Re: iSCSI: One Node or Two?

[Mark Bakke <mbakke@cisco.com>]

David-

The "or" is meant to be a non-exclusive or.  An iSCSI Node can
be both an initiator and a target, and have the same iSCSI name
for both.  See draft-ietf-ips-iscsi-name-disc-04:
           
>           2. iSCSI Names 
>               
>                 The main addressable, discoverable entity in iSCSI is an iSCSI 
>                 Node.  An iSCSI node can be either an initiator, a target, or 
>                 both. 

I agree that we should fix up the wording in the iSCSI draft to
clarify this.  How about changing:

Section 1. Definitions:
>         - iSCSI Name: The name of an iSCSI initiator or iSCSI target.  

To:

        - iSCSI Name: The name of an iSCSI node, which can be an iSCSI
          initiator, target, or both.

2.5.1 iSCSI Architecture Model
>                 b) iSCSI Node - The iSCSI Node represents a single iSCSI 
>                 initiator or iSCSI target.  There are one or more iSCSI 
>                 Nodes within a Network Entity.

To:

                b) iSCSI Node - The iSCSI Node represents a single iSCSI 
                initiator and/or iSCSI target.  An iSCSI Node can be both
                and initiator and a target.  There are one or more iSCSI 
                Nodes within a Network Entity. 


I think that these two changes should clear this up.

--
Mark


David Dillard wrote:
> 
> As defined in the latest draft an iSCSI Node "... represents a single iSCSI
> initiator or iSCSI target."
> 
> By this definition an LU that acts as both an initiator and a target, such
> as a data mover for extended copy, is two iSCSI nodes.  This LU will have
> two iSCSI names, one for the initiator side of the LU and one for the
> target.  Therefore, there will be two  iSNS "entries" for this LU.
> 
> My question is: Is this intended?
> 
> Regards,
> 
> David

-- 
Mark A. Bakke
Cisco Systems
mbakke@cisco.com
763.398.1054