GlobalSan iSCSI 4.1 Support?

You can download the latest 4.1 beta (build 247) at http://www.snsftp.com/public/globalsan/

So far, I was able to connect and copy small data set w/o any issue.

The prompt for my original post was that I had already downloaded the 4.1 beta (64-bit) hoping that it solved the problems I had with the 4.0 release. It installed fine and mounted my volumes properly. However, as soon as I tried to update my Aperture Vault on one of my iSCSI volumes, the whole thing hung. Aperture froze and then the Finder froze, and then I got a Kernel panic. Not good. So I went back to the v3 Initiator which worked fine. But I was frustrated in the whole process because the SNS guys posted saying they don't test with the ReadyNAS. So clearly there isn't any working relationship between the companies otherwise Netgear would send SNS a ReadyNAS for them to test against (and vis versa) rather than relying on customers risking their data.

Let me be clear that I understand that SNS doesn't support the Mac Initiator officially and so I can only expect so much, but I don't see Netgear being aggressive in resolving this either. The ATTO guys want $200+- for their Initiator and I don't even know if it works because I don't see any *official* Netgear post/tech note/compatibility recommendations on what Netgear has tested for Mac iSCSI support OTHER than GlobalSAN v3, which is being deprecated by SNS. This DOES NOT give me confidence that I should be putting lots of my valuable data on ReadyNAS iSCSI volumes moving forward as I am but one software bug away from having no reliable access to my volumes. Again, what if the v3 initiator breaks due to an Apple OS update? SNS is not doing further development on the v3 code, AND the v4.X code doesn't work and is not being test against Netgear products.

I bought my Pro Business expressly for the iSCSI support, and I love how active and supportive the ReadyNAS community is in these forums, but I am feeling like maybe I should have just bought a Drobo where I know that they are focused on supporting the Mac workflow end to end.

Please tell me that you guys are working on a supported/tested iSCSI solution that has some life moving forward and that v3 of SNS is but a stopgap. I don't need you to pre-announce products/solutions but I can't rely on this flimsy weak link in the chain to my data and getting some idea of your direction is important to whether I stick with ReadyNAS or go another direction.

Thanks for listening.

-m

PS> Happy to beta test solutions.

Any further comments/recommendations? Was hoping for some response from Netgear beyond 'try 4.1', which doesn't work.

thx,
-m

Bump.

Jedi: Is 4.1 working reliably now?

-mw

It works fine for me during past three weeks of test in my SOHO network enviorment. I don't have large data set and I only have one Mac clients. To me, it is stable compare to their past releases.

Just installed and tried their latest build 247. No go. When I went to update my Apple Aperture Vault, the whole application hung with a spinning beach ball. Trying to now open the volume in the Finder also results in a hung Finder with a spinning beach ball.

Can anyone recommend a good Mac iSCSI Initiator that works in 64-bit with the ReadyNAS products?

Netgear support is strangely quiet on this whole issue. I like that you guys (Netgear) are working on nifty new features like Replicate/Remote/etc., but how about working on getting the EXISTING features like iSCSI to work reliably for your customers?

Now I have to roll back to the v3 "legacy' GlobalSAN driver, which SNS no longer supports and which I cannot get to maintain a persistent connection. Thus I have to reinput my IP address and set up the connection manually every time I want to connect. Not happy.

-mw

MW,

I really don't know what to tell you. I have build 247 install on my OS X 10.6.5 on Macbook. I was able to connect ReadyNAS iSCSI Target with CHAP/NOCHAP Authentication. I was able to copy data w/o any issue. So I download the Aperture 3.1 (Free trial) and set up the Aperture Vault on ReadyNAS. It was doing OK until I update the Aperture Vault update and my system got lock up with a spinning beach ball.

ReadyNAS is still accessible. So this appear to be like application issue (such as iPhotos and Aperture) not liking library on network volume.

Here is my crash report to Apple.

--
Interval Since Last Panic Report: 168843 sec
Panics Since Last Report: 1
Anonymous UUID: 57FF7A17-A88A-4D2A-BA42-88EB1A511BE8

Tue Dec 14 12:33:43 2010
panic(cpu 0 caller 0x2aab55): Kernel trap at 0x018a63f0, type 14=page fault, registers:
CR0: 0x8001003b, CR2: 0x0000013c, CR3: 0x00100000, CR4: 0x00000668
EAX: 0x00000044, EBX: 0x06ac0410, ECX: 0x06ebb810, EDX: 0x06d3fcc0
CR2: 0x0000013c, EBP: 0x31953ef8, ESI: 0x0754d800, EDI: 0x00558fd8
EFL: 0x00010206, EIP: 0x018a63f0, CS: 0x00000008, DS: 0x06120010
Error code: 0x00000000

Backtrace (CPU 0), Frame : Return Address (4 potential args on stack)
0x31953cd8 : 0x21b50c (0x5d42fc 0x31953d0c 0x223974 0x0)
0x31953d28 : 0x2aab55 (0x59616c 0x18a63f0 0xe 0x596336)
0x31953e08 : 0x2a09a8 (0x31953e20 0x0 0x31953ef8 0x18a63f0)
0x31953e18 : 0x18a63f0 (0xe 0xb6000048 0x442f0010 0x10)
0x31953ef8 : 0x18a6532 (0x21501000 0x56fd400 0x5995c00 0x6ebb810)
0x31953f38 : 0x1892316 (0x21501000 0x6ebb800 0x0 0x503e20)
0x31953f58 : 0x54b50c (0x5dac140 0x0 0x5c8f514 0x5a5fb98)
0x31953f88 : 0x54b966 (0x5d682c0 0x0 0x0 0xffffffff)
0x31953fc8 : 0x2a06cc (0x5d682c0 0x0 0x10 0x610aba4)
Kernel Extensions in backtrace (with dependencies):
com.sns.driver.SnsiSCSI(4.1)@0x18a0000->0x18b3fff
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIParallelFamily(2.0.1)@0x1885000
dependency: com.sns.driver.SNSArchitectureModel(1.1)@0x188e000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily(1.6.2)@0xf97000
com.sns.driver.SNSArchitectureModel(1.1)@0x188e000->0x189ffff
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIBlockCommandsDevice(2.6.5)@0x13a3000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIParallelFamily(2.0.1)@0x1885000
dependency: com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily(2.6.5)@0x1367000

BSD process name corresponding to current thread: kernel_task

Mac OS version:
10H574

Kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 10.5.0: Fri Nov 5 23:20:39 PDT 2010; root:xnu-1504.9.17~1/RELEASE_I386
System model name: MacBook7,1 (Mac-F22C89C8)

System uptime in nanoseconds: 58404110043546
unloaded kexts:
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCKeyEventDriver 200.3.2 (addr 0x2b882000, size 0x8192) - last unloaded 13074365345756
loaded kexts:
com.sns.driver.SnsiSCSI 4.1
com.sns.driver.SNSArchitectureModel 1.1
com.citrix.driver.net6im 1.1.3
com.deterministicnetworks.driver.dne 1.0.9
com.deterministicnetworks.driver.dniregistry 1.0.4
com.apple.driver.AppleHWSensor 1.9.3d0 - last loaded 12933330306706
com.apple.driver.AGPM 100.12.19
com.apple.filesystems.autofs 2.1.0
com.apple.driver.AppleMikeyHIDDriver 1.2.0
com.apple.driver.AppleUpstreamUserClient 3.4.5
com.apple.driver.AppleMCCSControl 1.0.17
com.apple.driver.AppleHDA 1.9.9f12
com.apple.driver.AudioAUUC 1.13
com.apple.driver.AppleMikeyDriver 1.9.9f12
com.apple.Dont_Steal_Mac_OS_X 7.0.0
com.apple.driver.AudioIPCDriver 1.1.6
com.apple.driver.AppleBacklight 170.0.34
com.apple.driver.SMCMotionSensor 3.0.0d4
com.apple.driver.ACPI_SMC_PlatformPlugin 4.5.0d5
com.apple.driver.AppleLPC 1.4.12
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelPenrynProfile 17
com.apple.GeForce 6.2.4
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCButtons 200.3.2
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBTCKeyboard 200.3.2
com.apple.iokit.SCSITaskUserClient 2.6.5
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIBlockStorage 1.6.3
com.apple.BootCache 31
com.apple.AppleFSCompression.AppleFSCompressionTypeZlib 1.0.0d1
com.apple.driver.AirPortBrcm43224 426.36.1
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBHub 4.1.7
com.apple.driver.AppleSmartBatteryManager 160.0.0
com.apple.driver.AppleAHCIPort 2.1.5
com.apple.nvenet 2.0.15
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBEHCI 4.1.7
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBOHCI 4.1.5
com.apple.driver.AppleEFINVRAM 1.4.0
com.apple.driver.AppleRTC 1.3.1
com.apple.driver.AppleHPET 1.5
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIButtons 1.3.5
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBIOS 1.6
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIEC 1.3.5
com.apple.driver.AppleAPIC 1.4
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagementClient 105.13.0
com.apple.security.sandbox 1
com.apple.security.quarantine 0
com.apple.nke.applicationfirewall 2.1.11
com.apple.driver.AppleIntelCPUPowerManagement 105.13.0
com.apple.driver.AppleProfileReadCounterAction 17
com.apple.driver.DspFuncLib 1.9.9f12
com.apple.driver.AppleProfileTimestampAction 10
com.apple.driver.AppleProfileThreadInfoAction 14
com.apple.driver.AppleProfileRegisterStateAction 10
com.apple.driver.AppleProfileKEventAction 10
com.apple.driver.AppleProfileCallstackAction 20
com.apple.iokit.IOSurface 74.2
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothSerialManager 2.3.8f7
com.apple.iokit.IOSerialFamily 10.0.3
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIBlockCommandsDevice 2.6.5
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIParallelFamily 2.0.1
com.apple.iokit.IOAudioFamily 1.7.9fc4
com.apple.kext.OSvKernDSPLib 1.3
com.apple.nvidia.nv50hal 6.2.4
com.apple.driver.AppleHDAController 1.9.9f12
com.apple.iokit.IOHDAFamily 1.9.9f12
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusController 1.0.8d0
com.apple.driver.AppleSMC 3.1.0d3
com.apple.driver.IOPlatformPluginFamily 4.5.0d5
com.apple.driver.AppleSMBusPCI 1.0.8d0
com.apple.iokit.AppleProfileFamily 41
com.apple.NVDAResman 6.2.4
com.apple.iokit.IONDRVSupport 2.2
com.apple.iokit.IOGraphicsFamily 2.2
com.apple.driver.BroadcomUSBBluetoothHCIController 2.3.8f7
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBBluetoothHCIController 2.3.8f7
com.apple.iokit.IOBluetoothFamily 2.3.8f7
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMultitouch 206.6
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBHIDDriver 4.1.5
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIMultimediaCommandsDevice 2.6.5
com.apple.iokit.IOBDStorageFamily 1.6
com.apple.iokit.IODVDStorageFamily 1.6
com.apple.iokit.IOCDStorageFamily 1.6
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMergeNub 4.1.5
com.apple.driver.AppleUSBComposite 3.9.0
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCISerialATAPI 1.2.5
com.apple.iokit.IOSCSIArchitectureModelFamily 2.6.5
com.apple.driver.XsanFilter 402.1
com.apple.iokit.IO80211Family 312
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBUserClient 4.1.5
com.apple.iokit.IOAHCIFamily 2.0.4
com.apple.iokit.IONetworkingFamily 1.10
com.apple.iokit.IOUSBFamily 4.1.7
com.apple.driver.NVSMU 2.2.7
com.apple.driver.AppleEFIRuntime 1.4.0
com.apple.iokit.IOHIDFamily 1.6.5
com.apple.iokit.IOSMBusFamily 1.1
com.apple.kext.AppleMatch 1.0.0d1
com.apple.security.TMSafetyNet 6
com.apple.driver.DiskImages 289
com.apple.iokit.IOStorageFamily 1.6.2
com.apple.driver.AppleACPIPlatform 1.3.5
com.apple.iokit.IOPCIFamily 2.6
com.apple.iokit.IOACPIFamily 1.3.0
Model: MacBook7,1, BootROM MB71.0039.B09, 2 processors, Intel Core 2 Duo, 2.4 GHz, 2 GB, SMC 1.60f5
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 320M, NVIDIA GeForce 320M, PCI, 256 MB
Memory Module: global_name
AirPort: spairport_wireless_card_type_airport_extreme (0x14E4, 0x93), Broadcom BCM43xx 1.0 (5.10.131.36.1)
Bluetooth: Version 2.3.8f7, 2 service, 12 devices, 1 incoming serial ports
Network Service: AirPort, AirPort, en1
Serial ATA Device: TOSHIBA MK2555GSXF, 232.89 GB
Serial ATA Device: MATSHITADVD-R UJ-898
USB Device: Built-in iSight, 0x05ac (Apple Inc.), 0x8507, 0x24600000
USB Device: BRCM2070 Hub, 0x0a5c (Broadcom Corp.), 0x4500, 0x06600000
USB Device: Bluetooth USB Host Controller, 0x05ac (Apple Inc.), 0x8218, 0x06630000
USB Device: Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad, 0x05ac (Apple Inc.), 0x0236, 0x06300000

Jedi,

I don't think it is an Apple nor Aperture issue. When I had v3 of GlobalSAN installed, Aperture 3.1 Vault backups work fine. And Aperture Vaults DO back up property to HFS+ formatted drives. Apple recommends you not store the library file on a network drive.

So I'm concluding that it's GlobalSAN 4.1 with the ReadyNAS that is the problem. Yes, I can copy a few files using 4.1, but if I do anything heavier, like Aperture backups or other large file transfers, then 4.1 hangs my Mac Pro.

-mw

Just installed globalSAN 4.1.0 Build 247 Beta to test with on my Mac Pro running Snow Leopard. I got it installed and provisioned a 30GB LUN on my ReadyNAS Pro. I attached the LUN using globalSAN and just copied a 20GB Aperture Library to it and the copy went OK.

I am about to test opening the Aperture Library from the iSCSI LUN and then create a Vault on it as well and update the vault to see if I can get an error. I need to expand the iSCSI LUN first.