Architecture for access to embedded files using a san intermediate device

An intermediate system, such as a switch or storage domain manager, in a storage area network includes a plurality of clients, a file server which manages access to storage according to a file system architecture using file system parameters, and one or more storage systems. Processing resources are included in the intermediate system, which manage communication according to a storage area network protocol, such as SCSI and variations like FCP, which identifies units of storage according to storage area network parameters. The processing resources farther include logic to identify a particular message received from one of the plurality of clients under the storage area network protocol as a message relating to the file system architecture, to parse the particular message for file system parameters of an access according to the file system architecture, and to translate the file system parameters to an access using storage area network parameters. The access is then carried out in the storage area network between the client and the storage, using the such storage area network parameters. The translation of file system parameters to storage area network parameters is confined to the intermediate system, in one preferred embodiment enhancing security and efficiency of the file system transactions.