CHAP Not working Due to Target Error: (0x0201 Initiator could not be successfully authenticated.)

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

When Configuring CHAP authentication you see the following Error (0x0201 Initiator could not be successfully authenticated.) on your ESXi host

Example

From syslog.log 

2025-09-10T18:04:38.606Z Wa(28) iscsid[2100232]: Notice: Delaying Release of (H64 T57 C1 session=3d8 target=4f/7c)
2025-09-10T18:04:38.606Z Er(27) iscsid[2100232]: Login failed to authenticate with target iqn.2007-11.com.nimblestorage:chap-testii-#################.00000053.########
2025-09-10T18:04:38.606Z Wa(28) iscsid[2100232]: Shutdown Session: iqn.2007-11.com.nimblestorage:chap-testii-#################.00000053.######## if=default addr=129.92.##.##:3260 (TPGT:2460 ISID:0x1)  (T58 C0) Reason=5
2025-09-10T18:04:38.614Z Wa(28) iscsid[2100232]: Notice: Reclaimed Channel (H64 T58 C0 oid=50)
2025-09-10T18:04:38.614Z Wa(28) iscsid[2100232]: Login Failed: iqn.2007-11.com.nimblestorage:chap-testii-#################.00000053.######## if=default addr=129.92.##.##:3260 (TPGT:2460 ISID:0x1) Reason: 00050201 Target Error: (0x0201 Initiator could not be successfully authenticated.)

 

Environment

ESXI (All versions)

Cause

The error code 0201 indicates that the initiator could not be successfully authenticated. The CHAP and mutual CHAP credentials configured on the ESXi initiator and on the iSCSI array do not match. Error 0201 indicates that the iSCSI initiator could not be successfully authenticated due to mismatched or missing CHAP/mutual CHAP credentials.

 

Resolution

Change Chap name and secret in use by ESXI to Match what has been configured on the storage array.

Additional Information

For more information on how to configure CHAP please see the following documentation. 

Configuring CHAP Parameters for iSCSI or iSER Storage Adapters on ESXi Host