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---
title: Connect Azure Elastic SAN to Azure Kubernetes over iSCSI
description: Learn how to use the Kubernetes iSCSI CSI driver to configure Azure Elastic SAN as backing storage for Azure Kubernetes Service clusters for persistent storage
author: roygara
ms.service: azure-elastic-san-storage
ms.topic: how-to
ms.date: 06/18/2025
ms.author: rogarana
# Customer intent: As a Kubernetes administrator, I want to connect Azure Elastic SAN to my AKS cluster using the iSCSI CSI driver, so that I can provision and manage persistent storage for my applications effectively.
---
# Connect Azure Elastic SAN volumes to an Azure Kubernetes Service cluster
This article explains how to connect an Azure Elastic SAN volume from an Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) cluster. To make this connection, enable the [Kubernetes iSCSI CSI driver](https://github.com/kubernetes-csi/csi-driver-iscsi) on your cluster. By using this driver, you can access volumes on your Elastic SAN by creating persistent volumes on your AKS cluster, and then attaching the Elastic SAN volumes to the persistent volumes.
## About the driver
The iSCSI CSI driver is an open source project that allows you to connect to a Kubernetes cluster over iSCSI. Since the driver is an open source project, Microsoft doesn't provide support for any issues that stem from the driver.
The Kubernetes iSCSI CSI driver is available on GitHub:
- [Kubernetes iSCSI CSI driver repository](https://github.com/kubernetes-csi/csi-driver-iscsi)
- [Readme](https://github.com/kubernetes-csi/csi-driver-iscsi/blob/master/README.md)
- [Report iSCSI driver issues](https://github.com/kubernetes-csi/csi-driver-iscsi/issues)
### Licensing
The iSCSI CSI driver for Kubernetes is [licensed under the Apache 2.0 license](https://github.com/kubernetes-csi/csi-driver-iscsi/blob/master/LICENSE).
## Prerequisites
- Use either the [latest Azure CLI](/cli/azure/install-azure-cli) or install the [latest Azure PowerShell module](/powershell/azure/install-azure-powershell)
- Meet the [compatibility requirements](https://github.com/kubernetes-csi/csi-driver-iscsi/blob/master/README.md#container-images--kubernetes-compatibility) for the iSCSI CSI driver
- [Deploy an Elastic SAN](elastic-san-create.md)
- Configure either [private endpoints](elastic-san-configure-private-endpoints.md) or [service endpoints](elastic-san-configure-service-endpoints.md).
## Limitations
- Dynamic provisioning isn't currently supported
- Only `ReadWriteOnce` access mode is currently supported
## Get started
### Driver installation
```
curl -skSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/kubernetes-csi/csi-driver-iscsi/master/deploy/install-driver.sh | bash -s master --
```
After deployment, check the pod status to verify that the driver installed.
```bash
kubectl -n kube-system get pod -o wide -l app=csi-iscsi-node
```
### Get volume information
You need the volume's `StorageTargetIQN`, `StorageTargetPortalHostName`, and `StorageTargetPortalPort`.
You can get them by using the following Azure PowerShell command:
```azurepowershell
Get-AzElasticSanVolume -ResourceGroupName $resourceGroupName -ElasticSanName $sanName -VolumeGroupName $searchedVolumeGroup -Name $searchedVolume
```
You can also get them with the following Azure CLI command:
```azurecli
az elastic-san volume show --elastic-san-name --name --resource-group --volume-group-name
```
### Cluster configuration
After you retrieve your volume's information, create a few YAML files for your new resources on your AKS cluster.
### Storageclass
Use the following example to create a `storageclass.yml` file. This file defines your persistent volume's storageclass.
```yml
apiVersion: storage.k8s.io/v1
kind: StorageClass
metadata:
name: san-volume
provisioner: manual
```
### Persistent volume
After you create the storage class, create a *pv.yml* file. This file defines your [persistent volume](/azure/aks/concepts-storage#persistent-volumes). In the following example, replace `yourTargetPortal`, `yourTargetPortalPort`, and `yourIQN` with the values you collected earlier. Use the example to create a *pv.yml* file. If you need more than 1 gibibyte of storage and have it available, replace `1Gi` with the amount of storage you require.
```yml
---
apiVersion: v1
kind: PersistentVolume
metadata:
name: iscsiplugin-pv
labels:
name: data-iscsiplugin
spec:
storageClassName: san-volume
accessModes:
- ReadWriteOnce
capacity:
storage: 1Gi
csi:
driver: iscsi.csi.k8s.io
volumeHandle: iscsi-data-id
volumeAttributes:
targetPortal: "yourTargetPortal:yourTargetPortalPort"
portals: "[]"
iqn: "yourIQN"
lun: "0"
iscsiInterface: "default"
discoveryCHAPAuth: "true"
sessionCHAPAuth: "false"
```
After creating the *pv.yml* file, create a persistent volume by using the following command:
```bash
kubectl apply -f pathtoyourfile/pv.yaml
```
### Persistent volume claim
Next, create a [persistent volume claim](/azure/aks/concepts-storage#persistent-volume-claims). Use the storage class you defined earlier with the persistent volume you defined. The following example shows what your `pvc.yml` file might look like:
```yml
apiVersion: v1
kind: PersistentVolumeClaim
metadata:
name: iscsiplugin-pvc
spec:
accessModes:
- ReadWriteOnce
resources:
requests:
storage: 1Gi
storageClassName: san-volume
selector:
matchExpressions:
- key: name
operator: In
values: ["data-iscsiplugin"]
```
After creating the *pvc.yml* file, create a persistent volume claim.
```bash
kubectl apply -f pathtoyourfile/pvc.yaml
```
To verify your PersistentVolumeClaim is created and bound to the PersistentVolume, run the following command:
```bash
kubectl get pvc pathtoyourfile
```
Finally, create a [pod manifest](/azure/aks/concepts-clusters-workloads#pods). The following example shows what your *pod.yml* file might look like. You can use it to make your own pod manifest. Replace the values for `name`, `image`, and `mountPath` with your own:
```yml
apiVersion: v1
kind: Pod
metadata:
name: nginx
spec:
containers:
- image: maersk/nginx
imagePullPolicy: Always
name: nginx
ports:
- containerPort: 80
protocol: TCP
volumeMounts:
- mountPath: /var/www
name: iscsi-volume
volumes:
- name: iscsi-volume
persistentVolumeClaim:
claimName: iscsiplugin-pvc
```
After creating the *pod.yml* file, create a pod.
```bash
kubectl apply -f pathtoyourfile/pod.yaml
```
To verify your Pod was created, run the following command:
```bash
kubectl get pods
```
You successfully connected an Elastic SAN volume to your AKS cluster.
## Next steps
[Plan for deploying an Elastic SAN](elastic-san-planning.md)
<!-- LINKS - internal -->
[Configure Elastic SAN networking]: elastic-san-networking.md