Abstract: A chargeback management station obtains data records including asset information pertaining to storage assets in a data storage system and utilization information pertaining to the use of the storage assets by the users, wherein the storage assets include redundant storage assets and internal and external storage assets. The data records further include grouping information reflecting a grouping of the storage assets and the users into charge-related groups. The asset and utilization information is selectively aggregated according to the grouping to obtain respective asset and utilization values for raw capacities, usable capacities, and the internal and external storage assets. The asset and utilization values are displayed in corresponding information fields of a graphical user interface that is presented to a system operator and that reflects the charge-related grouping of the storage assets and the users.

Abstract: A storage area network (SAN) management application generates device allocation reports displaying foundation variables, device specific parameters, and computed, derived fields for different types of storage arrays, without burdening the allocation report with extraneous parameters through the use of a layout indicative of the information included on the report, providing a streamlined and seamless allocation report. The SAN management application defines a layout indicative of the foundation variables, device attributes, and derived fields requested in an allocation report. The user selected layout indicates the requested allocation parameters for a report, indicative of the foundation variable, device attributes, and derived fields, and also indicates the device usage metrics for computing the derived fields from the foundation variables and device attributes.

Abstract: Historical access information identifies which resources in a storage area network access portions of shared storage in the storage area network. Based on an analysis of the historical access information, a management report generator application analyzing such information can infer the existence of a cluster of resources that access a common portion of shared storage. When the management report generator identifies that two or more resources access the same storage resources during approximately the same timeframe, the management report generator knows that there is a high likelihood that the two or more resources are part of a cluster sharing access to common storage resources. Thus, when reporting a tally of storage resources used in the storage area network, it is possible for the management report generator to take into account the cluster and indicate that two resources share access to a common portion of storage.