SW cannot resolve DNS name of iSNS server

[Gustav]

I installed MS iSNS Server on the Domain Controller (2003).
MS iSCSI Initiator and (of course) nslookup can resolve the IP address of the iSNS Server.

However, in SW Management Console configuration, if I try to add an iSNS server by its DNS name, the IP address is not resolved and the address 0.0.0.0 is added. Pretty useless.
The IP address of the iSNS server can added though.

What to do?
SW is 5.7.1727

/gustav

[Anatoly (staff)]

Hi Gustav,

First of all you can try to update your build: the latest one is 5.7.1733. You can download it using this link.

We`ll pass this to our QA department. You can use IP-adresses instead of domain names for now.

[Gustav]

Found out the license key was missing.
Added the free license key.

Now the iSNS entry can neither be modified nor removed. Error message:

iSNS server was not added correctly.
This feature is not allowed by the license.

This, however, doesn't correlate with the comparison sheet:
http://www.starwindsoftware.com/editions-comparison

I haven't installed the new version yet. Is this topic on the "what's new" list?

[Anatoly (staff)]

I`m sorry, but could you please specify what is your StarWind related issue is?

[Gustav]

I wish to be able to connect SW to my iSNS server.
As you recommend in your Best Practices manual:

StarWind fully supports integration with iSNS server. StarWind also registers itself with the iSNS server allowing initiators to easily locate the storage server. Using iSNS greatly simplifies the management of initiators and targets as the SAN grows.

Currently, only the entry 0.0.0.0:3205 is displayed under Server Settings in the manager and can neither be modified nor removed, and new entries can't be added.

[Gustav]

I uninstalled the SW server and reinstalled with version 5.7.1733.
No change. iSNS entries cannot be added.

[Gustav]

So is this a bug, or am I just missing something?
Should I wait for version 5.8?

[Anatoly (staff)]

This will be fixed in future releases.

For now you can use IP adresses of the servers.

[Gustav]

Sorry, neither that is possible. Same error message.
I even tried manually to edit the config file, but any entry created is just read as 0.0.0.0 by the manager.

Do you have an expected date for a future release with the feature enabled?
Could I go until then with a trial license?
Or sign up for beta? (How?)

[Anatoly (staff)]

We expect the release on Autumn.

May I wonder why using IPs is impossible?

[Gustav]

It is not impossible, but I do have an iSNS server on-line and you recommend yourself to use it:

..Using iSNS greatly simplifies the management of initiators and targets ..

[Anatoly (staff)]

Well, I can only say thank you for your contribution in our SW development. This will be fixed in next release that is expected on the beginning of the November.

[Gustav]

Well, I installed version 6.0.5189 and requested and installed a current free license, but - much to my surprise - this feature is still blocked. A popup tells:

iSNS server was not added correctly.
The feature is not allowed by the license.

I double-checked the feature list, and iSNS support is checked for all versions.
So how do I enable iSNS support, please?

[Max (staff)]

Hi Gustav,
sorry for the delay.
We have already submitted this issue to the R&D team.
I will post a reply and PM you as soon as we have an update. (ETA next week)

[Gustav]

Any news?