Abstract: An authentication service to authenticate access requests over a Fibre Channel (FC) network is provided. An authentication request is generated by a client and is sent over the FC network to a server. The request can be a native FC message, such as a CT message. For example, authentication software can generate the native FC message. In another example, authentication software can send a UDP or TCP authentication request, and an application program interface (API) can translate the request into a native FC message, such as a CT message, and send the message over the FC network. In another example, the authentication request can be sent as an encapsulated IP over FC message. For example, an authentication client can communicate using UDP or TCP messages, and an HBA can encapsulate the messages as IP over FC and send the encapsulated messages over the FC network.