ATA Over Ethernet (AoE) is a low-level network protocol for accessing storage devices on a LAN without TCP/IP overhead. It encapsulates ATA commands and responses, allowing simplified commands to travel over an Ethernet LAN. AoE lacks upper layer protocols, preventing packets from traveling beyond the local network switch. It is easy to implement and supported by many operating systems. AoE is good for backup storage and can be used for a Storage Area Network (SAN). It does not include specific encryption or security features, but the local area limitation prevents remote hackers from accessing storage data.
Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA) Over Ethernet is a protocol for communicating with storage devices on a local area network (LAN). Also known by the acronym AoE, ATA Over Ethernet is a low-level network protocol. It does not require the additional overhead of Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) or Internet Protocol (IP). It is often used by embedded systems to access Serial ATA (SATA) disk drives and other storage devices. It can also be used as the foundation for a Storage Area Network (SAN) made up of common, low-cost components.
The ATA Over Ethernet protocol simply encapsulates the ATA commands and responses used by SATA and Parallel ATA storage devices. This allows simplified commands to travel over an Ethernet LAN instead of a standard storage device cable. A computer with an AoE driver loaded can access an ATA device on the LAN as if it were connected to the local system bus. The lack of an upper layer protocol prevents AoE packets from traveling across the Internet or even beyond a local network switch.
AoE does not include specific encryption, passwords, or security features. However, the local area limitation of ATA Over Ethernet prevents remote hackers from accessing your storage data. The file system or storage device itself may also include access lists and other security measures. If you need more advanced security or sharing files over a larger network, the Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI) may be a better solution.
ATA Over Ethernet is relatively easy to implement and introduces minimal overhead for storage data transfer. It is supported by many operating systems both natively and with third party software. Linux® and UNIX® variants often support AoE, as does Microsoft Windows®. Some companies make SAN devices that communicate using the AoE protocol, including Network Attached Storage (NAS) drives.
When multiple systems share a networked storage device with ATA Over Ethernet, they need to coordinate access to individual files at the same time. This can be done without an additional file system or server by using a cluster file system such as Global File System (GFS) on the storage device itself. At a simpler level, the AoE protocol includes a locking mechanism to indicate when the target storage device is in use by another host.
Backup storage is a good application for ATA Over Ethernet. The protocol provides a simple means of using inexpensive hard drives to back up a system or an entire network. Using AoE storage devices can be local or even removed, depending on the length of the network connection.
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