Abstract: A search engine maintains a search index of information stored on a storage area network by analyzing the stored information through a connection with the storage area network. An indexing module distributed from the search engine, such as in RAID controllers, intelligent switches and storage server information handling systems, analyzes writes to storage devices of the storage area network to determine changes in the storage index due to the writes and communicates the index updates to the search engine. Alternatively, a mirroring application mirrors a copy of the writes to the search engine so the search engine can update the search index. Client information handling systems interface with the search engine through the storage area network connection or through a separate local area network connection.