Storage Networks

A storage network provides access to a remote storage device using any of the block, file, or object storage protocols explained in the previous section. 存储网络可使用上一节中介绍的任何一种块、文件或对象存储协议访问远程存储设备。

A storage network contains the following entities: 存储网络包含以下实体：

 End devices: End devices transfer data through a network. Based on their function, the end devices can be of the following types: 终端设备通过网络传输数据。根据其功能，终端设备可分为以下几种类型：

 Hosts: Devices that run the applications. These are also called Initiators because they initiate read and write I/O operations. 运行应用程序的设备。这些设备也被称为 "启动程序"，因为它们启动读写 I/O 操作。

 Storage arrays: Devices that store the data. These are also called Targets because they are the targets of the I/O operations. 存储数据的设备。这些设备也被称为 "目标"，因为它们是 I/O 操作的目标。

 Switches: Switches connect the end devices and other switches for providing control-plane functions (for example, Fibre Channel zoning, name server, and routing protocols) and data-plane functions (for example packet forwarding between the switchports and flow control i