• Most hardware devices come with some type of built-in management capability:
– Command line interface (CLI) through:
•Serial port • Telnet
– Client-based management GUI – Built-in HTTP server
– Application programming interfaces (APIs)
Devices
Networks
Resources
The built-in management capability for an individual device is generally not capable of performing management tasks for other components of the SAN. Its primary role is typically:
• To allow SAN administrators to configure the individual device using a proprietary user interface
• To allow the device to communicate with third-party SAN management software via application programming interfaces (APIs)
The management options that are included with the purchase of a SAN device typically allow management of that device only. This always includes a command-line interface (CLI) but may also include simple GUI configuration tools.