Abstract: Methods and systems for comparing configurations of a storage area network are disclosed. A first configuration file and a second configuration file, each representing the configuration of a storage area network, are imported into a first configuration tree and a second configuration tree. An unordered comparison is then performed on the configuration trees. The unordered comparison produces a difference file that identifies changes in the configurations of the storage area networks. The configuration trees may be each processed into comparison trees before the unordered comparison is performed. The unordered comparison may produce two results files, one corresponding to the first comparison tree and the other corresponding to the second comparison tree; these may be combined to create the difference file. The identified changes in the difference file or in the results files may then be reported to a storage area network manager or administrator.