Hello:I am trying to setup a connection on W2k8 STD to a SAN storage through the MS iSCSI initializor. I get the connection setup and the server can see the "drive" I setup but it won't initialize. The "initialize" is grey out or I can select it, but then it gives me and "invalid function" error.I have tried a couple of times to undo the connection and redo the connectionI have tried to unistall iSCSI initializor and reinstallIs there anything else I can try to do to get this to work.thanks,

Hi, I suspect there are maybe some misconfigure in your settings. The following blog include the step about how to configure the iSCSI Initiator, you can refer to: Step-by-step: Using the Microsoft iSCSI Software Target with Hyper-V (Standalone, Full, VHD) http://blogs.technet.com/josebda/archive/2009/02/02/step-by-step-using-the-microsoft-iscsi-software-target-with-hyper-v-standalone-full-vhd.aspx I recommend that you have read of the above blog and then reconfigure the iSCSI Initiator to test whether the issue persists. If the issue continues, I recommend that you do the same test in a new installation Windows Server 2008 Server. For the further research, please help me to collect some screen shot of your Disk Management and the settings of your iSCSI Initiator. Please send the above screen shot to tfwst@microsoft.com, please keep To Vincent Hu in the subject. Best regards, Vincent Hu

Hi Vincent:I will send you the screen shots I would like to make a couple of things clear. I am using Windows Server 2008 Standard w/out Hyper-V This was a new install of server 2008 on a brand new server hardware. It was not an in-place upgrade Am not using Windows Storage Server The way I had setup the iSCSI on the 2008 server is the same way I did on my other 2003 servers they are all going to a SAN storage that we got from IBM. The 2003 servers are working just fine.thanks,Miller-IT

Hi Miller, It seems that there are some problem with the settings on the IBM SAN storage. We encountered the similar issue with a IBM DS3300. After the research, we found that the ISCSI trace shows that the ISCSI client is sending a read request for sector 0 to the ISCSI target and the ISCSI target (the IBM hardware) is sending back to the ISCSI client that it received an illegal request. We reconfigure the disk on the DS3300 to resolved the issue. Please perform to reconfigure the disk on your IBM SAN storage to test whether the same issue persists. Best regards, Vincent Hu

What would u like me to reconfigure? Do you mean, delete the partition on the SAN and recreate it and then re-establish the connection to it?We do have the DS3300, plus we have an EXP3000; but the partition is being created on the DS3300.For the record, I did remove the connection between Win2k8 server and SAN, I removed the SAN partition, recreated the partition, and then recreated the connection and still no luck.

Hi Miller, According to you screen shot, the iSCSI Initiator connected properly. So I suspect there are some compatibility problem with the SAN storage. I recommend that you connect iSCSI Initiator of Windows Server 2008 to EXP3000 to test whether the same issue occur. The following post discuss the similar issue to yours, you can refer to: cannot initialize/convert disk http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/winserverfiles/thread/cb62238c-b3d0-4989-b45a-ae6de6701a7b Best regards, Vincent Hu

Hi Vincent:I have remove the access to the old partition on the DS3300. I have created a new partition on the EXP3000.I have access to it and that seems to be working just fine. Once it gets done formatting I will edit this post to let you know if it works or not. My Computer management screen does show two identical drives "Drive 3". If I click on one, I get both. (Hopefully that goes away, the "double vision")I sent you a screen shot.Thanks,Miller-ITHi Vincent:The formating worked and I am able to use the drive on the EXP3000The "Double vision" I talked about and shows on the screen went away."

Hi, According to the problem description, the EXP3000 worked properly and the problem only existed for the DS3300 SAN. It seems to be a compatibility issues. I suggest that you contact IBM at the same time to see whether it is compatible with iSCSI. Meanwhile, as I mentioned in the previous post, we have the following resolution Resolution: DS3300 assigns logical drives to the controllers in a round-robin config. I disabled the 2nd controller when we were having some multi-pathing problems. So I re-assigned the errant drives to the 1st controller and life is good! Best regards, Vincent Hu

Vincent:When I installed iSCSI I did not check the multi-path option. so, based on that I believe that multi-path is not installed.Does that matter?I did get a hold of IBM, they are starting to look into it.Miller-IT

Hi Miller,I got the same problem with the same hardaware.Was IBM able to come with a solution?Can you please suggest?In the mean time I also opened an issue with them.Thank in advance for your help.ByeMax

Hi Max,MS has stated their solution above, I was not able to get a firm answer from IBM. I put the partition on the EXP3000 applicance of my SAN storage. and have left it at that since what i need to work is working.sorry i couldn't be of more help.Miller-IT