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What to Do When the iSCSI Service Is Not Running

An inactive iSCSI service can be normal on RHEL 10. Use the correct service steps for your platform, then check sessions, configuration, network connectivity, and logs if access does not return.

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First identify your operating system: an inactive iSCSI service can be normal on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, while Ubuntu Server and Windows Server use different service names and recovery steps. On RHEL 10, you can start the daemon with systemctl start iscsid as root; if service startup alone does not restore storage access, investigate the session, network, target configuration, and logs rather than assuming the service is the only problem.

Identify your operating system and the exact error

Do not mix commands or service names between Linux distributions and Windows. Before changing settings, note your operating system and version, the service name and state, and any exact error or status code. The steps below cover Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, Ubuntu Server, and Windows Server; they do not establish the right procedure for every platform or version.

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Use the procedure for your platform

Platform Service or package Immediate action Persistent startup or follow-up
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 iscsid and iscsi; iscsi-initiator-utils As root, run systemctl start iscsid. To restore configured sessions after reboot, enable both iscsid and iscsi. See Red Hat’s RHEL 10 iSCSI initiator procedure.
Ubuntu Server open-iscsi package; open-iscsi and iscsid services Follow Ubuntu’s package and service procedure; restart iscsid after relevant configuration changes. Enable the services for persistent startup and log in to configured automatic nodes where appropriate. See Ubuntu’s iSCSI initiator procedure.
Windows Server iSCSI Initiator service, also known as MSiSCSI If the error is ISDSC_SERVICE_NOT_RUNNING, confirm the service is stopped and start it using Windows service controls. See Microsoft’s iSCSI status reference. If access remains unavailable, check the network path, sessions, MPIO, drivers and firmware, storage settings, and event logs. See Microsoft’s Windows Server iSCSI troubleshooting guidance.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10: an idle daemon may be expected

Red Hat says the iSCSI service starts on demand by default after an iscsiadm command, so an inactive-looking service does not by itself prove a failure. To start the daemon explicitly, run systemctl start iscsid as root. If configured iSCSI sessions should return after a reboot, enable both iscsid and iscsi as described in Red Hat’s RHEL 10 initiator documentation.

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Ubuntu Server: follow Ubuntu’s package and service names

Check that the open-iscsi package is installed. Ubuntu’s procedure covers the open-iscsi and iscsid services, enabling them when persistent startup is needed, restarting iscsid after relevant configuration changes, and logging in to configured automatic nodes when appropriate. Use the Ubuntu Server iSCSI initiator instructions rather than substituting commands from RHEL.

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Windows Server: start the Initiator service, then test access

Microsoft defines ISDSC_SERVICE_NOT_RUNNING as the iSCSI Initiator service not having been started. Confirm the service state and start it through Windows service controls. If the service is running but the target is still unavailable, the status code alone does not identify the underlying cause; continue with the checks in Microsoft’s iSCSI troubleshooting guide.

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If the service starts but storage is still unavailable

A running service does not prove that the initiator has an active session or that the target is reachable. Work through configuration and connectivity checks before concluding that the storage device has failed.

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  • Verify the target and initiator configuration. Check the target portal, initiator identity, access controls, and authentication settings against the values expected by the storage administrator. On Linux, Red Hat’s guide identifies the initiator name file and explains CHAP configuration. Do not change the initiator identity or credentials without confirming the target-side configuration.
  • Check the session and network path. Confirm that the expected target is configured and that the network path to it is available. A service can be active even when the target cannot be reached.
  • On Windows Server, review storage and host components. Microsoft’s guidance calls out supported drivers and firmware, network configuration, MPIO, LUN visibility, sessions, and relevant event logs. Use its troubleshooting guide for the applicable Windows Server version.
  • Escalate using the evidence. If checks point to the storage device or array, Microsoft’s guidance recommends contacting the storage vendor. A stopped-service report alone is not evidence of a hardware failure.

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