Dumb Newbie Questions. ;)

Fox · Tue Feb 22, 2005 3:09 pm

Hi there, I've come across your products in the search to solve a slight problem I've run into.

What I need to do:
I need to share an NTFS partition (G: ) on a physical drive (PhysicalDrive1) on a computer running Windows 2000 Pro. A service running under the LocalSystem account on a Windows XP machine needs to access files that reside on G: on the Win2k machine. This means that regular file sharing wont work, as LocalSystem doesn't have network access.

I cannot run the service under an account that has network access, because I then cannot interact with it on the desktop. (note: This service wasn't meant to be run as a service, or else it'd have a GUI to connect to it.

I set it up as a service using srvany.exe)

The problem:
Well, from what I read, sharing the physical drive isn't a good idea with NTFS. So, I've been trying to set up using the image plugin... But I guess I'm just not understanding the manual.

The Config File:

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#
# StarWind iSCSI server configuration file.
#
# This file contains list of SCSI devices that will be accessible to iSCSI.
# The device name should be placed in the first column followed by the target name.
# The device name and the target name should be separated by at least one space. 
#
# $Id: starwind.conf,v 1.21 2005/01/31 01:50:03 valery Exp $
#

[parameters]

#
# LogLevel values: (0-Disabled, 1-Errors, 2-Warnings, 3-all messages)
#
LogLevel = "1"

#
# Don't change the LogMask if you have no idea what does it mean!
#
LogMask = "0x8000ffff"

#
# Port number for iSCSI connectons
#
Port = "3260"

#
# Interface to listen to. "0.0.0.0" corresponds to "listen to all interfaces".
#
Interface = "0.0.0.0"

#
# Macros:
#   $(host)  - host name
#   $(symid) - symbolic target id ('cdrom.z' for example)
#

#
# Uncomment the line below to have global target id as part of target name
#
# DefTargetName = "iqn.2003-06.com.rocketdivision.starwind:$(host).$(symid)"

#
# Username and password used for the control connection.
#
--Edited for post--

#
# CHAP authentification for control connections
#
#CtlAuthMode = "chap"
#CtlAuthServerName = "srv"
#CtlAuthServerSecret = "123"
#CtlAuthClientName = "user"
#CtlAuthClientSecret = "345"

#
# 'Echo = yes' - enables echo for control connections.
#
Echo = "no"
  
#
# Minimal 'maximum transfer length' should be supported by all SPTI devices
#
MinBufferSize = "65536"

#
# 'Minimal' aligment mask for SPTI devices - all buffers passed to SPTI will 
# be aligned according to this mask at least. Sure if an adapter requests 
# bigger aligment target will supply correctly aligmned buffers.
#
AlignmentMask = "0x0000"

#
# Setting 'AllowOnlyRecordableCd' to 'yes' forces the target to filter out all but 
# recordable CD/DVD.
#
#AllowOnlyRecordableCd = "no"

#
# Auto Export some of the found Devices
#
#AutoExportDevices = "spti:disk,spti:cd/dvd"
#AutoExportDevices = "spti:cd/dvd"

#
# Devices are autoexported as read/write by default
# set AutoConfigMode="ro" to allow only readonly access to all the devices
#
#AutoExportMode = "ro"

#
# Length of iSCSI queue. (min 16, max 512)
#
MaxPendingRequests = "64"


[plugins]

#
# Plugins
#
# Parameters (mandatory):
#     -module  - plugin dll
#     -symlink - device name prefix for all devices managed by the plugin
#     -type    - type of devices managed by the plugin
#   (optional):
#     -loglevel:"n" (n=0-3) - override log level for a plugin (by default global LogLevel value is used)
#

#
# Ram Disk plugin
#
addplugin -module:"RamDisk.dll" -symlink:"RamDrive" -type:"RAM disk"

addplugin -module:"IBVolume.dll" -symlink:"IBV" -type:"IBV" -imagedir:"ibv" -imagemask:"*.x" -loglevel:"3"

#
# ImageFile-specific parameters (mandatory):
#     imagedir  - image files directory. The plugin scans this directory for available images.
#     imagemask - image file mask. While scanning the directory (see above) the plugin will 
#         look only for files selected by this mask.
#
addplugin -module:"ImageFile.dll" -symlink:"ImageFile" -type:"Image file" -imagedir:"images" -imagemask:"*.img"

#
# VirtualDvd-specific parameters (optional):
#     share - sharing option flags. May be '', 'r', 'w' or 'rw'. 'r' means that device will be 
#         shared for reading. 'w' - for writing. Default is ''.
#     sessions - number of simultaneous iSCSI session allowed for this device. Default is 1.
#
addplugin -module:"VirtualDvd.dll" -symlink:"VirtualDvd" -type:"Virtual DVD" -imagedir:"images" -imagemask:"*.iso"


[devices]

#
# Hard drive accessible through SPTI
#
#add \\.\Physicaldrive0

#
# SPTI-specific device parameters (optional)
#   -timeout:nnn  - SCSI command execution timeout (in seconds). Default is 108000 (30 hours).
#   -share:"<rw|r>" - to allow multiple initiators to access the device (shared mode)
#   -sessions:nnn - set maximum number of initiators allowed to mount the device in shared mode
#

#
# CD-ROM accessible through SPTI
#
#add \\.\Z:

# Share a hard drive or a CD-ROM to multiple clients
#add \\.\F: -timeout:256 -share:"rw" -sessions:8

#
# ImageFile device parameters:
#   -file   - image files name. This name is relative to 'imagedir'. The file should exists. 
#              It can be created by means of 'mksparse' utility.
#   -header - if not 0 the plugin will not use given amoung of bytes in the beginning of the file,
#         This value should be sector aligned.
#   -asyncmode:<no|yes> - if 'yes' the image is opened in asyncronous mode (you can benefit from this on stripped volumes)
#
#add "ImageFile0" -file:"image.img" -asyncmode:"yes"
add ImageFile1 -file:"\\.\G:" -header:0

#
# RAM disk device parameters:
#   -size   - size of RAM disk to create (in MB).
#   -format - if 'yes' created disk will be formatted as FAT16 partition.
#   -useawe:<no|yes> - allows creating of huge ram drives (>1GB)
#	 But the AWE mode is a bit slower than not using AWE!
#   -speedtest:<no|yes> - can be used for network throughput tests.
#	 In the mode no data actually are written to or read from the ram disk.
#
#add RamDrive0 -size:16 -format:yes
#add RamDrive0 -size:16 -format:no -useawe:no -speedtest:yes

#
# Virtual DVD device parameters:
#   -file - image (iso or mds) file name.
#   -type - 'iso' or 'mds' depending on type of the image.
#
#add VirtualDvd0 -file:"D:\temp\iwin2k.iso" -type:"iso"


add "IBV0" -file:"test.ibv"

[permissions]

#
# CHAP authentication
#

#allow -device:RamDrive0 -chapLocalName:"iqn.1991-05.com.microsoft:home.MSHOME.NET" -chapLocalSecret:"5432109876543210" -chapPeerSecret:"0123456789012345"
#allow -chapLocalName:"test" -chapLocalSecret:"5432109876543210" -chapPeerName:"" -chapPeerSecret:"0123456789012345"

The Log:
Note that I did try to add again in the wizard after it failed to show up from the settings in the config file.

Code: Select all

14:55:02:421 (c28) Srv: StarWind iSCSI Target Version 2.4.3 (Build 0x20050209, Win32)
14:55:02:421 (c28) Srv: *** FREE NON COMMERCIAL version ***
14:55:02:421 (c28) Srv: Please contact Rocket Division Software at <info@rocketdivision.com> for more details.
14:55:02:421 (c28) Srv: Maximum number of clients allowed: 2.
14:55:02:421 (c28) Srv: Config file: 'C:\Program Files\Rocket Division Software\StarWind\starwind.conf'
14:55:02:453 (c28) conf: 'LogLevel' = '1'
14:55:02:453 (c28) conf: 'LogMask' = '0x8000ffff'
14:55:02:453 (c28) conf: 'Port' = '3260'
14:55:02:453 (c28) conf: 'Interface' = '0.0.0.0'
14:55:02:453 (c28) conf: 'Login' = '--EDITED--'
14:55:02:453 (c28) conf: 'Password' = '--EDITED--'
14:55:02:453 (c28) conf: 'Echo' = 'no'
14:55:02:453 (c28) conf: 'MinBufferSize' = '65536'
14:55:02:453 (c28) conf: 'AlignmentMask' = '0x0000'
14:55:02:453 (c28) conf: 'MaxPendingRequests' = '64'
14:55:02:453 (c28) conf: Variable 'LogLevel' is set to '1'.
14:55:02:453 (c28) conf: Variable 'LogMask' is set to '0x8000ffff'.
14:55:02:453 (c28) conf: Variable 'Port' is set to '3260'.
14:55:02:453 (c28) conf: Variable 'Interface' is set to '0.0.0.0'.
14:55:02:453 (c28) conf: Variable 'Login' is set to 'Fox'.
14:55:02:453 (c28) conf: Variable 'Password' is set to '##BS76oXFh8eEEQknn78Wxfw=='.
14:55:02:453 (c28) conf: Variable 'Echo' is set to 'no'.
14:55:02:453 (c28) conf: Variable 'MinBufferSize' is set to '65536'.
14:55:02:453 (c28) conf: Variable 'AlignmentMask' is set to '0x0000'.
14:55:02:453 (c28) conf: Variable 'MaxPendingRequests' is set to '64'.
14:55:02:453 (c28) conf: 'RamDisk.dll' loaded successfully.
14:55:02:453 (c28) conf: Failed to load 'IBVolume.dll' (error 126).
14:55:02:453 (c28) conf: 'ImageFile.dll' loaded successfully.
14:55:02:453 (c28) conf: 'VirtualDvd.dll' loaded successfully.
14:55:02:453 (c28) SCSI: Failed to create 'ImageFile1' device.
14:55:02:453 (c28) S: *ERROR* cannot open the device 'ImageFile1'.
14:55:02:453 (c28) Srv: * Device test failed for 'ImageFile1'.
14:55:02:453 (c28) conf: Device test failed for 'ImageFile1'.
14:55:02:468 (c28) SPTI: 'IBV0': Cannot open the device: The system cannot find the file specified. (code: 2).
14:55:02:468 (c28) S: *ERROR* cannot open the device 'IBV0'.
14:55:02:468 (c28) Srv: * Device test failed for 'IBV0'.
14:55:02:468 (c28) conf: Device test failed for 'IBV0'.
14:55:02:468 (c28) Srv: Refreshing device list (complete)...
14:55:08:187 (c28) Srv: A new SPTI device '\\.\F:' found.
14:55:08:531 (c28) SPTI: '\\.\H:': Cannot open the device: The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process. (code: 32).
14:55:08:937 (c28) SPTI: '\\.\Cdrom0': Cannot open the device: The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process. (code: 32).
14:55:09:000 (c28) Srv: A new SPTI device '\\.\PhysicalDrive0' found.
14:55:09:000 (c28) Srv: A new SPTI device '\\.\PhysicalDrive1' found.
14:55:11:796 (c28) SCSI: Failed to create 'ImageFile4' device.
14:55:11:796 (c28) Plugin: Test for device 'ImageFile4' failed.
14:55:11:812 (c28) SCSI: Failed to create 'ImageFile3' device.
14:55:11:812 (c28) Plugin: Test for device 'ImageFile3' failed.
14:55:11:812 (c28) SCSI: Failed to create 'ImageFile2' device.
14:55:11:812 (c28) Plugin: Test for device 'ImageFile2' failed.
14:55:11:812 (c28) SCSI: Failed to create 'ImageFile1' device.
14:55:11:812 (c28) Plugin: Test for device 'ImageFile1' failed.
14:55:11:812 (c28) SCSI: Failed to create 'ImageFile0' device.
14:55:11:812 (c28) Plugin: Test for device 'ImageFile0' failed.
14:55:11:812 (c28) Srv: (FREE) Binding to 0.0.0.0:3260 ...
14:55:11:812 (b7c) conf: Waiting for a control connection at port 3261 ...
14:55:11:812 (c28) Srv: Waiting for a connection at port 0.0.0.0:3260 ...
14:55:34:343 (b7c) conf: Accepted the control connection from 127.0.0.1:3419.
14:56:34:843 (c28) Srv: Accepted connection from 10.10.10.26:3281. id assigned - 4370
14:56:34:843 (c28) C[0x1112], FREE: Event - CONNECTED.
14:56:34:843 (c28) C[0x1112], XPT_UP: T3.
14:56:34:843 (bb0) C[0x1112], XPT_UP: Login request: ISID 0x801234567890, TSIH 0x0000.
14:56:34:843 (bb0) C[0x1112], XPT_UP: Event - LOGIN.
14:56:34:843 (bb0) C[0x1112], IN_LOGIN: T4.
14:56:34:843 (bb0) Params: <<< String param 'InitiatorName': received 'iqn.2003-06.com.rocketdivision.starport', accepted 'iqn.2003-06.com.rocketdivision.starport'
14:56:34:843 (bb0) Params: <<< Enum param 'SessionType': received 'Discovery', accepted 'Discovery'
14:56:34:843 (bb0) Params: <<< Enum param 'AuthMethod': received 'None', accepted 'None'
14:56:34:843 (bb0) Params: Update OFMarkInt according to the value of OFMarker.
14:56:34:843 (bb0) Params: Update IFMarkInt according to the value of IFMarker.
14:56:34:843 (bb0) Params: <<< Enum param 'AuthMethod': received 'None', accepted 'None'
14:56:34:843 (bb0) T[0x1]: Anonymous connection allowed.
14:56:34:843 (bb0) Params: >>> AuthMethod=None.
14:56:34:843 (c60) T[0x1]: The end of stage 0, next stage is 1.
14:56:34:843 (bb0) Params: <<< Numeric param 'ErrorRecoveryLevel': received 0, accepted 0
14:56:34:843 (bb0) Params: <<< Numeric param 'MaxConnections': received 1, accepted 1
14:56:34:843 (bb0) Params: <<< Enum param 'HeaderDigest': received 'None', accepted 'None'
14:56:34:843 (bb0) Params: <<< Enum param 'DataDigest': received 'None', accepted 'None'
14:56:34:843 (bb0) Params: <<< Boolean param 'OFMarker': received No, accepted 0
14:56:34:843 (bb0) Params: <<< Boolean param 'IFMarker': received No, accepted 0
14:56:34:843 (bb0) Params: <<< Boolean param 'InitialR2T': received No, accepted 0
14:56:34:843 (bb0) Params: <<< Boolean param 'ImmediateData': received Yes, accepted 1
14:56:34:843 (bb0) Params: <<< Numeric param 'MaxRecvDataSegmentLength': received 65536, accepted 65536
14:56:34:843 (bb0) Params: <<< Numeric param 'MaxBurstLength': received 262144, accepted 262144
14:56:34:843 (bb0) Params: <<< Numeric param 'FirstBurstLength': received 65536, accepted 65536
14:56:34:843 (bb0) Params: <<< Numeric param 'DefaultTime2Wait': received 5, accepted 5
14:56:34:843 (bb0) Params: <<< Numeric param 'DefaultTime2Retain': received 20, accepted 20
14:56:34:843 (bb0) Params: <<< Numeric param 'MaxOutstandingR2T': received 1, accepted 1
14:56:34:843 (bb0) Params: <<< Boolean param 'DataPDUInOrder': received Yes, accepted 1
14:56:34:843 (bb0) Params: <<< Boolean param 'DataSequenceInOrder': received Yes, accepted 1
14:56:34:843 (bb0) Params: >>> ErrorRecoveryLevel=0.
14:56:34:843 (bb0) Params: >>> MaxConnections=1.
14:56:34:843 (bb0) Params: >>> HeaderDigest=None.
14:56:34:843 (bb0) Params: >>> DataDigest=None.
14:56:34:843 (bb0) Params: >>> OFMarker=No.
14:56:34:843 (bb0) Params: >>> IFMarker=No.
14:56:34:843 (bb0) Params: >>> InitialR2T=No.
14:56:34:843 (bb0) Params: >>> ImmediateData=Yes.
14:56:34:843 (bb0) Params: >>> MaxRecvDataSegmentLength=65536.
14:56:34:843 (bb0) Params: >>> MaxBurstLength=262144.
14:56:34:843 (bb0) Params: >>> FirstBurstLength=65536.
14:56:34:843 (bb0) Params: >>> DefaultTime2Wait=5.
14:56:34:843 (bb0) Params: >>> DefaultTime2Retain=20.
14:56:34:843 (bb0) Params: >>> MaxOutstandingR2T=1.
14:56:34:843 (bb0) Params: >>> DataPDUInOrder=Yes.
14:56:34:843 (bb0) Params: >>> DataSequenceInOrder=Yes.
14:56:34:843 (c60) T[0x1]: The end of stage 1, next stage is 3.
14:56:34:843 (c60) C[0x1112], IN_LOGIN: Event - LOGIN_ACCEPT.
14:56:34:843 (c60) C[0x1112], LOGGED_IN: T5.
14:56:34:843 (c60) C[0x1112], LOGGED_IN: Event - LOGOUT.
14:56:34:843 (c60) C[0x1112], IN_LOGOUT: T9/10.
14:56:34:843 (c14) C[0x1112], IN_LOGOUT: Event - LOGOUT_ACCEPT.
14:56:34:843 (c14) C[0x1112], FREE: T13.
14:56:58:703 (c30) Srv: Refreshing device list (plugins)...
14:56:58:843 (c30) SCSI: Failed to create 'ImageFile4' device.
14:56:58:843 (c30) Plugin: Test for device 'ImageFile4' failed.
14:56:58:843 (c30) SCSI: Failed to create 'ImageFile3' device.
14:56:58:843 (c30) Plugin: Test for device 'ImageFile3' failed.
14:56:58:843 (c30) SCSI: Failed to create 'ImageFile2' device.
14:56:58:843 (c30) Plugin: Test for device 'ImageFile2' failed.
14:56:58:843 (c30) SCSI: Failed to create 'ImageFile1' device.
14:56:58:843 (c30) Plugin: Test for device 'ImageFile1' failed.
14:56:58:843 (c30) SCSI: Failed to create 'ImageFile0' device.
14:56:58:843 (c30) Plugin: Test for device 'ImageFile0' failed.
14:57:10:656 (c30) SCSI: Failed to create 'ImageFile0' device.
14:57:10:656 (c30) S: *ERROR* cannot open the device 'ImageFile0'.
14:57:10:656 (c30) Srv: * Device test failed for 'ImageFile0'.
14:57:10:656 (c30) conf: Device test failed for 'ImageFile0'.

Val (staff) · Tue Feb 22, 2005 10:16 pm

Hi Fox,

Well, from what I read, sharing the physical drive isn't a good idea with NTFS. So, I've been trying to set up using the image plugin... But I guess I'm just not understanding the manual.

The posts about impossibility sharing of hard drives with SPTI should be a bit old.
We've fixed the issues two monthes ago and now this mode works good.

So the StarWind version should be able to share your \\.\PhysicalDrive1 well.
The only disadvantage is the drive will be unaccessible for the local system while it is mounted by a remote host.

If it's not possible in your case to share the whole hard drive, you can use a virtual ImageFIle disk that is stored in a regular file.

Fox · Wed Feb 23, 2005 12:51 am

Hrm... not sure this would work, then.

I need both machines to be able to read and write to this drive...

Guess I'm going to have to find someone to write a custom GUI for the program I'm running.

Thanks for the response.

Fox · Wed Feb 23, 2005 5:11 am

It might be useful if a mode existed where Starwind could perform for network file sharing as ODBC interfaces do for network databases?

With ODBC and databases, you can have a local service running under the LocalSystem account, which does not have network access. But using an ODBC interface, the LocalSystem service can connect to the local ODBC interface, which then connects to the database on the network.

Is there *any* possibility of anyone emulating a hard drive in a similar fashion? Basically have an emulated hard drive that just connects to the network share? Is there any product like this out there already?

EDIT:
And no, mapped drives don't work for this.

LocalSystem still can't access them.

Val (staff) · Wed Feb 23, 2005 9:58 am

Fox wrote:It might be useful if a mode existed where Starwind could perform for network file sharing as ODBC interfaces do for network databases?

With ODBC and databases, you can have a local service running under the LocalSystem account, which does not have network access. But using an ODBC interface, the LocalSystem service can connect to the local ODBC interface, which then connects to the database on the network.

Is there *any* possibility of anyone emulating a hard drive in a similar fashion? Basically have an emulated hard drive that just connects to the network share? Is there any product like this out there already?

Hi Fox,

I guess you problem is solvable with simple running the service under some non system account that is allowed to access network shares.

iSCSI has nothing to do with ODBC.
The main goal of iSCSI is to provide a SAN infrastructure to share storage devices on sector level.

Using our StarWind and StarPort (or any othe iSCIS initiator) it's possible to access remote devices and work with them like with any other local device.

Fox · Wed Feb 23, 2005 10:07 pm

That is not a valid solution unless you want to program a GUI for the service for me.

I'm not a programmer, and can't do that myself.

It's not a valid solution, because running the service under ANY other account prevents it from being shown on the desktop. If you use a windows system, try it. Install a service and look at the logon options. You'll note that there's a check to allow it to show on the desktop that you *can not* access unless you set it to LocalSystem.

Thu Feb 24, 2005 8:59 am

Managing hard disk storage (hardware or virtualized - exactly our case) just requires "root" or 'Administrator" privileges. Under any OS I know.

So with your task you've positioned yourself to nowhere and we cannot help you. And nobady ever will from what I see now.

I do recommend you to review your technical task

Fox wrote:That is not a valid solution unless you want to program a GUI for the service for me.

I'm not a programmer, and can't do that myself.

It's not a valid solution, because running the service under ANY other account prevents it from being shown on the desktop. If you use a windows system, try it. Install a service and look at the logon options. You'll note that there's a check to allow it to show on the desktop that you *can not* access unless you set it to LocalSystem.