Network appliance with integrated local area network and storage area network extension services

Abstract

Techniques and a network appliance apparatus are provided herein to extend local area networks (LANs) and storage area networks (SANs) beyond a data center while converging the associated local area network and storage area network host layers. A service flow is received at a device in a network. It is determined if the service flow is associated with storage area network or with local area network traffic. In response to determining that the service flow is storage area network traffic, storage area network extension services are performed with respect to the service flow in order to extend the storage area network on behalf of a remote location. In response to determining that the service flow is local area network traffic, local area network extension services are performed with respect to the service flow in order to extend the local area network on behalf of the remote location.