存储区域网络（SAN）的兴起产生了对内部扩展管理区域的需求 存储环境。随着光纤通道结构交换机的引入，SAN正在部署中 现在和将来，I/O连接和管理服务都依赖于结构。交换结构 已成为管理信息的重要来源和控制目标。经营 应用程序将受益于一个强大且一致的界面，用于监控和控制 织物的管理服务。本标准描述了一个API，用于连接到结构中，以公开结构中可用的服务和数据 织物光纤通道交换机API SWAPI旨在隐藏数据通信实施细节 从来电者那里。实现可以通过带内或带外通信到目标交换机，并且 取决于交换机供应商的实施。

The rise of Storage Area Networks (SANs) has generated a need for extended areas of management within the storage environment. With the introduction of Fibre Channel fabric switches, the SANs being deployed now and in the future rely on fabrics for both I/O connectivity and management services. The switched fabric has become an essential source for management information and a target for control. Management applications would benefit from a robust and consistent interface for monitoring and controlling the management services of the fabric.This standard describes an API to interface into the fabric, to expose the services and data available in the fabric. The Fibre Channel Switch API, SWAPI, is designed to hide data communication implementation details from the caller. Implementation may be via in-band or out-of-band communication to the target switch, and is dependent on the implementation by the switch vendor.