Abstract: A policy-based resource management system provides an infrastructure that uses high-level definitions of data-types along with desired policy rules to manage legacy data. In particular, relevant legacy data is identified as well as the characteristics of storage devices where the legacy data resides. The storage management system determines what if any of the legacy data is stored in a manner that is non-compliant with the policy rules and corrects any violations. It generates corrective action plans, and then uses existing data migration software to migrate the data. Accordingly, the legacy data may be managed in a policy-based manner without requiring typical storage management software.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product are disclosed for simulating a storage area network including a set of correlated devices, each of the devices having a device agent. The method comprises the step of forming a set of simulation agents representing said device agents, including the steps of, (i) for each of the simulation agents, obtaining a set of agent profiles, and storing said agent profiles in a data store, and (ii) obtaining files describing class definitions for the simulation agents, and storing said files in the data store. With this information and data, a Visual Workbench is used to generate a display of said simulation agents. The preferred embodiment provides a framework and implementation that simulates the CIM agent of any SAN device. Each individual device CIM agent can be simulated in this framework based on the specification defined in an XML file and/or through snapshot mechanism.

Abstract: A method and system for integrated server-storage deployment planning for virtual appliances is provided. One implementation involves determining a performance cost in deploying the virtual appliance to different pairings of candidate host and storage subsystems. A host and storage subsystem pair is preferentially selected among the candidate pairings, a pairing of a host and storage subsystem with certain performance cost to satisfy performance requirements of the virtual appliance. Deployment planning may further involve deploying a virtual appliance on one or more appropriate spatially proximate hosts and storage subsystems that exhibit certain preferable connectivity and path capacity to satisfy the performance requirements of the virtual appliance.

Abstract: A relationship visualization system provides a user interface by which a user may select from among entities, elements, and sub-elements as an initial point in a desired relationship for display. The system designates the selected entities, elements, and sub-elements originating endpoints for the desired relationship. The system displays the relationship between entities, elements, and sub-elements to facilitate visualization and management of the information technology system. The relationship comprises a data path. The display of the relationship comprises a graphical view and a tabular view.

Abstract: A technique for performing configuration checking of a network is provided. A network data store is scanned for at least one transaction. At least one event is generated for the transaction. At least one configuration policy is associated with the event. The configuration policy is compared with configuration data associated with the event. It is determined whether the configuration policy has been violated based on the comparison.

Abstract: Disclosed is a technique for correcting a configuration problem. The configuration problem is detected. It is determined whether there is at least one solution for the configuration problem in a knowledge data store. When it is determined that there is at least one solution in the knowledge data store, automatically selecting a solution to solve the configuration problem. When said solution can be automatically applied, automatically applying said solution. When said solution cannot be automatically applied, notifying a user.

Abstract: A technique for performing configuration checking of a network is provided. A network data store is scanned for at least one transaction. At least one event is generated for the transaction. At least one configuration policy is associated with the event. The configuration policy is compared with configuration data associated with the event. It is determined whether the configuration policy has been violated based on the comparison.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for detecting entity changes in a storage area network. A discovery module probes a plurality of entities of the storage area network to detect an event in response to a policy, stores attributes of the probed entities, and reports the event with a probe event reference. A monitor module receives a self-announced event reference of the event if an entity communicates the event. A configuration module records the event as an initiated event reference if the event is initiated by an administrator. An event manager synthesizes a report of the event from the event references.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for interacting with multi-attribute managed resources as groups. The apparatus, system and method identify in a repository one or more groups associated with a target attribute. The apparatus system and method further determine a set of managed resources from the repository wherein each managed resource in a set comprises the same value for the target attribute. The apparatus system and method further associate each set of managed resources with a group. The apparatus system and method may subdivide the groups into sub-groups according to additional attributes possessed by members of each group and may display the groups and sub-groups to summarize and highlight the managed resources of each group and sub-group.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for monitoring computer system components in large or complex systems. The apparatus includes an identifier module for associating at least one visual identifier with a computer system component. A function module associates one or more control functions with the visual identifier. A presentation module selectively displays the at least one identifier for the computer system component within a present view of a user interface. A monitoring module monitors the computer system component associated with the at least one identifier and modifies the identifier in response to a change in operational status for the computer system component.

Abstract: A multi-plan generation system generates a multi-plan for a multi-layer storage area network. The system generates a predetermined number of plans while generating and retaining globally optimum plans. The system dynamically calculates and orders these plans according to optimization criteria and user requirements. The system comprises a planner for each of the layers in a storage area network such as a host planner, a storage planner, a network planner, a zone planner, etc. Each of the planners applies a variance optimization, a preview optimization, and a detail optimization and interacts with a policy repository to obtain policy guidance, enabling the system to prune the set of plans. A control module invokes the planners in a predetermined order.

Abstract: A policy-based resource management system provides an infrastructure that uses high-level definitions of data-types along with desired policy rules to manage legacy data. In particular, relevant legacy data is identified as well as the characteristics of storage devices where the legacy data resides. The storage management system determines what if any of the legacy data is stored in a manner that is non-compliant with the policy rules and corrects any violations. It generates corrective action plans, and then uses existing data migration software to migrate the data. Accordingly, the legacy data may be managed in a policy-based manner without requiring typical storage management software.

Abstract: Systems and methods for designing storage area network fabric. Preferably included are an arrangement for collecting user requirements on data flows to be supported by the fabric, an arrangement for grouping the data flows into flow groups according to at least one physical location parameter, an arrangement for designing components of fabric for the flow groups, the components being associated with at least one geographical region, and an arrangement for obtaining fabric by joining the fabric components via interconnection fabric, whereby flow groups over a plurality of geographical regions are supported.

Abstract: Disclosed is a technique for performing configuration checking of a network. A network data store is scanned for at least one transaction. At least one event is generated for said transaction. At least one configuration policy is associated with said event. Said configuration policy is compared with configuration data associated with said event. It is determined whether said configuration policy has been violated based on the comparison. Also disclosed is a technique for performing proactive configuration checking of a network. A hypothetical network scenario is received. At least one transaction is generated based on the hypothetical network scenario. A network data store is populated with configuration data for said transaction. At least one event is generated for said transaction using a mapping of events to transactions. Configuration data associated with said event is used to determine whether a configuration policy has been violated.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a system to provide autonomically zoning of storage area networks based on system administrator defined policies. This will allow system administrators to manage the storage area network zones from a single window of control and also remove the responsibility of managing switch ports to the underlying autonomic more, the system administrator can specify policies that can changes with the growth of the storage network infrastructure. The system includes an autonomic zoning management module to autonomically generate zoning plans pertaining to network, according to a combination of each device in the network's connectivity information and user generated policies.

Abstract: A SAN management system including the ability to generate perspectives of a SAN topology is provided. The SAN management system includes a SAN manager program to monitor a SAN. The SAN management system further includes a SAN management database linked with the SAN manager program, wherein the SAN management database maintains information identifying devices included within the SAN and connections between the devices. In addition, the SAN management system includes a plurality of sensor agents positioned within the devices included within the SAN, wherein the sensor agents gather information pertaining to the connections between the devices and provide the gathered information to the SAN manager program for inclusion within the SAN management database.