ML280 iSCSI Architecture & Instrumentation Training

BASIC ELEMENTS OF iSCSI

This section identifies the basic features of and the premises upon which iSCSI products have been designed to date. iSCSI is discussed in terms of the OSI model of computer networking. Upon completion students are able to:

* Define iSCSI.
* Identify the basic features of iSCSI.
* Describe how iSCSI may be used to complement existing storage technologies.



RELATING iSCSI TO TCP/IP

This section details TCP and IP protocols with specific emphasis on these technologies as partners and models for various iSCSI design features. Traces are used to explore TCP functionality critical to iSCSI: connection creation, acknowledgement model and flow control. Upon completion students are able to:

* Identify the parts of an IP header.
* Identify the parts of a TCP header.
* Describe the process by which TCP creates a connection.
* Describe the process by which TCP acknowledges its data stream.
* Describe the TCP sliding window and how it relates to TCP flow control.

iSCSI ARCHITECTURAL MODEL

This section discusses the logical architectural design of iSCSI. iSCSI-specific objects and terminology are identified. Upon completion students are able to:

* Define an iSCSI Node and an iSCSI Network Entity.
* Define an iSCSI Connection, including its relationship to the TCP connection.
* Define an iSCSI Session and its relationship to an iSCSI connection.
* Define an iSCSI Portal Group and identify how it is used.
* Describe the iSCSI Acknowledgement model.

iSCSI COMMUNICATION: PROTOCOL DATA UNITS

This section introduces the iSCSI Protocol Data Unit (PDU) format and usage. iSCSI transmission inside of the TCP/IP stack is discussed and illustrated. Upon completion students are able to:

* Describe the function of an iSCSI Protocol Data Unit (PDU).
* Identify the fields of a general iSCSI PDU.
* Identify the possible headers in an iSCSI PDU and when each is used.
* Describe how segmentation by other network layers affects iSCSI transmission.

NAMING, ADDRESSING AND DISCOVERY

This section covers the requirements for naming and addressing iSCSI components. Multiple options for the discovery of iSCSI objects are discussed. iSCSI traces are used to illustrate the iSCSI discovery process. iSCSI Security requirements are also discussed. Upon completion students are able to:

* Identify the components of an iSCSI Name, iSCSI Address and iSCSI Alias.
* Differentiate between the 3 iSCSI Discovery processes.
* Identify 2 possible protocols for discovery management on large networks.

CONFIGURING TARGETS: THE LOGIN PROCESS

This section covers the Normal Login process in iSCSI. Students study several login traces representing the login processes of a variety of iSCSI vendors. Upon completion students are able to:

* Identify the 2 types of iSCSI Login.
* Define how the iSCSI Login relates to the TCP connection.
* Explain the 2 stages of the Login process.
* Identify the bits and bytes of the Login Request and Login Response PDUs.
* List the components which may be negotiated during Security Negotiation.
* List multiple components which may be negotiated during Operational Negotiaiton.

MAPPING SCSI INTO iSCSI

This section covers the actual mapping of SCSI commands, data and status into iSCSI PDUs. Trace analysis covers various SCSI commands (e.g. Read, Write, Inquiry, Test Unit Ready) carried on the iSCSI transport layer. Upon completion students are able to:

* Associate SCSI commands, data and status with the appropriate iSCSI PDU.
* Identify the flow of an iSCSI transmission.
* Explain under what circumstances the SCSI Status phase may be collapsed into the Data Phase in iSCSI, including how this effects the layout of the PDU.
* Identify how targets use R2T PDUs to flow control SCSI Write operations.

iSCSI SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS

This section covers the security requirements which open standards-compliant iSCSI devices must meet. Upon completion students are able to:

* Describe how the iSCSI specification defines fulfillment of its security requirements.
* Identify CHAP as iSCSI's required In-Band Authentication protocol and describe how it works.
* Identify the IP-Level security areas addressed by the iSCSI specification.
* Identify the IP-Level security protocols which must be supported.

iSCSI ERROR DETECTION AND RECOVERY

This section discusses the error recovery hierarchy as outlined in the iSCSI draft specification. Students analyze controlled traces for errors and recovery processes ranging from failed login negotiation to SCSI Check Conditions. Upon completion students are able to:

* Differentiate between the 3 main iSCSI error recovery levels, identifying the dependencies of each.
* Identify how digest errors affect iSCSI transmission flow.
* Identify how iSCSI recovers from errors that are within-command and within-connection.
* Describe how iSCSI detects and recovers from connection failure.
* Describe the effects of iSCSI Session Recovery.

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