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iSCSI Target Service
Port 3260 is the default TCP port used by the iSCSI (Internet Small Computer System Interface) protocol's target service. It facilitates the communication between an iSCSI initiator (client) and target (server), enabling block-level storage data access over IP networks. Commonly employed in storage area networks (SANs), it helps organizations consolidate and manage storage devices efficiently..
The iSCSI protocol transports SCSI commands over IP networks, allowing clients (initiators) to communicate with storage arrays or servers (targets) as though they were locally attached disks. By encapsulating SCSI packets in TCP/IP, iSCSI leverages existing network infrastructure to provide scalable, cost-effective storage solutions without dedicated Fibre Channel hardware.
On port 3260, the iSCSI target service listens for connections from initiators. The connection begins with a login phase where authentication and session parameters are negotiated using the iSCSI protocol. Once established, commands and data are transferred efficiently between initiator and target, supporting a range of storage management operations, including read/write commands, reservations, and task management.
iSCSI supports multiple sessions and connections per session, offering features such as multipath I/O to increase redundancy and performance. It integrates with enterprise storage frameworks, enabling features like snapshots, replication, and thin provisioning while using a familiar and standardized transport protocol.