Patent ID: 7568216

Claim:
A method for defining an iSCSI target using volume access and security policy, comprising steps of: (a) uniquely mapping at least one volume of a network entity to an iSCSI initiator to create a mapping subset, wherein the mapping defines the Logical Unit Number for the at least one volume to the iSCSI initiator; (b) defining at least one security level used by said iSCSI initiator to access each of said at least one volume in order to define a security subset, wherein said defining said at least one security level utilizes security access policies including at least an initiator access control list and an IPsec (Internet Protocol security) security policy; and (c) taking intersection of the mapping subset and the security subset to define and name a fully qualified iSCSI target in terms of access of said iSCSI initiator to each of said at least one volume, based on the intersection of the mapping subset and the security subset, wherein a session between the at least one volume and the iSCSI initiator is capable of being uniquely specified utilizing the name of the fully qualified iSCSI target and wherein defining an iSCSI target is a process of assigning an address to an iSCSI device enabling the iSCSI device to be utilized, with which said iSCSI initiator may open a session.