Intel® Ethernet iSCSI Boot is designed for PCI-Express Server Adapters. Intel Ethernet iSCSI Boot provides the capability to boot from a remote iSCSI disk volume located on an iSCSI-based Storage Area Network (SAN). This guide covers hardware and software installation, setup procedures, and troubleshooting tips for installing and booting the system using these adapters.
Intel® Ethernet adapters support iSCSI software initiators that are native to the underlying operating system. In the case of Windows, the Microsoft iSCSI Software Initiator, enables connection of a Windows host to an external iSCSI storage array using an Intel Ethernet adapter.
In the case of Open Source distributions, virtually all distributions include support for an Open iSCSI Software Initiator and Intel® Ethernet adapters will support them. Please consult your distribution documentation for additional configuration details on their particular Open iSCSI initiator.
Intel® 82599 and X540-based 10 gigabit adapters support iSCSI within a Data Center Bridging cloud. Used in conjunction with switches and targets that support the iSCSI/DCB application TLV, this solution can provide guaranteed minimum bandwidth for iSCSI traffic between the host and target. This solution enables storage administrators to segment iSCSI traffic from LAN traffic, similar to how they can currently segment FCoE from LAN traffic. Previously, iSCSI traffic within a DCB supported environment was treated as LAN traffic by switch vendors. Please consult your switch and target vendors to ensure that they support the iSCSI/DCB application TLV.