Windows 10 iSCSI Initiator Cannot Connect to iSCSI Target Server

Initiator Instance Does Not Exist

 

Initiator Instance Does Not Exist

Symptom:

1. After reformatting PC with latest Windows 10 version 1703, iSCSI Initiator cannot connect back to iSCSI Target Server which was working fine previously.

2. Quick check in Services already shows Microsoft iSCSI Initiator Service is running.

Solution:

1. Open "Device Manager" and expand "Storage controllers".

2. There should be an "Unknown device" here.

3. Open up the properties of the "Unknown device" by double clicking or right click select Properties.

4. Click on the "Driver" tab.

5. Click "Update Driver".

6. Select "Search automatically for updated driver software", your PC must be connected to the Internet.

7. Microsoft iSCSI Initator driver installed successfully.

8. Reconnect to your iSCSI Target Server.

Unknown device

Unknown device Properties

Driver tab

Search automatically for updated driver software

Searching online for drivers

Microsoft iSCSI Initator driver installed

Reconnect iSCSI Initator to iSCSI Target Server

Configure iSCSI Initiator on Windows Desktop

Part 2: Configure iSCSI Initiator on Windows Desktop

Set Up iSCSI Initator

1. Click on Windows Start Button, type "iscsi" in search box, click Set up iSCSI initiator button.

2. Click Yes to continue.

3. Enter iSCSI Targer Server IP Address in Target field, click Quick Connect.

4. Click Done.

5. Click on Volumes and Devices tab, click Auto Configure.

6. Click OK.

Initialize Disk to Create New Volume

1. Start > Run > "diskmgmt.msc"

2. Click OK to initialize newly detected disk.

3. Right click on new Unallocated disk, click New Simple Volume.

4. Format new disk as X drive.

5. New disk is formatted and ready to use.

Configure iSCSI Target Server on Windows Server

Part 1: Configure iSCSI Targer Server on Windows Server

Install iSCSI Target Server Role

1. Open Server Manager, click on Add roles and features.

2. Expand File and Storage Services, expand File and iSCSI Services, check iSCSI Target Server, hit Next to install.

Create iSCSI Virtual Disk

1. Open Server Manager, click on File and Storage Services.

2. Click on To create an iSCSI virtual disk link.

3. Click on Type a custom path radio button, click Browse

4. Click New Folder, name folder as iSCSI, click Select Folder.

5. Click Next to continue.

6. Enter Name and Description for virtual disk, click Next.

7. Set virtual disk Size, click Next.

8. Select New iSCSI target radio button, click Next.

9. Set Name and Description for iSCSI target, click Next.

10. Click Add.

11. Select Enter a value for the selected type radio button, select IP Address for drop down box, enter IP Address of desktop client in Value field, click OK.

12. Click Next.

13. Click Create.

14. Click Close.

15. iSCSI virtual disk and iSCSI targer successfully created.

Continue on blog post Part 2: Configure iSCSI Initiator on Windows Desktop