In a storage environment, who is responsible for initiating communication with a target device?

In a storage environment, the initiator device is responsible for initiating communication with a target device. The initiator is typically a host or server that sends requests to the storage system, which is identified as the target. This initiator-target model is fundamental in networking and storage architectures, enabling the host to access and manage data stored on the target devices.

The initiator establishes a connection by sending commands to the target, which responds to those commands. This process is central to protocols like iSCSI or Fibre Channel, where the initiator knows the target’s address and uses it to establish communication.

In contrast, the target device, while it responds to the initiator's requests, does not initiate communication itself. The storage array and the storage fabric serve roles in managing data or facilitating communication, respectively, but it is specifically the initiator's responsibility to initiate the interaction with the target device.