A centralized service identifies a
pool of devices that can be accessed by clients over a network. Devices can include a local or network-accessible device, and a configurable file that represents a portion of a device (e.g., a
SCSI storage device). In some cases, the devices (or the file representing a portion of the device) can be identified by an assigned
logical unit number. The centralized service assigns one or more devices to a target, and associates
client information with the target. The centralized service also can also assign the target a
logical unit number, and assign the target to a protocol-independent portal, which further operates through protocol-dependent miniports. In one embodiment, a
client accesses a network device by accessing the appropriate port through an appropriate miniport protocol (e.g.,
Ethernet,
fiber channel, etc.), and by submitting appropriate target
authorization.