To enable iSCSI multipathing between a Windows host and a NetApp E-Series system, two fundamental actions are required. First, IP-based connectivity must be established. This involves configuring iSCSI IP addresses on both the E-Series controller ports (targets) and the network ports on the Windows host (initiator). Second, the NetApp SANtricity Host Utilities must be installed on the Windows host. This software package includes the necessary Device Specific Module (DSM) for Microsoft Multipath I/O (MPIO), which allows Windows to properly recognize and manage multiple paths to the E-Series storage, enabling failover and load balancing.

C. Create two VSANs on the iSCSI switches:

VSANs (Virtual SANs) are a Fibre Channel (FC) fabric technology used for zoning and isolation; the equivalent concept in an IP network for iSCSI is VLANs.

D. Install a Host Channel Adapter (HCA) on the Windows host:

Host Channel Adapters (HCAs) are network adapters used for InfiniBand technology. iSCSI uses standard Network Interface Cards (NICs) or iSCSI Host Bus Adapters (HBAs).

1. NetApp E-Series SANtricity 11.70 Express Windows Configuration Guide

Page 11

"Step 2: Install host software": "You must install the SANtricity Storage Manager host software (which includes the multipath driver) on each host that connects to the storage array. The multipath driver is required for failover protection." This supports answer B.

2. NetApp E-Series SANtricity 11.70 Express Windows Configuration Guide

Page 16

"Step 5: Configure iSCSI ports": This section details the procedure for configuring IPv4 or IPv6 addresses on the E-Series controller iSCSI ports. This supports the E-Series side of answer A.

3. NetApp E-Series SANtricity 11.70 Express Windows Configuration Guide

Page 20

"Step 7: Configure host ports": This section describes configuring the iSCSI initiator service and network ports on the Windows host

which includes IP address assignment. This supports the Windows host side of answer A.

4. TR-4684: NetApp E-Series with Microsoft Windows MPIO Best Practices

Page 6

"Windows Host Utilities": "The Windows Host Utilities install the NetApp SANtricity DSM for Microsoft MPIO. The DSM is required for multipath and failover." This re-confirms the necessity of answer B.