--- title: "Configure Qnap iSCSI as VMware Datastore" date: "2021-05-14T09:00:00+02:00" tags: ["Datastore", "ESXi", "iSCSI"] categories: ["Storage & Backup", "VMware"] --- ![Storage][1] After upgrading my old QNAP TS-453A to a QNAP TS-873 with 8 bays and tons of storage I finally had some time to explore additional storage options for my homelab. Now with 2 pools of storage with total capacity of ~ 35TiB I finally could start to use my NAS much more efficient. In the previous post [Configure QNAP NFS as VMware ESXi Dastastore][2] I showed you how to configure QNAP NFS share as VMware ESXi Datastore. In this post I will show you how to create a VMware ESXi datastore using iSCSI. ## Prerequisites - QNAP NAS - VMware ESXi - mentioned solution should work starting from VMware ESXi 5.0+ ## QNAP Configuration 1. Login to your QNAP NAS and click **iSCSI & Fibre Channel**
![Configure Qnap iSCSI as VMware Datastore - 1][3] 2. When first time started you will be asked if you wish to go through a configuration wizard. Click Next.
![Configure Qnap iSCSI as VMware Datastore - 2][4] 3. We will start with the **iSCSI** Target creation.
![Configure Qnap iSCSI as VMware Datastore - 3][5] 4. You can enter name and alias for your iSCSI Target.
![Configure Qnap iSCSI as VMware Datastore - 4][6] 5. In next section we can enter username and password. Only letters and numbers are allowed. Let's try to configure it with username and password.
![Configure Qnap iSCSI as VMware Datastore - 5][7] 6. In the last section we have a summary of the items we configured. Important is to select **Create a LUN and map it to this target.**
![Configure Qnap iSCSI as VMware Datastore - 6][8] 7. Now we are in the **Block-Based LUN Creation Wizard** section. Choose appropriate Storage Pool and the type of LUN allocation - thick or thin.
![Configure Qnap iSCSI as VMware Datastore - 7][9] 8. We need to provide a LUN name and enter the desired LUN size. As I have cache disks I will use them.
![Configure Qnap iSCSI as VMware Datastore - 8][10] 9. On the summary we can see all the configured settings.
![Configure Qnap iSCSI as VMware Datastore - 9][11] 10. Our QNAP NAS iSCSI target is ready to be used.
![Configure Qnap iSCSI as VMware Datastore - 10][12] ## ESXi Configuration VMware ESXi can use iSCSI either using **Static** or **Dynamic** discovery. I've tested it with both and I will descibre the process just with Dynamic. 1. Login to vSphere. 2. Navigate to your ESXi Server **Configure** -> **Storage Adapaters** -> **iSCSI Software Adapter** or your hardware iSCSI adapter.
![Configure Qnap iSCSI as VMware Datastore - 11][13] 3. Click **Dynamic Discovery** and then **Add**. 4. Enter iSCSI Server FQDN or IP address.
![Configure Qnap iSCSI as VMware Datastore - 12][14] 5. I used CHAP configuration on QNAP so I need to enter it in ESXi as well. Set **Authentication Method** to **Use unidirectioal CHAP if required by target**.
![Configure Qnap iSCSI as VMware Datastore - 13][15] 6. We need to rescan adapter in order to reflect changes. CLick **Rescan Adapter**. 7. iSCSI LUN is visible and can be used as VMware Datastore.
![Configure Qnap iSCSI as VMware Datastore - 14][16] ## Create iSCSI based VMware Datastore 1. Click on **Actions** and then select **Storage** -> **New Datastore**
![Configure Qnap iSCSI as VMware Datastore - 15][17] 2. Choose **VMFS** 3. Select our iSCSI backed Disk.
![Configure Qnap iSCSI as VMware Datastore - 16][18] 4. Choose desired VMFS version. 5. I will use whole datastore size and use default settings.
![Configure Qnap iSCSI as VMware Datastore - 17][19] 6. On the summary page we can review our configured settings.
![Configure Qnap iSCSI as VMware Datastore - 18][20] 7. Datastore is visible in GUI and can be used by our VMs.
![Configure Qnap iSCSI as VMware Datastore - 19][21] ## Summary I hope that post was informative and easy to follow. I am really happy to have so many options to utilize my QNAP NAS in my homelab. [1]: /images/uploads/2021/05/storage.webp [2]: https://www.wojcieh.net/configure-qnap-nfs-as-vmware-esxi-dastastore/ "Configure QNAP NFS as VMware ESXi Dastastore" [3]: /images/uploads/2021/05/Configure_Qnap_iSCSI_as_VMware_Datastore-1.webp [4]: /images/uploads/2021/05/Configure_Qnap_iSCSI_as_VMware_Datastore-2.webp [5]: /images/uploads/2021/05/Configure_Qnap_iSCSI_as_VMware_Datastore-3.webp [6]: /images/uploads/2021/05/Configure_Qnap_iSCSI_as_VMware_Datastore-4.webp [7]: /images/uploads/2021/05/Configure_Qnap_iSCSI_as_VMware_Datastore-5.webp [8]: /images/uploads/2021/05/Configure_Qnap_iSCSI_as_VMware_Datastore-6.webp [9]: /images/uploads/2021/05/Configure_Qnap_iSCSI_as_VMware_Datastore-7.webp [10]: /images/uploads/2021/05/Configure_Qnap_iSCSI_as_VMware_Datastore-8.webp [11]: /images/uploads/2021/05/Configure_Qnap_iSCSI_as_VMware_Datastore-9.webp [12]: /images/uploads/2021/05/Configure_Qnap_iSCSI_as_VMware_Datastore-10.webp [13]: /images/uploads/2021/05/Configure_Qnap_iSCSI_as_VMware_Datastore-11.webp [14]: /images/uploads/2021/05/Configure_Qnap_iSCSI_as_VMware_Datastore-12.webp [15]: /images/uploads/2021/05/Configure_Qnap_iSCSI_as_VMware_Datastore-13.webp [16]: /images/uploads/2021/05/Configure_Qnap_iSCSI_as_VMware_Datastore-14.webp [17]: /images/uploads/2021/05/Configure_Qnap_iSCSI_as_VMware_Datastore-15.webp [18]: /images/uploads/2021/05/Configure_Qnap_iSCSI_as_VMware_Datastore-16.webp [19]: /images/uploads/2021/05/Configure_Qnap_iSCSI_as_VMware_Datastore-17.webp [20]: /images/uploads/2021/05/Configure_Qnap_iSCSI_as_VMware_Datastore-18.webp [21]: /images/uploads/2021/05/Configure_Qnap_iSCSI_as_VMware_Datastore-19.webp