Abstract: Techniques are described for utilizing proxy data storage system monitoring aggregators, which are able to keep in synchronization with a central data storage system monitoring aggregator to provide distributed access to the aggregated state and performance monitoring data of all of the data storage arrays.

Abstract: Configuration information from multiple sources about hardware and software of a storage system are collected and stored in a configuration database having an extensible framework. Common application program interfaces (API) are provided for storage utility applications to access the configuration database. A backup and restore engine collects and stores the configuration information at periodic intervals or on demand, maintains prior versions of the stored information in an archive, and restores the storage system with a selected version. A distributor engine applies format conversion and filtering to produce diagnostic bundles of configuration information for multiple utility applications. A graphical user interface provides an administrator with a set of tools for operating the backup and restore and distributor engines and for viewing, dumping, comparing, and validating the contents of selected versions in order to diagnose and solve configuration problems.