FreeNas 8.3 - Creating a RAID volume and Configure iSCSI

FreeNAS is a tiny Open Source FreeBSD-based operating system which provides free Network-Attached Storage (NAS) services (CIFS, FTP, NFS, ...). It supports sharing across Windows, Apple, and UNIX-like systems.

FreeNAS 8 includes ZFS, which supports high storage capacities and integrates file systems and volume management into a single piece of software.

Overview

In the following post I will cover the following points:

• Introduction
• Terminology
• Raid Volume Configuration
• Connecting to the FreeNas HTTP Interface
• Creating the RAID Volume
• iSCSI Configuration
• Adding a Portal
• Adding an Initiator
• Adding a Target
• Adding a File Extent
• Adding a Target / Extent association
• Enabling the iSCSI Service
• Configuring the iSCSI Initiator on VMware vSphere 5.1

Introduction

Using FreeNAS 8.3, I need to create a RAID Volume, configure iSCSI and present it to my VMware VSphere 5.1 environment.

Note: If you are not familiar with some of the iSCSI terms used below (target, initiator, extent...) please check the following webpage: http://doc.freenas.org/index.php/ISCSI

Overview of my iSCSI Lab Architecture

My Home Lab !

I finally ordered my home lab to work on my technical knowledge and to help me work on some certifications. 

My first goal will be to pass my VCP5-DV in February 2013 (It is already booked!) and probably work on some other certifications like Hyper-V, SCCM, W2012...

Here is the configuration I choose

My HomeLab will run on 3 Whiteboxes:

-2 HYPERVISOR  running VMware ESXi VSphere 5.1

-1 STORAGE SERVER running FreeNas 8.3

HYPERVISORS (2 New Whiteboxes)

STORAGE
For this box I took my old HTPC and replaced some components.

More detail on HomeLab page....

Create a bunch of DNS Entries using PowerShell and DNScmd.exe

Today I needed to create approx. ~50 DNS A entries.
Each of those also need to have a PTR entry.

Lazy as i am... a quick search for PowerShell DNS module did return some interesting things but none who can create both A and PTR DNS entries at the same time.

So I decided to finally use DNSCMD.exe (full syntax on technet) with powershell.

Requirement: DNSCmd.exe is part of the DNS Server Tools and need to be installed prior to use it. On Windows server you can install it using Add-WindowsFeature RSAT-ADDS-Tools


Here is a quick syntax overview of the Dnscmd.exe that we will be using.

dnscmd.exe <DNSServer> /RecordAdd <DNSZone> <NewEntryName> /CreatePTR A <IPAddress>


First Step: Create a CSV with all the information (in Excel or via PowerShell)
here is an example, save it as DNSEntries.csv (in my case at the root of the C: drive)

Second Step: The Script OneLiner:

Import-CSV -Path "c:\DNSEntries.csv" | ForEach-Object { dnscmd.exe $_.dnsserver /RecordAdd $_.zone $_.name /createPTR $_.type $_.IP }

The output should look like this

How to report a bug or give a suggestion to the #powershell team ?

Just a reminder to myself..., if you find a bug on #PowerShell or if you have a suggestion, here is the link

https://connect.microsoft.com/PowerShell/SearchResults.aspx?FeedbackType=0&Scope=0&SortOrder=5

PowerShell Resources - From Noob to Ninja

Videos
Windows PowerShell for Beginners
Technet ScriptCenter - Windows PowerShell: Learn It Now Before It's an Emergency

Build2011 - Windows networking with PowerShell: A foundation for data center management
TechEd 2011 - Advanced Automation Using Windows PowerShell 2.0
TechEd 2011 - Windows PowerShell Remoting: Definitely NOT Just for Servers
TechEd 2012 - Windows PowerShell Crash Course
TechEd 2012 - Advanced Automation Using Windows PowerShell 3.0
TechEd 2012 - The Dirty Dozen: Windows PowerShell Scripts for the Busy DBA
TechEd 2012 - Inside Windows Server 2012 Multi-Server Management Capabilities
TechEd 2012 - Group Policy Reporting and Analysis with Windows PowerShell
Technet Radio - The Scripting Guy’s Top 5 PowerShell 3.0 Tips and Tricks
More videos on http://channel9.msdn.com

Guides
Windows PowerShell Survival Guide (en-US) Extensive list of resources on PowerShell
Windows PowerShell 3.0 and Server Manager Quick Reference Guides
Ravikanth Chaganti - WMI Query Language via PowerShell
Don Jones - Secrets of PowerShell Remoting
Windows PowerShell Core About Topics



Code repository
PoshCode
Technet Gallery - Script Repository

Powershell sites
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/scriptcenter/powershell.aspx
http://www.powershell.org
http://powershell.com/cs/
http://www.powershellmagazine.com
http://www.powershellpro.com
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/scriptcenter/powershell.aspx

I'm Going to PowerShellSummit !!! @pshsummit

Seattle here I come !!!

I cannot wait to meet all my fellow PowerShell enthousiasts !

The PowerShell Summit will be held at Microsoft in Redmond April 22-24, 2013. Check here for details.

PowerShell Module included in System Center Configuration Manager 2012 SP1 BETA

Source

Microsoft just released the Service Pack 1 for System Center Configuration Manager 2012.

AND!! FINALLY comes with its own PowerShell Module !!! Woot Woot :-) 

Once the SP1 installed, all you need is PowerShell 3.0.

Already included in Windows Server 2012 or can be installed on Windows Server 2008

Windows Management Framework 3.0

IMPORT THE MODULE

Import-Module "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Configuration Manager\AdminConsole\bin\ConfigurationManager.psd1"

CMDLETS

Add-CMBoundaryToGroup
Add-CMDeviceAffinityToUser
Add-CMDeviceCollectionDirectMembershipRule
Add-CMDeviceCollectionExcludeMembershipRule
Add-CMDeviceCollectionIncludeMembershipRule
Add-CMDeviceCollectionQueryMembershipRule
Add-CMDeviceCollectionToDistributionPointGroup
Add-CMDistributionPointToGroup
Add-CMSoftwareUpdateToGroup
Add-CMUserAffinityToDevice
Add-CMUserCollectionDirectMembershipRule
Add-CMUserCollectionExcludeMembershipRule
Add-CMUserCollectionIncludeMembershipRule
Add-CMUserCollectionQueryMembershipRule
Add-CMUserCollectionToDistributionPointGroup
Approve-CMApprovalRequest
Approve-CMDevice
Approve-CMUserDeviceAffinityRequest
Block-CMCertificate

Introduction to CIM Cmdlets

Great article from the Powershell team blog:

Introduction to CIM Cmdlets

PowerShell 3.0 shipping with Windows server 2012 and Windows 8 brings a new set of Cmdlets to manage any server or device that complies with CIM and WS-Man standards defined by DMTF. In this blog post we will explore these new Cmdlets and how can they help IT Pros in managing a datacenter.
The list of new Cmdlets is given in the table below:

Cmdlet	Purpose
Get-CimInstance	Gets instances of a class.
New-CimInstance	Creates a new instance of a class.
Remove-CimInstance	Removes one of more instances of a class.
Set-CimInstance	Modifies one or more instances of a class.
Get-CimAssociatedInstance	Gets all the associated instances for a particular instance.
Invoke-CimMethod	Invokes instance or static method of a class.
Get-CimClass	Gets class schema of a CIM class.
Register-CimIndicationEvent	Helps subscribe to events.
New-CimSession	Creates a CIM Session with local or a remote machine
Get-CimSession	Gets a list of CIM Sessions that have been made.
Remove-CimSession	Removes CimSessions that are there on a machine.
New-CimSessionOption	Creates a set of options that can be used while creating a CIM session.

Basic terminology

If you are already familiar with terms like WMI, CIM, WinRM and WS-Man, you can skip this section.
CIM: Common Information Model (CIM) is the DMTF standard [DSP0004] for describing the structure and behavior of managed resources such as storage, network, or software components.
WMI: Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) is a CIM server that implements the CIM standard on Windows.
WS-Man: WS-Management (WS-Man) protocol is a SOAP-based, firewall-friendly protocol for management clients to communicate with CIM servers.
WinRM: Windows Remote Management (WinRM) is the Microsoft implementation of the WS-Man protocol on Windows.

Introduction to CIM Cmdlets