Dual-mode FC configuration - Revision history

Qadmin: Rewrite to house style and fix the values (QSTOR-12529). The page told readers to write qlini_mode=enabled for dual mode - that is initiator-only - and qlini_mode=disabled for target-only, which never creates the initiator role and breaks Enable FC Initiator Mode. Replaces the hand-written modprobe edits with qs-util enabledualmode/disabledualmode, which write dual/exclusive to the file the product expects, and explains that enabling FC target mode means dual because the initiator role is wha...

2026-09-05T06:03:28Z

Rewrite to house style and fix the values (QSTOR-12529). The page told readers to write qlini_mode=enabled for dual mode - that is initiator-only - and qlini_mode=disabled for target-only, which never creates the initiator role and breaks Enable FC Initiator Mode. Replaces the hand-written modprobe edits with qs-util enabledualmode/disabledualmode, which write dual/exclusive to the file the product expects, and explains that enabling FC target mode means dual because the initiator role is wha...

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:03, 5 September 2026
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	~~== Setting up~~ the FC ~~Target~~ driver to use dual ~~initiator +~~ target ~~mode ==~~		[[Category:QuantaStor_Guide]]
			'''Enabling FC target mode on QuantaStor means dual mode''' -- initiator and target at the same time, rather than target alone. Both roles are needed: the target role presents LUNs to FC hosts, and the initiator role is what lets the appliance enumerate the FC initiators visible on the fabric. Without it the appliance is invisible to its own fabric, so target mode and dual mode go together.

			The mode is set by the <code>qlini_mode</code> option on the QLogic driver, applies to '''the whole appliance''' rather than to an individual port, and takes effect at boot. Use the <code>qs-util</code> verbs below rather than editing the driver configuration by hand -- they write the correct values to the file the product expects.

			{\| class="wikitable"
			! Mode !! <code>qlini_mode</code> !! What it gives you
			\|-
			\| '''Dual''' ''(use this for FC target)'' \|\| <code>dual</code> \|\| Initiator and target together. FC target ports serve LUNs, and FC remote ports on the fabric are discoverable.
			\|-
			\| Target only \|\| <code>exclusive</code> \|\| Target only. LUNs are served, but '''no FC initiators are discoverable''' -- see the warning below.
			\|}

	~~To make this configuration change you'll need to login to~~ the ~~appliance via ssh then use 'sudo -i' to elevate your permissions to root level.~~		== Checking the current mode ==
	~~Next, run this command to configure the QLogic driver to enable initiator~~ mode ~~like so:~~

	~~echo "options qla2xxx_scst qlini_mode=enabled" > /etc/modprobe.d/qla2xxx_scst.conf~~		{{Navigation\|Storage Management → Storage Systems → ''select a Storage System'' → FC Ports ''(tab)''}}

	~~Next~~, ~~stop the scsi target service and rmmod~~/~~modprobe the driver~~ with ~~these changes and restart the scsi target service~~:		The '''Mode''' column reports each port's active mode. From the appliance, read it per port from sysfs -- substitute your own <code>hostN</code>, which you can list with <code>ls /sys/class/fc_host/</code>:

	~~service iscsi~~-~~target stop~~		<pre style="font-size: smaller">
	~~rmmod qla2xxx_scst~~		cat /sys/class/fc_host/host7/device/scsi_host/host7/active_mode
	~~modprobe qla2xxx_scst~~		</pre>
	~~service iscsi-target start~~

	~~This will have cleared out all active sessions and targets. Next, restart the Quantastor management service to re-expose FC and iSCSI targets~~		Dual mode prints both roles:

	~~service quantastor restart~~		<pre style="font-size: smaller">
			Initiator, Target
			</pre>

	~~Now verify~~ the ~~new configuration to ensure that both initiator and target mode are enabled via the below commands. Note that the hostN location of your FC port entry will likely be different than~~ the ~~host16 value used in this example.~~		To see the value the driver was actually loaded with:

	cat /sys/~~class~~/~~fc_host~~/~~host16~~/~~device~~/~~scsi_host/host16/active_mode~~		<pre style="font-size: smaller">
			cat /sys/module/qla2xxx_scst/parameters/qlini_mode
			</pre>

	~~If the ''active_mode'' output only reports Initiator~~ mode, you will need to go to the web interface and use the "Enable FC Target Port" dialog available by right clicking on the FC card. Alternatively you can temporarily enable target access via the command below, note that your FC WWN will be different than the one used in this example.		== Setting dual initiator + target mode ==

	~~echo~~ "1" > /~~sys/kernel/scst_tgt/targets/qla2x00t/21\:00\:00\:24\:ff\:2e\:d1\:16/enabled~~		<pre style="font-size: smaller">
			sudo qs-util enabledualmode
			sudo reboot
			</pre>

	~~Finally, check~~ to ~~make sure that~~ the ~~driver~~ is ~~now in dual Initiator+Target mode. Again, host16~~ is ~~used in this example but your FC port may be at some other hostN number~~.		This writes <code>qlini_mode=dual</code> to <code>/etc/modprobe.d/qla2xxx.conf</code> for both the <code>qla2xxx</code> and <code>qla2xxx_scst</code> module names. '''A reboot is required''' -- the option is read when the driver loads.

	~~cat~~ /~~sys/class/fc_host/host16/device/scsi_host/host16/active_mode~~		After the reboot, confirm both roles are present with the <code>active_mode</code> check above.

	~~This should print out both modes like so:~~		== Setting target-only mode ==

	~~Initiator, Target~~		<pre style="font-size: smaller">
			sudo qs-util disabledualmode
			sudo reboot
			</pre>

			This writes <code>qlini_mode=exclusive</code>, and the ports come up in target mode without transitioning from initiator mode at boot.

	~~== Setting up~~ the ~~FC Target driver~~ to ~~use~~ target only mode ==		'''Target-only mode makes FC initiators invisible to the appliance.''' With <code>exclusive</code> set, <code>qs fc-remote-port-list</code> returns nothing and the '''Select Initiator...''' picker in [[Hosts and Host Groups\|Add Host]] finds no WWPNs, because the appliance has no initiator role with which to see the fabric. You can still create a host by typing the initiator's WWPN in by hand. Use target-only mode only where that trade-off is intended.

	~~Follow~~ the ~~sames steps noted above but change the "enabled" to "disabled" like so:~~		== Do not edit the driver configuration by hand ==

	~~echo "options qla2xxx_scst qlini_mode=disabled" > /etc/~~modprobe.~~d/qla2xxx_scst.conf~~		Older guidance had administrators write the modprobe file directly. Two values in common circulation are wrong:

	~~In this~~ mode ~~the~~ FC ~~driver will startup in Target mode and will not need to transition from~~ Initiator ~~to Target after booting~~.		{\| class="wikitable"
			! Value !! What it actually does
			\|-
			\| <code>qlini_mode=enabled</code> \|\| '''Initiator only''' -- not dual mode.
			\|-
			\| <code>qlini_mode=disabled</code> \|\| The initiator role is '''never created'''. A port taken out of target mode then has no role at all, which breaks '''Enable FC Initiator Mode'''.
			\|}

	[[~~Category:QuantaStor_Guide~~]]		Hand-written instructions also commonly use the filename <code>/etc/modprobe.d/qla2xxx_scst.conf</code>, while <code>qs-util</code> writes <code>/etc/modprobe.d/qla2xxx.conf</code>. Following both leaves two files setting the same option to different values, and which one wins is not something to rely on. If you have an old <code>qla2xxx_scst.conf</code> on an appliance, remove it and set the mode with <code>qs-util</code>.

			== Related pages ==

			* [[Fibre Channel Target Port Management]] -- FC target ports, remote ports, LIPs and assigning volumes over FC
			* [[Hosts and Host Groups]] -- host records and FC WWPN initiators
			* [[QuantaStor Shell Utilities]] -- <code>qs-util</code> and the other appliance command-line tools

			----
			<small>''Verified against QuantaStor 6.9.0.''</small>

Qadmin: /* Setting up the FC Target driver to use target only mode */

2022-04-01T15:28:54Z

Setting up the FC Target driver to use target only mode

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:28, 1 April 2022
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	Follow the sames steps noted above but change the "enabled" to "disabled" like so:		Follow the sames steps noted above but change the "enabled" to "disabled" like so:

	echo "options qla2xxx_scst qlini_mode=~~enabled~~" > /etc/modprobe.d/qla2xxx_scst.conf		echo "options qla2xxx_scst qlini_mode=disabled" > /etc/modprobe.d/qla2xxx_scst.conf

	In this mode the FC driver will startup in Target mode and will not need to transition from Initiator to Target after booting.		In this mode the FC driver will startup in Target mode and will not need to transition from Initiator to Target after booting.

	[[Category:QuantaStor_Guide]]		[[Category:QuantaStor_Guide]]

Qadmin at 16:43, 31 March 2022

2022-03-31T16:43:46Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:43, 31 March 2022
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	Next, run this command to configure the QLogic driver to enable initiator mode like so:		Next, run this command to configure the QLogic driver to enable initiator mode like so:

	echo "options ~~qla2xxx~~ qlini_mode=enabled" > /etc/modprobe.d/~~qla2xxx~~.conf		echo "options qla2xxx_scst qlini_mode=enabled" > /etc/modprobe.d/qla2xxx_scst.conf

	Next, stop the scsi target service and rmmod/modprobe the driver with these changes and restart the scsi target service:		Next, stop the scsi target service and rmmod/modprobe the driver with these changes and restart the scsi target service:

	service iscsi-target stop		service iscsi-target stop
	rmmod ~~qla2xxx~~		rmmod qla2xxx_scst
	modprobe ~~qla2xxx~~		modprobe qla2xxx_scst
	service iscsi-target start		service iscsi-target start

Line 38:		Line 38:
	Follow the sames steps noted above but change the "enabled" to "disabled" like so:		Follow the sames steps noted above but change the "enabled" to "disabled" like so:

	echo "options ~~qla2xxx~~ qlini_mode=enabled" > /etc/modprobe.d/~~qla2xxx~~.conf		echo "options qla2xxx_scst qlini_mode=enabled" > /etc/modprobe.d/qla2xxx_scst.conf

	In this mode the FC driver will startup in Target mode and will not need to transition from Initiator to Target after booting.		In this mode the FC driver will startup in Target mode and will not need to transition from Initiator to Target after booting.

	[[Category:QuantaStor_Guide]]		[[Category:QuantaStor_Guide]]

Qadmin at 22:46, 7 April 2016

2016-04-07T22:46:27Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:46, 7 April 2016
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	In this mode the FC driver will startup in Target mode and will not need to transition from Initiator to Target after booting.		In this mode the FC driver will startup in Target mode and will not need to transition from Initiator to Target after booting.

			[[Category:QuantaStor_Guide]]

Qadmin: /* Setting up the FC Target driver to use target only mode */

2015-05-27T22:48:49Z

Setting up the FC Target driver to use target only mode

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:48, 27 May 2015
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	echo "options qla2xxx qlini_mode=enabled" > /etc/modprobe.d/qla2xxx.conf		echo "options qla2xxx qlini_mode=enabled" > /etc/modprobe.d/qla2xxx.conf

	In this mode the FC driver will startup in Target mode and will not need to transition from Initiator to Target after booting		In this mode the FC driver will startup in Target mode and will not need to transition from Initiator to Target after booting.

Qadmin: /* Setting up the FC Target driver to use dual initiator + target mode */

2015-05-27T22:48:39Z

Setting up the FC Target driver to use dual initiator + target mode

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:48, 27 May 2015
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	Initiator, Target		Initiator, Target


			== Setting up the FC Target driver to use target only mode ==

			Follow the sames steps noted above but change the "enabled" to "disabled" like so:

			echo "options qla2xxx qlini_mode=enabled" > /etc/modprobe.d/qla2xxx.conf

			In this mode the FC driver will startup in Target mode and will not need to transition from Initiator to Target after booting

Qadmin: /* Setting up the FC Target driver to use dual initiator + target mode */

2015-05-05T17:20:46Z

Setting up the FC Target driver to use dual initiator + target mode

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:20, 5 May 2015
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	== Setting up the FC Target driver to use dual initiator + target mode ==		== Setting up the FC Target driver to use dual initiator + target mode ==

	To make this configuration change you'll need to login to the appliance via ssh then use 'sudo -i' to elevate your permissions to root level. Next, run this command to configure the QLogic driver to enable initiator mode like so:		To make this configuration change you'll need to login to the appliance via ssh then use 'sudo -i' to elevate your permissions to root level.
			Next, run this command to configure the QLogic driver to enable initiator mode like so:

	echo "options qla2xxx qlini_mode=enabled" > /etc/modprobe.d/qla2xxx.conf		echo "options qla2xxx qlini_mode=enabled" > /etc/modprobe.d/qla2xxx.conf

Qadmin: Created page with "== Setting up the FC Target driver to use dual initiator + target mode == To make this configuration change you'll need to login to the appliance via ssh then use 'sudo -i' t..."

2015-05-05T17:20:23Z

Created page with "== Setting up the FC Target driver to use dual initiator + target mode == To make this configuration change you'll need to login to the appliance via ssh then use 'sudo -i' t..."

New page

== Setting up the FC Target driver to use dual initiator + target mode ==

To make this configuration change you'll need to login to the appliance via ssh then use 'sudo -i' to elevate your permissions to root level. Next, run this command to configure the QLogic driver to enable initiator mode like so:

echo "options qla2xxx qlini_mode=enabled" > /etc/modprobe.d/qla2xxx.conf

Next, stop the scsi target service and rmmod/modprobe the driver with these changes and restart the scsi target service:

service iscsi-target stop
rmmod qla2xxx
modprobe qla2xxx
service iscsi-target start

This will have cleared out all active sessions and targets. Next, restart the Quantastor management service to re-expose FC and iSCSI targets

service quantastor restart

Now verify the new configuration to ensure that both initiator and target mode are enabled via the below commands. Note that the hostN location of your FC port entry will likely be different than the host16 value used in this example.

cat /sys/class/fc_host/host16/device/scsi_host/host16/active_mode

If the ''active_mode'' output only reports Initiator mode, you will need to go to the web interface and use the "Enable FC Target Port" dialog available by right clicking on the FC card. Alternatively you can temporarily enable target access via the command below, note that your FC WWN will be different than the one used in this example.

echo "1" > /sys/kernel/scst_tgt/targets/qla2x00t/21\:00\:00\:24\:ff\:2e\:d1\:16/enabled

Finally, check to make sure that the driver is now in dual Initiator+Target mode. Again, host16 is used in this example but your FC port may be at some other hostN number.

cat /sys/class/fc_host/host16/device/scsi_host/host16/active_mode

This should print out both modes like so:

Initiator, Target