About Hosts

A host represents a data host, which is a computer that is attached to the storage array and generates data to be saved in a storage array. The data host sends data to the storage array using a Fibre Channel (FC) connection. A host must have one or more associated initiators to enable you to map volumes to the host.

A host can access a storage array volume when both the host and the volume are included in a storage domain, which is a logical entity used to partition storage.

When you create a host, the management software automatically includes it in the default storage domain. The default storage domain contains all hosts and host groups without explicit mappings and enables them to share access to volumes assigned a default logical unit number (LUN) mapping during volume creation. When you explicitly map a host to a specific volume and LUN, the host and volume are removed from the default storage domain and create a separate storage domain, which enables only that host to access the specified volume.

An individual host can be explicitly mapped to one volume. However, you can also include the same host in one or more host groups which are mapped to other volumes, thus enabling one host to access several volumes.

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