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ATA over Ethernet (AoE) is a protocol for accessing block storage across a local Ethernet network. A host discovers an AoE storage target and can use it as a block device. Unlike storage protocols carried over IP, AoE sends its traffic directly in Ethernet frames, so ordinary IP routers do not route it.
What does ATA over Ethernet mean?
ATA over Ethernet, usually abbreviated AoE, is a network protocol that makes block storage available to computers on a local Ethernet network. The Linux kernel documentation describes it as “a network protocol that provides simple access to block storage on the LAN.” Linux kernel documentation
In an AoE setup, the computer requesting storage is the initiator; the system exporting the storage is the target. The target receives ATA read and write commands from the initiator and returns responses. AoE traffic uses Ethernet frame type 0x88a2. EtherDrive Storage and Linux 2.6 HOWTO
How does AoE work on a network?
AoE places storage commands directly in Ethernet frames rather than carrying them through IP, TCP, and a higher-level storage protocol. Consequently, AoE is not an IP protocol: ordinary IP routers do not route its frames. This describes how the protocol travels across a network; it does not by itself make a shared Ethernet network secure. Coraid product description
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The host needs an Ethernet connection that can reach the target, and the relevant interface must be up. A dedicated network interface can be used for storage traffic, but a particular NIC model or link speed is not an AoE requirement. EtherDrive Storage and Linux 2.6 HOWTO
How Linux presents AoE storage
Linux documents an aoe driver that discovers targets and presents them as block devices. Device names use a shelf-and-slot form such as e0.2; a partition can appear with a partition suffix, such as e0.2p1. Systems using udev typically create the device nodes automatically. The driver also exposes status and network-interface information through sysfs. Linux kernel documentation
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The older 2008 HOWTO also describes aoetools, a user-space tool collection used with the Linux driver. For current driver behavior and interface guidance, consult the documentation for the kernel version actually in use; the HOWTO is historical. EtherDrive Storage and Linux 2.6 HOWTO
What to know about AoE’s network boundary
Non-routability is not a substitute for access control. The Linux kernel documentation cautions that AoE traffic from untrusted networks should be ignored and documents the aoe_iflist parameter for restricting the driver to selected network interfaces. Configure the host and network so AoE is limited to interfaces and Ethernet segments intended for trusted storage traffic. Linux kernel documentation
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What AoE’s definition does—and does not—tell you
The defining distinction is its transport: AoE carries storage traffic directly over Ethernet rather than over IP. That fact alone does not establish how AoE compares with iSCSI, Fibre Channel, or another storage approach for speed, security, features, or cost. The cited technical documentation does not provide a basis for those broader comparisons.
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