You manage an environment that has many servers. The servers run Windows Server 2012 R2 and use iSCSI storage. Administrators report that it is difficult to locate available iSCSI resources on the network.
You need to ensure that the administrators can locate iSCSI resources on the network by using a central repository. Which feature should you deploy?
Correct Answer: A
Explanation/Reference:
Explanation:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc772568.aspx
iSNS Server Overview
Internet iStorage Name Service Server
The Internet Storage Name Service (iSNS) protocol is used for interaction between iSNS servers and iSNS clients. iSNS clients are computers, also known as initiators, that are attempting to discover storage devices, also known as targets, on an Ethernet network. iSNS facilitates automated discovery, management, and configuration of iSCSI and Fibre Channel devices (using iFCP gateways) on a TCP/IP network. Note The Microsoft iSNS Server only supports the discovery of iSCSI devices, and not Fibre Channel devices. iSNS Server provides intelligent storage discovery and management services comparable to those found in Fibre Channel networks, allowing a commodity IP network to function in a similar capacity as a storage area network. iSNS facilitates a seamless integration of IP networks and manages iSCSI devices. iSNS thereby provides value in any storage network comprised of iSCSI devices.
Features of iSNS Server iSNS Server is a repository of currently active iSCSI nodes, as well as their associated portals, entities, etc. Nodes can be initiators, targets, or management nodes. Typically, initiators and targets register with the iSNS server, and the initiators query the iSNS server for the list of available targets.
A dynamic database of the iSCSI devices and related information that are currently available on the network: The database helps provide iSCSI target discovery functionality for the iSCSI initiators on the network. The database is kept dynamic by using the Registration Period and Entity Status Inquiry features of iSNS. Registration Period allows the server to automatically deregister stale entries. Entity Status Inquiry provides the server a functionality similar to ping to determine whether registered clients are still present on the network, and allows the server to automatically deregister those clients which are no longer present.
State Change Notification Service: This allows registered clients to be made aware of changes to the database in the iSNS server. It allows the clients to maintain a dynamic picture of the iSCSI devices available on the network.
Discovery Domain Service: This allows an administrator to assign iSCSI nodes and portals into one or more groups called discovery domains. Discovery domains provide a zoning functionality by which an iSCSI initiator can only discover those iSCSI targets who have at least one discovery domain in common with it. Benefits of iSNS Server in iSCSI Storage Area Networks Centralized management Easily scalable to large IP storage networks Extensible Asynchronous notification of changes in the iSCSI storage network Ability to monitor the status and availability of clients Microsoft-preferred discovery method for iSCSI Designed for Windows Logo Program requirement for iSCSI HBAs