1. iSCSI X-key for enhanced supportability
David Wysochanski
March 20, 2006

2. Agenda What is an X-key? What problems are you solving?
What are the details of the X-key?
What are the new potential problems?
What are the next steps?
Where can I find more info?

3. What is an X-key? What is an X-key? Two types
Small protocol extension allowed by iSCSI RFC
Passed during the iSCSI login sequence
Two types
Vendor specific
Starts with “X-”
Anyone can do these easily
Usually viewed as “one-offs”
IETF / IANA blessed
Starts with “X#”
Must be described by an Informational RFC
Will be viewed as more official

4. What problems are you solving?
Enhanced logging
Easiest to get logs from your own products
Improve support response
“What version of iSCSI is on the other side?”
Eliminating any back/forth is real savings
Hours, days, weeks,…
Validate configurations / confirm interoperability
Large deployments (one to many)
Blade farm of initiators connected to one target
One initiator connected to many targets

5. What are the details of the X-key?
X#NodeArchitecture
Declarative iSCSI login key
Analogous to "product tokens“ in HTTP 1.1
"User-Agent" / "Server" headers
Examples:
User-Agent: CERN-LineMode/2.15 libwww/2.17b3
Server: Apache/0.8.4
Possible information
iSCSI version (driver, firmware)
OS / kernel version
Hardware Architecture

6. What are the new potential problems?
iSCSI interoperability
New key involves login sequence
RFC compliant vendors should be ok
Ignore X-keys they don’t support
Security
Software versions transmitted via plaintext
Hackers could use info if intercepted
RFC will address this
Mandate / recommend a disable mechanism
Misuse / Abuse of the key
Historical misuse of User-Agent (browser wars)

7. What are the next steps? Support / confirmation from IPS WG for ID
Consensus that this is useful / net positive?
Rather not proceed with independent submission
Complete Informational RFC
Interested vendors to implement

8. Where can I find more information?
Current Internet Draft
Author / Editor
IETF IP Storage Working group
References RFCs
3720: iSCSI
2616: HTTP 1.1