Manual Intervention Required for ESX Server iSCSI Software Initiator to Communicate With iSCSI Storage
Details
If the VMware Infrastructure Client (VI Client) is used to enable the iSCSI software initiator, the iSCSI software fails to communicate with its target iSCSI storage unless the service console firewall is configured to enable iSCSI traffic.
Solution
To work around this issue in VirtualCenter 2.5, perform the following steps to open the Software iSCSI Client firewall port in the service console:
Use the VI Client and select the ESX Server host from the inventory.
In the Configuration tab page of the ESX Server host, click Security Profile > Properties.
In the Firewall Properties window, ensure that check box next to Software iSCSI Client service is selected, and click OK.
This issue is resolved in the VirtualCenter 2.5 Update 1. Starting with VirtualCenter 2.5 Update 1, if the iSCSI initiator is enabled using the VI Client, the firewall port in the service console is opened for the Software iSCSI Client service automatically. This allows the iSCSI software to successfully communicate with its target iSCSI storage when the iSCSI initiator is enabled through the VI Client.
