Abstract: Managing virtual network ports on a physical server to provide a virtual server access to a group of storage resources through a network. A storage access group representing a group of storage resources is generated. A virtual server is generated on a hypervisor executed on the physical server. Access to the network is activated for the virtual server. A management console is provided for creating and managing the storage access group providing access to the group of storage resources for the virtual server from one or more physical servers. The management console includes a virtual server management facility and a storage access group facility. The virtual server management facility allows for managing virtual server definitions and activating, deactivating, and migrating virtual servers. The storage access group facility allows for managing virtual network port descriptions, administrating network port names, and creating, activating and deactivating virtual network ports.

Abstract: An integrated hybrid system is provided. The hybrid system includes compute components of different types and architectures that are integrated and managed by a single point of control to provide federation and the presentation of the compute components as a single logical computing platform.

Abstract: A graphical user interface includes a buddy dialog which dynamically becomes part of a current dialog upon selection of a selectable object on a property page. A unique buddy dialog format is provided for each of a plurality of data formats for selectable options, or objects, displayed on the property page. The user may see the values for each of several associated options by clicking (or otherwise selecting) on each option successively. Each time an option is selected, its data values appear in its corresponding buddy dialog without popping up another dialog.