What does the CHAP secret accomplish for an E-Series system?

CHAP (Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol): CHAP is a protocol used to authenticate the identity of an initiator or target in iSCSI communications. This ensures that only authorized devices can connect to the storage array over the iSCSI network.

Implementation in E-Series: In the context of E-Series systems, CHAP secrets are configured to provide an additional layer of security by requiring both the initiator and target to authenticate each other using a shared secret before establishing an iSCSI session.

References:

NetApp E-Series SANtricity System Manager documentation on iSCSI setup

NetApp Implementation Engineer - SAN Specialist - E-Series manuals