---
name: "iscsi.conf"
section: "5"
platform: "openbsd"
package: "man"
version: "8.0-current-20261101"
release: "OpenBSD 8.0-current (2026-11-01)"
platforms: ["freebsd", "openbsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/iscsi.conf"
---

# iscsi.conf(5)

ISCSI daemon configuration file

## NAME

**iscsi.conf** – ISCSI daemon configuration file

## DESCRIPTION

The [iscsid(8)](/iscsid/8.md) 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)](/iscsid/8.md).

- 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.

Arguments 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)](/iscsid/8.md) 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)](/iscsid/8.md) 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)](/iscsid/8.md) 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)](/iscsid/8.md) 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)](/iscsid/8.md) will use *iqn.1995-11.org.openbsd.iscsid* as default.

-

  **targetaddr** *addr* \[**inet**\|**inet6**\] \[**port** *num*\] Define the target IP address which [iscsid(8)](/iscsid/8.md) 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)](/iscsid/8.md). It is possible to enumerate remote systems with a **discovery** session.

## FILES

- */etc/iscsi.conf*

  [iscsid(8)](/iscsid/8.md) configuration file.

## SEE ALSO

[tcp(4)](/tcp/4.md), [iscsictl(8)](/iscsictl/8.md), [iscsid(8)](/iscsid/8.md), rc.conf.local(8)

## HISTORY

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