Storage area network (SAN) deployment has eluded storage administrators because of the complexity and challenges of installing a SAN in small to medium businesses and enterprise departments. With the introduction of the Cisco SN 5428 Storage Router, storage/network/system administrators are finally provided with an easy way to migrate from direct-attached storage (DAS) to a more cost-effective and scalable-networked storage solution. Unlike other workgroup SAN solutions that focus purely on Fiber Channel connectivity, the Cisco SN 5428 features a combination of both data networking and storage networking technologies. By using the Cisco SN 5428, your administrators can utilize their installed base of Ethernet and IP connectivity to deploy a SAN solution at a fraction of the cost of installing a new Fiber Channel network, including switches and host bus adapters (HBAs). The Cisco SN 5428 also provides advanced features including network boot, which allows servers to be booted from an external storage device across an iSCSI network.The Cisco SN 5428 provides two Gigabit Ethernet ports, supporting Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI), for connection to standard IP networks and eight Fiber Channel fabric switch ports. Storage administrators can now manage the workgroup SAN with familiar IP network management features such as Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) and virtual LANs (VLANs) and create secure storage pools by using familiar concepts such as access control lists, Remote Access Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) and TACACS+ authentication, logical unit number (LUN) mapping, LUN masking, and Fiber Channel zoning.