What does a Logical Unit Number (LUN) do in storage networks?

A Logical Unit Number (LUN) serves a crucial role in storage networks by providing a method to partition physical disks into manageable segments. This partitioning allows different servers or applications to access specific sections of a disk as if they were individual disks themselves, enabling more efficient storage utilization and management.

By using LUNs, administrators can allocate storage resources based on the specific needs of different applications and workloads, improving both organization and operational efficiency. This segmentation also facilitates storage virtualization, which can enhance performance and scalability within a storage area network (SAN) or other storage environments.

The other options reflect different aspects of storage systems but do not accurately describe the primary function of a LUN. While increasing data transfer speed, monitoring disk health, and storing backup data are all important components of storage management, they do not relate specifically to the primary role of LUNs, which is focused on creating partitions for more effective handling and access to storage resources.