TrueNAS CORE Version DocumentationThis content follows the TrueNAS CORE 13.0 releases. Use the Product and Version selectors above to view content specific to different TrueNAS software or major version.
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- Using the iSCSI Share
Using the iSCSI Share
4 minute read.
Connecting to and using an iSCSI share can differ between operating systems. This article provides instructions for Linux and Windows.
First, open the command line and ensure that the open-iscsi
utility is installed.
To install the utility on an Ubuntu/Debian distribution, enter command sudo apt update && sudo apt install open-iscsi
.
After the installation completes, ensure the iscsid service is running with command sudo service iscsid start
.
With the iscsid service started, run the command iscsiadm
with the discovery arguments and get the necessary information to connect to the share.
Run the command sudo iscsiadm \--mode discovery \--type sendtargets \--portal {IPADDRESS}
where {IPADDRESS}
is IP address (without curly brackets) you configured in the UI on the iSCSI > Portals > Add screen.
The output provides the base name and target name that TrueNAS configured.
Alternatively, to get the same output enter command sudo iscsiadm -m discovery -t st -p {IPADDRESS}
where {IPADDRESS}
is IP address (without curly brackets) you configured for the iSCSI share.
Note the base name and target name given in the output, since you need them to log in to the iSCSI share.
When a portal discovery authentication method** set to CHAP (on the UI Sharing > iSCSI> Portals screen), add the three following command lines to /etc/iscsi/iscsid.conf.
discovery.sendtargets.auth.authmethod = CHAP
discovery.sendtargets.auth.username = user
discovery.sendtargets.auth.password = secret
The user for command discovery.sendtargets.auth.username
is set in the authorized access used by the portal of the iSCSI share (UI iSCSI > Portals). Likewise, the password to use for command discovery.sendtargets.auth.password
is the in the iSCSI > Authorized Access screen Secret field. Without those lines, the iscsiadm does not discover the portal configured to use the CHAP authentication method.
Next, enter command sudo iscsiadm \--mode node \--targetname {BASENAME}:{TARGETNAME} \--portal {IPADDRESS} \--login
, where {BASENAME}
and {TARGETNAME}
(without curly brackets) is the information from the discovery command.
When the iSCSI share login succeeds, the device shared through iSCSI shows on the Linux system as an iSCSI Disk.
To view a list of connected disks in Linux, enter command sudo fdisk -l
.
Because the connected iSCSI disk is raw, you must partition it.
Identify the iSCSI device in the list and enter command sudo fdisk {/PATH/TO/iSCSIDEVICE}
where {/path/to/iSCSIDEVICE}
(without curly brackets) is the path for your iSCSI device.
The Shell screen lists the iSCSI device path in the sudo fdisk -l
command output.
Use the fdisk
command defaults when partitioning the disk.
Remember to type w when finished partitioning the disk. Thew
command tellsfdisk
to save any changes before quitting.
After creating the partition on the iSCSI disk, a partition slice displays on the device name.
For example, fdisk -l
to see the new partition slice.
Finally, use mkfs
to make a file system on the new partition slice on the device.
To create the default filesystem (ext2), enter the sudo mkfs {/PATH/TO/iSCSIDEVICEPARTITIONSLICE}
command where {/PATH/TO/iSCSIDEVICEPARTITIONSLICE}
(without curly brackets) is the path to your partition slice on your device.
Now the iSCSI device can mount and share data.
Enter command sudo mount {/PATH/TO/iSCSIDEVICEPARTITIONSLICE}
where {/PATH/TO/iSCSIDEVICEPARTITIONSLICE}
(without curly brackets) is the path to your partition slice on your device.
For example, sudo mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt
mounts the iSCSI device sdb1 to
To access the data on the iSCSI share, clients need to use iSCSI Initiator software. An iSCSI Initiator client is pre-installed in Windows 7 to 10 Pro, and Windows Server 2008, 2012, and 2019. Windows Professional Edition is usually required.
First, click the Start Menu and search for the iSCSI Initiator application.
Next, go to the Configuration tab and click Change to change the iSCSI initiator to the same name created earlier. Click OK.
Next, switch to the Discovery Tab, click Discover Portal, and type in the TrueNAS IP address.
If TrueNAS changed the port number from the default 3260, enter the new port number.
If you set up CHAP when creating the iSCSI share, click Advanced…, set Enable CHAP log on, and enter the initiator name and the same target/secret set earlier in TrueNAS.
Click OK.
Go to the Targets tab, highlight the iSCSI target, and click Connect.
After Windows connects to the iSCSI target, you can partition the drive.
Search for and open the Disk Management app.
Your drive should currently be unallocated. Right-click the drive and click New Simple Volume….
Complete the Wizard to format the drive and assign a drive letter and name.
Finally, go to This PC or My Computer in File Explorer. The new iSCSI volume should show up under the list of drives. You should now be able to add, delete, and modify files and folders on your iSCSI drive.
Related Content
Have more questions or want to discuss your specific configuration? For further discussion or assistance, see these resources:
- TrueNAS Community Forum
- TrueNAS Community Discord
- iXsystems Enterprise Support (requires paid support contract)
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