---
name: "iscsi_initiator"
section: "4freebsd"
platform: "linux"
package: "freebsd-manpages"
version: "12.2-2"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/iscsi_initiator"
---

# iscsi\_initiator(4freebsd)

kernel driver for the iSCSI protocol

## NAME

**iscsi\_initiator** – kernel driver for the iSCSI protocol

## SYNOPSIS

To compile this driver into the kernel, place the following lines in your kernel configuration file:

**device iscsi\_initiator**

Alternatively, to load the driver as a module at boot time, place the following line in [loader.conf(5)](/loader.conf/5.md):

```
iscsi_initiator_load="YES"
```

## DESCRIPTION

This driver, along with its userspace counterpart iscontrol(8), is obsolete. Users are advised to use [iscsi(4)](/iscsi/4.md) instead.

The **iscsi\_initiator** implements the kernel side of the Internet SCSI (iSCSI) network protocol standard, the userland companion is iscontrol(8), and permits access to remote *virtual* SCSI devices via [cam(4)](/cam/4.md).

## SYSCTL VARIABLES

- *debug.iscsi\_initiator*

  set the debug-level, 0 means no debugging, 9 for maximum.

- *net.iscsi.isid*

  the initiator part of the Session Identifier.

- *kern.cam.cam\_srch\_hi=1*

  allow search above LUN 7 for SCSI3 and greater devices.

- the following are informative only:

  - *net.iscsi.driver\_version*

  the current version of the driver.

- *net.iscsi.sessions*

  the number of current active sessions.

- *net.iscsi.n.targetname*

  is the targe name of session *n*.

- *net.iscsi.n.targeaddress*

  is the IP address of the target of session *n*.

- *net.iscsi.n.stats*

  are some statistics for session *n*

- *net.iscsi.n.pid*

  is the *process id* of the userland side of session *n*, see iscontrol(8).

## FILES

The **iscsi\_initiator** driver creates the following:

- */dev/iscsi*

  used to create new sessions.

- */dev/iscsi%d*

  for each new session.

## SEE ALSO

[cam(4)](/cam/4.md), [camcontrol(8)](/camcontrol/8.md), iscontrol(8)

## STANDARDS

iSCSI RFC 3720

## AUTHORS

This software was written by Daniel Braniss ⟨*danny@cs.huji.ac.il*⟩

## BUGS

The lun discovery method is old-fashioned.