ISCSI.CONF(5) | File Formats Manual | ISCSI.CONF(5)

# NAME

`iscsi.conf` — ISCSI daemon configuration file

# DESCRIPTION

The iscsid(8) daemon implements the Internet Small Computer Systems Interface as described in RFC 3720.

The `iscsi.conf` configuration file is divided into the following main sections:

Macros
  Definitions of variables that can be used later, simplifying the configuration file.
Global configuration
  Global settings for iscsid(8).
Target configuration
  Target-specific parameters.

With the exception of macros, the sections should be grouped and appear in `iscsi.conf` in the order shown above.

The current line can be extended over multiple lines using a backslash (‘\’). Comments can be put anywhere in the file using a hash mark (‘#’), and extend to the end of the current line. Care should be taken when commenting out multi-line text: the comment is effective until the end of the entire block.

Argument names not beginning with a letter, digit, or underscore must be quoted.

Additional configuration files can be included with the `include` keyword, for example:

    include "/etc/iscsi-target.conf"

## Macros

A macro is defined with a command of the form name=value. The macro name can contain letters, digits, and underscores and cannot be a reserved word (for example, `target` or `port`). Within unquoted arguments, the string $name is later expanded to value.

For example:

    target1="1.2.3.4"
    target "disk1" {
            targetaddr $target1
    }

## Global configuration

There are a few settings that affect the operation of the iscsid(8) daemon globally.

`isid` (`oui`|`en`|`rand`) base qual
  The Initiator Session ID `isid` specifies the initiator part of the Session Identifier. It is set during startup of iscsid(8) and is used for session reinstatement. By default a random `isid` is generated on startup. The random `rand` form has a 24-bit random number as base and a 16-bit qual qualifier. The `oui` format uses a 22-bit base OUI and a 24-bit qual qualifier. The IANA enterprise number format `en` uses the 24-bit enterprise number in base and a 16-bit qual qualifier.

## Target configuration

iscsid(8) establishes TCP connections to iSCSI targets. Each target is specified by a target section, which allows properties to be set specifically for that target:

    target disk1 {
    	targetaddr 10.0.0.2
    	targetname "iqn.1994-04.org.netbsd.iscsi-target:target:0"
    }

There are several target properties:

[`disabled`|`enabled`]
  No session will be established to the target if `disabled` is set. The default value is `enabled`.
[`discovery`|`normal`]
  Define the type of session that will be established. It is possible to initiate a special `discovery` session to a target to enumerate the available volumes.
`initiatoraddr` addr [`inet`|`inet6`]
  When iscsid(8) initiates the TCP connection to the target system, it normally does not bind to a specific IP address and port. If an `initiatoraddr` is given, it binds to this address first.
`initiatorname` string
  Specify the `initiatorname` used to connect to the remote target. The `initiatorname` can be used to restrict access to a target. If not given, iscsid(8) will use iqn.1995-11.org.openbsd.iscsid as default.
`targetaddr` addr [`inet`|`inet6`] [`port` num]
  Define the target IP address which iscsid(8) should connect to. By default port 3260 will be used.
`targetname` string
  The `targetname` specifies which LUN or disk should be requested by iscsid(8). It is possible to enumerate remote systems with a `discovery` session.

# FILES

/etc/iscsi.conf
  iscsid(8) configuration file.

# SEE ALSO

tcp(4), iscsictl(8), iscsid(8), rc.conf.local(8)

# HISTORY

The `iscsi.conf` file format first appeared in OpenBSD 4.9.

July 8, 2025 | Debian