Transparent mode

1. A computer-implemented method for use in a router coupled with a plurality of hosts, the method comprising:

placing the router in a normal mode with a first router configuration, wherein, while in the normal mode, the router allows only one of the hosts to access a target device at a given time;

receiving a command to transition the router from the normal mode to a transparent mode with a second router configuration, wherein, while in transparent mode, the router allows two or more of the hosts to access the target device simultaneously;

transitioning the router from the normal mode to the transparent mode, wherein transitioning includes replacing the first router configuration with the second router configuration; and

supporting one or more device requests directed to the target device from the hosts, wherein supporting one or more device request includes creating a target data structure for the target device, wherein the target data structure includes a target name that represents the target device, and wherein the target name is determined based on a target port name of a corresponding target port associated with the target device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein supporting includes assigning an initiator identification to each of the hosts from which the device requests are received.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein supporting includes sending the initiator identification to the target device.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein supporting includes assigning a virtual port to each of one or more of the hosts sending the device requests, wherein the virtual port is associated with a physical port of the target device.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein transitioning includes creating a new router instance.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein creating includes configuring the new router instance for access by one or more of the hosts.

7. A server comprising:

a network interface to couple the server with a plurality of hosts and a target device; and

a processor operatively coupled with the network interface, wherein the processor is operable to:

place the server in a normal mode with a first router configuration, wherein, while in the normal mode, the server allows only one of the hosts to access a target device at a given time;

receive a command to transition the server from the normal mode to a transparent mode with a second router configuration, wherein, while in transparent mode, the server allows two or more of the hosts to access the target device simultaneously;

transition the server from the normal mode to the transparent mode, wherein, when transitioning the server, the processor is operable to replace the first router configuration with the second router configuration; and

support one or more device requests directed to the target device from the hosts, wherein supporting one or more device request includes creating a target data structure for the target device, wherein the target data structure includes a target name that represents the target device, and wherein the target name is determined based on a target port name of a corresponding target port associated with the target device.

8. The server of claim 7 , wherein, when supporting the one or more device requests, the processor is operable to assign an initiator identification to each of the hosts from which the device requests are received.

9. The server of claim 8 , wherein, when supporting the one or more device requests, the processor is operable to send the initiator identification to the target device.

10. The server of claim 7 , wherein, when supporting the one or more device requests, the processor is operable to assign a virtual port to each of one or more of the hosts sending the device requests, wherein the virtual port is associated with a physical port of the target device.

11. The server of claim 7 , wherein, when transitioning the server from the normal mode to the transparent mode, the processor is operable to create a new router instance.

12. The server of claim 11 , wherein, when creating the new router instance, the processor is operable to configure the new router instance for access by one or more of the hosts.

13. An apparatus comprising:

means for placing the apparatus in a normal mode with a first router configuration, wherein, while in the normal mode, the apparatus allows only one host to access a target device at a given time;

means for receiving a command to transition the apparatus from the normal mode to a transparent mode with a second router configuration, wherein, while in transparent mode, the apparatus allows two or more hosts to access the target device simultaneously;

means for transitioning the apparatus from the normal mode to the transparent mode, wherein the means for transitioning includes means for replacing the first router configuration with the second router configuration; and

means for supporting one or more device requests directed to the target device from the hosts, wherein the means for supporting creates a target data structure for the target device, wherein the target data structure includes a target name that represents the target device, and wherein the target name is determined based on a target port name of a corresponding target port associated with the target device.

14. A system comprising:

a plurality of hosts;

a target device; and

a server operatively coupled with the hosts and the target device, wherein the server includes:

a network interface to couple the server with the hosts and the target device; and

a processor operatively coupled with the network interface, wherein the processor is operable to:

place the server in a normal mode with a first router configuration, wherein, while in the normal mode, the server allows only one of the hosts to access the target device at a given time;

receive a command to transition the server from the normal mode to a transparent mode with a second router configuration, wherein, while in transparent mode, the server allows two or more of the hosts to access the target device simultaneously;

transition the server from the normal mode to the transparent mode, wherein, when transitioning the server, the processor is operable to replace the first router configuration with the second router configuration; and

support one or more device requests directed to the target device from the hosts, wherein supporting one or more device request includes creating a target data structure for the target device, wherein the target data structure includes a target name that represents the target device, and wherein the target name is determined based on a target port name of a corresponding target port associated with the target device;

wherein the one or more device requests are communicated between the hosts and the target device via the server.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform operations comprising:

placing the router in a normal mode with a first router configuration, wherein, while in the normal mode, the router allows only one of the hosts to access a target device at a given time;

receiving a command to transition the router from the normal mode to a transparent mode with a second router configuration, wherein, while in transparent mode, the router allows two or more of the hosts to access the target device simultaneously;

transitioning the router from the normal mode to the transparent mode, wherein transitioning includes replacing the first router configuration with the second router configuration; and

supporting one or more device requests directed to the target device from the hosts, wherein supporting one or more device request includes creating a target data structure for the target device, wherein the target data structure includes a target name that represents the target device, and wherein the target name is determined based on a target port name of a corresponding target port associated with the target device.