ISCSI disk can't be formatted as REFS

Pietro Corti 0 Reputation points
2023-01-19T15:58:02.8033333+00:00

Hi, I have a problem formatting new ISCSI attached driver on a W2019 server.

I have 1 QNAP with 2 10G ethernet card , 2 ISCSI initiator and 2 volume .

In W2019 I have 2 10 Gb ethernet adapter for ISCSI connection.

I can add the initiator and see the disk (also I have MPIO correctly installed) but when I try to format as REFS i recieve an error "The format did not complete successfully) and the disk is in RAW format.

I can format the disk as NTFS without any problem.

Now this happen after remove an old QANP storage (same type of connecctions) that work well in REFS.

Any idea about that ? I need REFS because I use Veeam as backuop software and these disks act like repoitory.

Windows Server
Windows Server
A family of Microsoft server operating systems that support enterprise-level management, data storage, applications, and communications.
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  1. Limitless Technology 43,996 Reputation points
    2023-01-20T16:29:38.5033333+00:00

    Hello

    Thank you for your question and reaching out. I can understand you are having query\issues related to ReFS not forming with iSCSI.

    1. Please try to Delete iSCSI Lun from QNAP storage and create a new Lun.
    2. Please update your Windows ( https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/topic/kb5010691-refs-formatted-removable-media-may-fail-to-mount-or-mounts-as-raw-after-installing-the-january-11-2022-windows-updates-7a959f37-91b6-4baf-a797-829b0ee86c65) to Latest version then try to Boot Windows in Safe with Networking then try to Re-Format using ReFS.

    --If the reply is helpful, please Upvote and Accept as answer--


  2. Alex Bykovskyi 1,681 Reputation points
    2023-04-05T21:56:24.06+00:00

    Hey, It might be that QNAP iSCSI target doesn't support ReFS. ReFS relies on flush durability, writes must be acknowledged when they are actually written to the disk. https://www.veeam.com/kb2792

    The following thread might help: https://forums.veeam.com/veeam-backup-replication-f2/backup-volumes-are-show-as-raw-t73071.html

    You can try using alternative iSCSI targets. Either MS iSCSI target or StarWind VSAN and format them as ReFS. https://www.starwindsoftware.com/starwind-virtual-san

    Cheers,  
    Alex Bykovskyi  
    StarWind Software  
    Note: Posts are provided “AS IS” without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose.

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