Symptom
A Windows-based application server (Windows Server 2003) fails to detect virtual disks after it is restarted.
Possible Causes
In the CLI of the application server, run the iscsicli ListPersistentTargets command to view the information about the initiator.
Target Name : iqn.2006-08.com.:21000022a1002828:notconfig:192.168.252.1
Address and Socket : 192.168.252.1 3260
Session Type : Data
Initiator Name : Root\SCSIADAPTER\0000_0
Port Number : <Any Port>
Security Flags : 0x0
Version : 0
Information Specified: 0x20
Login Flags : 0xa
Multipath Enabled
Login Flags is 0xa, which corresponds to 00001010b in binary. The 1 at the second bit from left to right indicates that the multipathing function of Microsoft iSCSI Initiator is enabled at login.
Conclusion: No virtual disks can be detected on a Windows-based application server when the multipathing function of Microsoft iSCSI Initiator is enabled.
Procedure
If the multipathing software provided by Microsoft iSCSI Initiator has not been installed:
When installing Microsoft iSCSI Initiator, do not install the multipathing software by clearing the Microsoft MPIO Multipathing Support for iSCSI, as shown in Figure Clearing the Microsoft MPIO Multipathing Support for iSCSI.
Figure1 Clearing the Microsoft MPIO Multipathing Support for iSCSI
If the multipathing software provided by Microsoft iSCSI Initiator has been installed:
Open the iSCSI Initiator Properties dialog box and click the Persistent Targets tab. Click Remove to delete all targets in the Select a target area, as shown in Figure Removing targets.
Figure1 Removing targets
Log in to Microsoft iSCSI Initiator and clear the Enable multi-path, as shown in Figure Logging in to Microsoft iSCSI Initiator.
Figure1 Logging in to Microsoft iSCSI Initiator
