I am interpreting your message as you are planning to deploy a SAN (Storage Area Network) not SNA (IBM protocol).
The best foundation for any successful deployment is eduction. I recommend taking the ICSNS - Implementing Cisco Storage Networking Solutions course. It will give you the skills necessary for a successful small to medium size SAN deployment.
Firefly offers this course, and from what I hear people find say it is good.
http://www.fireflycom.net/classes/ICSNS/index.php
If you find this helpful please rate it :)
