StarWind Software

Can someone explain what IMG files are and how to use / create them?

I am looking for a way to emulate / create virtual HDD devices instead of presenting physical devices.

So my goal is (and i may be off base for what this product is designed to do) is to create a few 500mb - 1gb files, create lines in the .conf file and mount them as HDD devices on my hosts.

Is this possible, and if so, please describe how, also if possible share a glimpse of the .conf file.

Thank you...

Please look at a help file named "StarWind configuration (English).rtf" that is installed with your StarWind server.
(You can reach the file inside of the Programs\Rocket Division Software\StarWind\ submenu)
Chapter 3.4 of the manual describes how to add a file mapped virtual drive as an iSCSI target.

An image file must be 512 bytes aligned in size. Total size of a file-mapped drive equals to the size of its underlying file.

Current StarWind version uses image files created by other utilities. (we'll add such a tools into the next StarWind version)

For now I can send you by email an application to create image files.
Please send me an email from your mail box if you are interested in it.
(my address: valery@rocketdivision.com)

To add one or more file mapped virtual hard drives to your StarWind server add a line as follows for each of them to your StarWind.conf:
add ImageFile0 -file:"c:\images\image0.img"
add ImageFile1 -file:"d:\temp\image1.img"
...
add ImageFileX -file:"z:\my\images\imageX.img"

valery (staff) wrote:An image file must be 512 bytes aligned in size. Total size of a file-mapped drive equals to the size of its underlying file.

BTW, this requirement is not so strict. You can use files of any size. Not aligned tail it won't be used.

Wow that is non-intuitive. I struggled for a good 1/2 hour not being able to figure out why it wouldn't mount the image files. Those docs leave a lot of information to the imagination...

Just some samples on how to set up each of the types would be useful.

ChrisKinsman wrote:Wow that is non-intuitive. I struggled for a good 1/2 hour not being able to figure out why it wouldn't mount the image files. Those docs leave a lot of information to the imagination...

Just some samples on how to set up each of the types would be useful.

Chris,

Please take a look into the StarWind.conf file that is created in your StarWind installation directory.
There are some inline comments and commented samples showing how to create any device types StarWind supports now.

We are working on the documentation and I hope the next StarWind release will have all the configuration information one need to use StarWind.

Hi,

I'm not sure if we're having the same problem here. I've created an image file using mksparse.exe. Seems that I still am unable to mount this.

Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Edwinder wrote:Hi,

I'm not sure if we're having the same problem here. I've created an image file using mksparse.exe. Seems that I still am unable to mount this.

Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Hi Edwinder,

Could you please show your StarWind.conf file settings?

Did you add to the file a line like: Maybe StarWind's log files could shed more light on the issue?

Hi,

The image file now works after a reboot. Initially it does not work with both Microsoft's Initiator and the StarPort Initiator. I can't tell why though.

No changes to my starwind.conf file after reboot. Following are the settings.

addplugin -module:ImageFile.dll -symlink:ImageFile -type:"Image file" -imagedir:"images" -imagemask:"*.img"

add ImageFile0 -file:"image.img"

I've put my image.img file in the relevant "images" directory within my path.

Edwinder wrote:The image file now works after a reboot. Initially it does not work with both Microsoft's Initiator and the StarPort Initiator. I can't tell why though.

To apply any changes to the StarWind.conf without system rebooting you need to restart your StarWind service.
You can do this via Service Manager GUI or directly in the command line:

Hi Valery,

I was using the Windows Service Manager GUI. Did not work until I rebooted. In any case, will keep a lookout if I do get to test it on another machine.

Cheers!
Edwinder

Edwinder wrote:I was using the Windows Service Manager GUI. Did not work until I rebooted. In any case, will keep a lookout if I do get to test it on another machine.

This is really strange. I changed my configuration as you did and tried to restart the service both from console and Services MMC snap-in. In both cases everything worked greatly.