Storage networks consist of connection devices like switches and bridges that create connections, and endpoint devices like servers and storage that connect to the connection devices. Management of the devices can occur in-band, using the standard interfaces that transfer data in the storage network, or out-of-band through separate interfaces on complex devices. Standardized mechanisms for management include protocols at the transport and upper layers, while proprietary mechanisms involve things like APIs, telnet, and element managers with device-specific interfaces.

2. Storage network consists of two types
of devices:
1. Connection devices: Switches,bridges,hubs that are used
to create connections in the storage network.
2. Endpoint devices: Servers and storage devices that are
connected to the connection devices.

4. Interfaces for the management of endpoint devices and
connection devices are differentiated into in-band and out-
band interfaces.
In-band:
• All the devices in storage network has standard in-band.
• Devices are connected to the storage network via the in-
band interfaces and data transfer takes place through this
interface.
• Discovering,monitoring,configuration of connecting devices
and endpoint devices are made available on this interface.
Out-band:
• Most Connection devices and complex endpoint devices
possess one or more further interfaces in addition to the
inband interfaces.
• These are not directly connected to the storage network.

5. Standardized and proprietary mechanisms
These are used for the realization of management functions
on in-band and out-band interfaces.
Standardized mechanism
• In-band transport levels: The management interfaces for Fibre
channel,TCP/IP are defined on the inband transport levels.
• In-band upper layer protocols(ULP): SCSI variants such as Fibre
channel FCP and iSCSI are used as an upper layer protocol.
• SCSI has its own mechanisms for requesting device and status
information called SCSI Enclosure Services.

6. Fall into three categories
API: Each individual devices have programming interfaces
called application programming interfaces.Which are used to
call up special management functions.It requires considerable
testing cost and development to use in central management
system.
Telnet:Devices can also be configured outband via Telnet. It
has got same problems as API regarding connection to a central
management system.
Element manager:It is device specific management interface.
Frequently found in the form of a GUI or in form of WUI.
Communication between element manager and device takes
place via separate channel next to data channel.