A single discoverable entity on the iSCSI SAN, such as an initiator or a target, represents an iSCSI node. Each node has one or more ports that connect it to the SAN.
iSCSI ports are end-points of an iSCSI session. Each node can be identified in a number of ways.
- IP Address
- Each iSCSI node can have an IP address associated with it so that routing and switching equipment on your network can establish the connection between the server and storage. This address is just like the IP address that you assign to your computer to get access to your company's network or the Internet.
- iSCSI Name
- A worldwide unique name for identifying the node. iSCSI uses the iSCSI Qualified Name (IQN) and Extended Unique Identifier (EUI).
- iSCSI Alias
- A more manageable name for an iSCSI device or port used instead of the iSCSI name. iSCSI aliases are not unique and are intended to be just a friendly name to associate with a port.