Abstract: Configurations herein present a multi-segment perspective of the SAN that models the SAN as an interconnection of protocol independent segments, each operable according to a particular transport mechanism and connected to other segments by an intersegment device such as a network bridge. Each segment is operable to include a fabric of manageable entities, such as storage arrays, switches, and hosts, that operate according to particular protocols and transport mechanisms employed by the fabric. Groups of manageable entities operable according to a particular protocol or transport mechanism are enumerated as a separate segment, and managed as a separate entity from the management application. The intersegment connections occur via an inter segment device operable to perform the mapping or translation from the respective address space of the segments. Therefore, a path from an initiator to a receiver manageable entity may be enumerated and managed by the management application as a multi-segment connection.

Abstract: Mechanisms and techniques are disclosed that maintain managed object data associated with components in a network such as a storage area network by receiving management data associated with components operating in a storage area network and matching the management data to existing objects in a managed object database. For each existing managed object that matches the management data, the system updates object data within the existing managed objects with the matching management data. For management data not matching the existing managed objects in the managed object database, the system creates at least one new managed object containing the non-matching management data.