Abstract: Network topology is inferred by (a) determining which non-interconnect devices are visible to each adapter in the network; (b) determining sets of adapters having visibility to identical sets of non-interconnect devices; (c) for each set of adapters having more than one adapter, associating an interconnect device to the set and assigning links to the associated interconnect device from the adapters; (d) obtaining a list of non-interconnect devices in the network excluding non-interconnect devices already having satisfied visibilities; (e) for each visible non-interconnect device in the list of all non-interconnect devices, finding an adapter not already linked to the non-interconnect device having visibility to the non-interconnect device, and assigning a link between the non-interconnect device and an interconnect device assigned to the found adapter or directly between the found adapter and the non-interconnect device; and (f) iterating steps (d) and (e) until visibility of each adapter is satisfied.

Abstract: A computerized method for managing a storage area network (SAN) including a SAN manager associated with a storage area mapping (SAM) module. The method includes displaying, in a first window of a graphical user interface (GUI), any mapped devices, and displaying, in a second window of the GUI, any unmapped devices. A user can supplement a topology map selectively and incrementally, using inferred link information and/or user-supplied information to include additional devices in the map.

Abstract: A system for managing attribute data provides reference characters to define attribute strings, and thereby provide compressed attribute data. The reference characters may be configured in a tree structure with the reference characters repeatable and configured in parallel resizeable arrays to define attribute data, for example, XML attribute tags. A translation table is provided for use in translating the reference characters associated with the attribute strings. A management server in connection with a user interface provides for management of network resources, including storage devices, associated with the attribute data. The storage devices may be configured to include logical units, with the reference characters repeated and used to represent redundant strings in the different logical units.

Abstract: Network topology is inferred by (a) determining which non-interconnect devices are visible to each adapter in the network; (b) determining sets of adapters having visibility to identical sets of non-interconnect devices; (c) for each set of adapters having more than one adapter, associating an interconnect device to the set and assigning links to the associated interconnect device from the adapters; (d) obtaining a list of non-interconnect devices in the network excluding non-interconnect devices already having satisfied visibilities; (e) for each visible non-interconnect device in the list of all non-interconnect devices, finding an adapter not already linked to the non-interconnect device having visibility to the non-interconnect device, and assigning a link between the non-interconnect device and an interconnect device assigned to the found adapter or directly between the found adapter and the non-interconnect device; and (f) iterating steps (d) and (e) until visibility of each adapter is satisfied.

Abstract: A storage area network (SAN) management system for a computer network includes at least one SAN with a plurality of devices. A computer communicates with the SAN. A SAN manager is associated with the computer. A discovery module automatically discovers the devices and links between the devices. A storage area mapping (SAM) module graphically represents the devices of the SAN and links between the devices. The SAM module allows an operator to add a link between the devices, to remove a link between the devices and/or to move a link between the devices.