Abstract: An apparatus and method for managing a number of transactions at a network storage device (e.g., a NAS device). The network storage device is identified on the network and a usage policy is generated. The usage policy defines a number of rules comprising conditions and corresponding priorities. A transaction preferably comprises meta data associated therewith. The meta data is read from the transaction and compared to the conditions of the rules defined in the usage policy. The transactions are prioritized at the network storage device based on the rules.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for identifying unused storage capacity of a number of network storage devices, and configuring at least a portion of the unused storage capacity as a logical storage device. The invention is preferably embodied in computer readable program code. The unused storage capacity may be identified by monitoring the number of network storage devices and automatically determining the unused storage capacity thereof. Alternatively, user-defined parameters may be used for identifying the unused storage capacity. At least a portion of the identified storage capacity is allocated for common use as at least one logical device. The allocated storage capacity is managed according to a management policy so that the allocated memory is not overwritten, data is not backed up to the same physical device, etc.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for Storage Resource Management (SRM)—i.e., the management of computer storage devices as resources. Methods for Storage Resource Management are described that can be easily and efficiently scaled to computer systems which could include thousands of computers while providing detailed file storage attributes. These methods include three phases: (1) an initialization phase, (2) a data collection phase, and (3) a management server communication phase.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for managing a number of transactions at a network storage device (e.g., a NAS device). The network storage device is identified on the network and a usage policy is generated. The usage policy defines a number of rules comprising conditions and corresponding priorities. A transaction preferably comprises meta data associated therewith. The meta data is read from the transaction and compared to the conditions of the rules defined in the usage policy. The transactions are prioritized at the network storage device based on the rules.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for identifying unused storage capacity of a number of network storage devices, and configuring at least a portion of the unused storage capacity as a logical storage device. The invention is preferably embodied in computer readable program code. The unused storage capacity may be identified by monitoring the number of network storage devices and automatically determining the unused storage capacity thereof. Alternatively, user-defined parameters may be used for identifying the unused storage capacity. At least a portion of the identified storage capacity is allocated for common use as at least one logical device. The allocated storage capacity is managed according to a management policy so that the allocated memory is not overwritten, data is not backed up to the same physical device, etc.