Adding iSCSI boot support to Microsoft Windows

You need to install the Microsoft iSCSI Software Initiator Boot Version. This is not the standard Microsoft iSCSI Initiator; you do need the special boot-capable version. At the time of writing, this is available in four versions:

• Initiator-2.08-boot-build3825-x86chk.exe

• Initiator-2.08-boot-build3825-x86fre.exe

• Initiator-2.08-boot-build3825-x64chk.exe

• Initiator-2.08-boot-build3825-x64fre.exe

You almost certainly want the -x86chk version, unless you are running 64-bit Windows (in which case you want the -x64chk version).

Download and install the boot-capable iSCSI initiator. Do not install the optional “Microsoft MPIO Multipathing Support for iSCSI”, since this is incompatible with iSCSI boot.

If you are presented with the option to “Configure iSCSI Network Boot Support”, then you must enable this option and select the network card that will be used for iSCSI boot.

After installation is complete, reboot the system and check that it boots up correctly.

If you are using Windows 2003 or later, and were given the option to “Configure iSCSI Network Boot Support” during installation, then you are now ready to:

• Transfer the Microsoft Windows disk image to your iSCSI target

If you are using Windows XP, or were not given the option to “Configure iSCSI Network Boot Support” during installation, then you must now

• Install the Windows SAN Boot Configuration Driver