Course 320: iSCSI Fundamentals

This course provides a comprehensive summary of the current development of iSCSI (SCSI protocol over TCP/IP).

This course exposes the student to the maze of information available and puts it all together, from making connections to how commands work. All the pieces of an iSCSI system are clearly summarized including what it takes to integrate iSCSI components into a working system. In class exercises help reinforce system concepts. We also look at the trend of the current iSCSI documents and examine iSCSI analyzer captures from some of the current products available.

IP Storage Framework

• Overview
• Environments
• Naming & Discovery
• iSCSI Environment
• Security Considerations

Design Considerations - Overview

• Ease of implementation
• Reliability & Availability
• Interoperability, Security & Management
• Internet Accessibility
• Definitions & References

Naming & Discovery - Overview

• Naming Requirements
• iSCSI Names
• Alias
• iSCSI Discovery
• Configuring Target Information
• SendTargets Command
• Initiator Queries a Storage Name Server Storage Name Server (SNS) - Overview
• Login Control & Discovery Domains
• Query and Registration Services
• State Change Notification

iSCSI - Overview

• SCSI & iSCSI Concepts
• iSCSI Concepts & Functional Overview
• Terms & Definitions
• Layers & Sessions
• Login, Full Feature Phase
• Connection Termination
• Naming & Addressing

iSCSI PDU Formats

• PDU Length and Padding
• PDU Templates & Headers
• Opcodes for Initiators & Targets
• SCSI Command & Response
• SCSI Task Management Command & Response
• SCSI Data
• Text Command & Response
• Login Command & Response
• Logout Command & Response
• SNACK Request
• Ready To Transfer (R2T)
• Third Party Commands
• Reject

iSCSI Error Handling & Recovery

• Where Errors Occur
• Format, Digest, Sequence, & Protocol Errors
• Connection Failure & Session Errors
• Recovery Levels
• Within-task, Within-connection,
• Within-session, Session Recovery

iSCSI Analysis Trace Exercises

• Login & Text Command(s)
• Common SCSI Commands
• READ & WRITE Command(s) 

iSCSI Lab Exercises

• Component Installation & Integration
• Component Naming & Discovery
• Simple Test Program & Execution
• Trace Capture & Analysis