Configuring QLogic QLA4052/QLA4xxx for ESX Server 3i with EqualLogic iSCSI SAN

NOTE:

I am providing these directions with no warranty, guarantee, or support. This method is not supported by anyone, and you waive any and all rights by following them even if your HBA explodes and burns down your building

Needed Files

ISCLI RPM Installer iscli-1.1.00-13_linux_i386.install.tar.gz
Relevant ESX qualified/certified 4xxx Firmware ZIP file (03.00.01.49 at the time of writing)
QLogic 32 bit Linux driver qla4xxx-5.01.00.08.tar.gz
Knoppix V5.1.1 DVD ISO/media. The newer 5.3.1 DVD uses kernel 2.6.24 which is not compatible with the QLogic driver package or iscli AFAICT. You need a kernel before 2.6.24 unless you feel like editing source.

Getting started

I recommend you leave your HBA connected to the SAN or at least to some form of switch. Otherwise iscli gets pissy when it resets the HBA and the link is down for certain commands and you'll just sit around waiting for it to time out and yell at you.

Commands

Burn and Boot the Knoppix DVD or use DRAC5+ - DRAC users cannot mount this as an ISO. You need to use Daemon Tools, a VM that can mount an ISO or some other ISO mounter to mount the ISO then use the drive letter in DRAC remote media plugin. Trying to boot a DVD ISO with the DRAC directly will FAIL. (At least it does with a DRAC 5)
Open a terminal or switch to the console
su
rmmod qla3xxx
rmmod qla4xxx
Bring up networking to transfer files if you don't have DHCP and you want to download these files with wget instead of transfering them by usb key or inserting them into the Knoppix ISO
Transfer the above aptly named "Needed Files" to /tmp (well except the ISO)
tar -xzf qla4xxx-5.01.00.08.tar.gz
cd 5.01.00.08
extras/build.sh
insmod qla4xxx.ko
alien -c iscli-1.1.00-13_linux_i386.install.tar.gz
dpkg -i iscli_1.1.00_13_linux_i386.install.deb
cd /opt/QLogic_Corporation/SANSurferCLI/
iscli
Update adapter Firmware
Set the IP address for each HBA port if it isn't already
Save changes and reset HBA if you changed IP settings above
Exit iscli TUI
iscli -n 0 KeepAliveTO 120
iscli -n 0 IP_ARP_Redirect on
iscli -n 0 ExeThrottle 128
iscli -n 0 Large_Frames on * If you have a dual port HBA you need to do the above commands with -n 1
init 6 (reboot)

If you work for VMware or QLogic

And you're reading this, WTF? You certify 3i for use with the 4xxx but can't provide customers an ISO with pre built binaries for updating their firmware and changing HBA settings? That kind of sucks. Some people just want to flash their firmware. I had no idea there was a DOS based flasher until recently, that I could put on a floppy/CD/usb flash drive and boot. How about a DOS/PE version of iscli or better yet add it to 3i. At this day in age with 8 GB flash drives commonplace, I think we can afford to go beyond 64MB. Why only RPM based installers? How about some tar files?