  • Windows Server 2000

  • Windows 7

  • Windows Vista with SP1

  • Windows XP

To connect the iSCSI Initiator in a computer running Windows Server 2008 R2

  1. To open the iSCSI Initiator properties, click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click iSCSI Initiator. Click Continue when you are prompted for User Account Control authorization. Click Yes to start the iSCSI Service. Click Yes to automatically open the Windows Firewall ports for the iSCSI Service.

  2. On the Discovery tab, under Target portals, click Add Portal. Enter the DNS name or the IP address of the iSCSI target server.

  3. Click the Targets tab.

  4. Select the target to connect to, and then click Log on. If the desired target does not appear in the list, click Refresh.

  5. Select Automatically Restore this connection when the computer starts, and then click OK.

Note

If your storage appliance supports Microsoft Multipath I/O (MPIO), select Enable multi-path. Only use this option if MPIO software is installed on your storage appliance.

  1. Click OK to save the settings.

Additional considerations

You must be a member of the local Administrators group to perform these tasks.