A system comprising a fibre channel switch connected to: an Internet Small Computer Systems Interface, iSCSI, initiator; and a fibre channel target, wherein the fibre channel switch comprises: an iSCSI interface configured to receive a first authentication negotiation message from the initiator, the authentication negotiation message identifying a plurality of authentication algorithms; a processor coupled to the iSCSI interface, the processor configured to translate the first authentication negotiation message into a second authentication negotiation message for a fibre channel fabric; and a fibre channel interface configured to transmit a second authentication negotiation message from the fibre channel switch to the fibre channel target, the second authentication negotiation message corresponding to the first authentication negotiation message; wherein the fibre channel interface is further configured to receive a first authentication challenge message at the fibre channel switch from the fibre channel target, the first authentication challenge message including a random sequence; wherein the iSCSI interface is further configured to transmit a second authentication challenge message to the initiator, the second authentication challenge message corresponding to the first authentication challenge message; wherein the iSCSI interface is further configured to receive a first response message from the initiator; wherein the fibre channel interface is further configured to transmit a second response message to the fibre channel target, the second response message corresponding to the first response message, wherein the second response message is used to verify the initiator to the fibre channel target; and wherein passwords associated with the fibre channel switch and the initiator are maintained by the fibre channel target. an Internet Small Computer Systems Interface, iSCSI, initiator; and a fibre channel target, wherein the fibre channel switch comprises: an iSCSI interface configured to receive a first authentication negotiation message from the initiator, the authentication negotiation message identifying a plurality of authentication algorithms; a processor coupled to the iSCSI interface, the processor configured to translate the first authentication negotiation message into a second authentication negotiation message for a fibre channel fabric; and a fibre channel interface configured to transmit a second authentication negotiation message from the fibre channel switch to the fibre channel target, the second authentication negotiation message corresponding to the first authentication negotiation message; wherein the fibre channel interface is further configured to receive a first authentication challenge message at the fibre channel switch from the fibre channel target, the first authentication challenge message including a random sequence; wherein the iSCSI interface is further configured to transmit a second authentication challenge message to the initiator, the second authentication challenge message corresponding to the first authentication challenge message; an iSCSI interface configured to receive a first authentication negotiation message from the initiator, the authentication negotiation message identifying a plurality of authentication algorithms; a processor coupled to the iSCSI interface, the processor configured to translate the first authentication negotiation message into a second authentication negotiation message for a fibre channel fabric; and a fibre channel interface configured to transmit a second authentication negotiation message from the fibre channel switch to the fibre channel target, the second authentication negotiation message corresponding to the first authentication negotiation message; wherein the fibre channel interface is further configured to receive a first authentication challenge message at the fibre channel switch from the fibre channel target, the first authentication challenge message including a random sequence; wherein the iSCSI interface is further configured to transmit a second authentication challenge message to the initiator, the second authentication challenge message corresponding to the first authentication challenge message; wherein the iSCSI interface is further configured to receive a first response message from the initiator; wherein the fibre channel interface is further configured to transmit a second response message to the fibre channel target, the second response message corresponding to the first response message, wherein the second response message is used to verify the initiator to the fibre channel target; and wherein passwords associated with the fibre channel switch and the initiator are maintained by the fibre channel target. the iSCSI interface is further configured to receive a first response message from the initiator; wherein the fibre channel interface is further configured to transmit a second response message to the fibre channel target, the second response message corresponding to the first response message, wherein the second response message is used to verify the initiator to the fibre channel target; and wherein passwords associated with the fibre channel switch and the initiator are maintained by the fibre channel target.